Balbir Singh

Balbir Singh

Balbir Singh – Creative Adviser

Balbir studied contemporary dance at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD).  Trained and immersed entirely in the Western contemporary canon, it was only after graduating from NSDC that Balbir encountered traditional Indian dance forms when he met and later became a disciple of World-renowned Kathak exponent Padmashri Guru Pratap Pawar. 

Balbir’s twin interest in contemporary dance and Kathak and his desire to find a common language underpinning both, has led him to a new exciting artistic territory, collaborating with other art forms and exploring diverse subject matter, notably sport-art collaborations such as Synchronised (for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad) and Champions of Flatlands 

Balbir’s collaboration with Festival Artistic Director and Producer Olga Maloney started in 2014, when Balbir Singh Dance Company was invited by BIFF to present their triple bill of dance Di Ka Ta.

The following year in 2015, Balbir presented his ground-breaking work Synchronised during Billingham festival in Billingham Forum swimming pool to a sell-out audience. The same year Balbir Singh Dance Company also showcased its new work Painting the Indian Gods and was commissioned by the festival to create a dance for the unveiling of “World United by Dance” sculpture in Billingham Town Centre.

In 2016, inspired by Balbir’s Synchronised,  Olga approached Balbir with the idea to create a performance on ice, with fusion of ice skating, live music and dance. Peacock Lake created by Balbir Singh was premiered at the festival 2017.

In 2019 the collaboration between Balbir Singh and Olga Maloney was taken to another level, when Balbir Singh Dance Company became the first dance company in residency for the whole 2 weeks of the festival, creating and performing new work with international dance companies every day of the festival, culminating in the most ambitious flagship performance of The Creative Spirit of John Curry on Ice for Billingham Festival.

We continue very close collaboration with Balbir in 2020 and are currently working on a few interesting projects.

 “It has been a great privilege to work alongside Balbir, who is a true artist and amazingly talented choreographer, whose creative artistic vision and approach have been an enormous inspiration for me and gave me incredible learning experience. The dedication and determination of Balbir and his artistic team made my dreams a reality.”

Olga Maloney