Devika Rao

Dancer

Dancer, teacher and leader of her own company, Devika Rao has developed a fully immersive, bespoke package of support. By shadowing Balbir Singh, she’s developing partnerships and testing artistic opportunities. With mentoring support she takes on new creative challenges.

BSDC x Devika Rao

April 2024 to March 2025

Gledhow Green Fair 2024
Performance

ISEMPH Conference 2024
Performance

Dear Sunflowers
Performance

Our South Shields
Performance and Workshops

Resilient Pathway Connections
Performance and Workshops

St Thomas’ Hospital
Performance and Workshops

Thackray Museum
Performance

Yaa Devi
Performance

International Yoga Day 2024
Performance and Workshops

The Melting Pot
Performance

Dewey
Performance

Reclaim the Night
Performance

Songpath Leeds 2024
Performance

Sweden: University of Gothenburg
Performance

World Parkinson’s Day 2024
Performance

April 2023 to March 2024

Cricket Green
Performance

Unmasking Pain
Performance and Community Engagement

Dewey
Performance

Indian Biscuits, Tea and Cricket
Performance and Community Engagement

International Yoga Day 2023
Performance

The Melting Pot
Performance

Our South Shields
Performance and Workshops

Roots & Routes
Community Engagement

A Shakespeare Impromptu
Performance

Resilient Pathway Connections
Creative Walks and Workshops

Bones, Bodies & Beats
Performance

Darlington Parade
Performance

Oriental Museum
Performance

Willow Tree Academy Residency
Performance

Devika Rao is an internationally renowned Indian Classical dance performer, choreographer, and teacher. With a passion for promoting Indian dance worldwide, she established Devika Dance Theatre in 2012. Devika focuses on bringing the true essence of India’s traditional dances, such as Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Yakshagana dance theatre, to participants and audiences of all cultures.

Devika holds various roles in the performing arts community. She is an associate artist at stage@leeds and serves as an Industry Advisory Group member at the School of Performance and Cultural Industries at the University of Leeds. Additionally, she continuously collaborates with Balbir Singh Dance Company and shares her expertise as a visiting guest tutor at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds.

Recently, Devika has expanded her focus to cross sector projects including creative health. She is involved in initiatives with Balbir Singh Dance Company including the Resilient Pathway Connections project that supports cancer survivors in West Yorkshire.

She is also part of The Melting Pot, co-created by Worcester’s local community and Worcester Mela, that aims to celebrate the city’s industrial history, with a specific lens highlighting the stories of South Asian and migrant settlers. These new endeavours reflect her dedication to leveraging the arts for community enrichment and individual resilience.

Find Devika Rao: