Spearheaded by award-winning choreographer and dancer Seeta Patel, the Company creates live stage performances which focus on classical Indian and contemporary dance and dance theatre.
Artistic Director Seeta Patel, started her journey at the age of 10 as Bharatanatyam student, and by the age of 23 had transitioned to becoming a full time professional dancer. As an independent artist, Seeta has been very lucky to work with numerous talented choreographers, companies and collaborators over the years which has given her a diverse experience and creative inspiration. Now as the Artistic Director of Seeta Patel Dance, she looks forward to growing the pool of wonderful people the Company can work with across the globe.
Seeta Patel Dance is a pioneer, creating opportunities and spaces of belonging for future generations by disrupting systems and hierarchies through performance and dialogue.
Seeta Patel Dance makes performance art rooted in Bharatanatyam that challenges existing perceptions and perspectives.
Seeta is passionate about creating work that enriches artistic conversations and explores different ways of seeing the world and approaching ideas. She uses her creativity to challenge ‘othering’ for a more equitable society, socially conscientious action, discourse and provocation to address wider global issues.
Seeta’s story and the stories she shares are one reflection of this ‘global’ world. SPD aims to inspire many people from different walks of life to champion diversity in the arts and contribute to a more equitable artistic landscape. The Company is committed to empowering others to follow their creative journeys with honesty, integrity and flair.
SPD’s choreographic output is deeply influenced by Patel’s roots and training in Bharatanatyam, with each production mining its rhythms, musicality and expression in a unique way.
Live dance theatre productions are supported by Audience Development, Outreach, Advocacy and Talent Development, which is a cornerstone of Seeta Patel Dance’s vision. The Company prides itself on providing an aspirational environment where young people in the dance sector can see the true value of the art form and its place in the world, supporting artists through workshops, masterclasses, mentoring and apprenticeship programmes. By exposing them to a professional practice, giving them better tools to support their personal and professional development and showing them the possibilities within the sector, Seeta Patel Dance commits to improving the richness of the dance landscape.
SPD received Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation in November 2022 and enjoys an international presence and a strong reputation within the dance community. The Company plans to continue to extend its reach worldwide and its mission to introduce new audiences to classical and contemporary Indian dance.
Seeta Patel’s reimagined version of Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” in the South Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, performed with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, has received critical acclaim.
The piece was Nominated for Best New Dance Production at the Oliviers with the Society of London Theatres confirming that not only is Seeta Patel the first South Asian woman of colour ever to be nominated in the Best New Dance Production category but also the first woman of colour in the 48 year history of the awards.
Coming as a runner up for this accolade was a win, a win for women of colour, for Bharatanatyam, representation and female led choreography. The production brought Bharatanatyam to prestigious platforms usually reserved for Western art forms, diversifying audiences and sparking conversations about cultural representation and inclusivity. The production also inspired many young South Asian dancers globally, underscoring the arts’ ability to influence social and cultural trends.
seeta patel
Seeta Patel works across the UK to produce and tour dance works, developing talent in South Asian dance, and regularly represents and advocates on behalf of dance as an artform and representation of her culture.
Trained in the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, her work includes performing solo classical Bharatanatyam and creating contemporary dance and film.
Although her work is diverse, Seeta’s perspective is based on a coherent set of overlapping forms and concepts, all underpinned by the rigorous thought and attention to detail derived from her classical background.
As an artist, her goal is to create work that provokes thought in the audience and fellow practitioners, triggering each of us to bring our own experiences to it and creating something unique together. She is inspired by the idea that each piece is only truly complete once it has been experienced, assimilated and reimagined by the viewer.
Rae Lee
Rae has 18 years of extensive experience working in the cultural sector in the UK and internationally, supporting companies and individuals to deliver their artistic vision. In recent years Rae has held roles in artistic programming, exec producing, general management and consultancy predominantly in interdisciplinary arts, working in circus, dance, and physical theatre.
Producing work on multiple scales for both the indoor and outdoor sectors in 23/24 Rae supported the internationally acclaimed physical theatre company Gecko producing and touring Kin, commissioned by the National Theatre and streamed via National Theatre at Home. As Creative Producer for IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 2023, Rae programmed and delivered new commissions, 5 world and 2 UK premieres, community projects and talks to 56,000 people and 1,300 community participants.
Rae is thrilled to have joined SPD and the opportunity to inspire people through the high quality work we produce, by championing diversity in the arts and communities and providing an aspirational environment to support artists through workshops, mentoring and apprenticeship programmes.
Vicky Yannoula
Vicky Yannoula has been involved in a diverse range of activities in music management, education and performance since the late 90s. Professional appointments include: Chief Executive of the Hackney Youth Orchestras Trust, Director of York Music Hub, Deputy Head of Camden Music Service, Head of Scholarships & Artistic Planning at the Drake Calleja Trust, Music Director at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Music Qualifications Manager at Trinity College London, Head of Keyboard at Ardingly College, Music Lecturer & Chorus Director at Middlesex University.
As a music manager, artistic director and Director of Akouson Classical Artists, Vicky has worked with a plethora of professional and amateur musicians and has organised dozens of concerts in the UK and abroad, from single performances to concert series and large scale festivals attended by over 50,000 people.
As a classical pianist, Vicky has performed extensively in Europe, giving piano solo/chamber music concerts and piano concertos with orchestras. As a contemporary singer, she collaborates with a plethora of artists and has performed in venues such as Crazy Coqs, 1901 Arts Club, Moustache Bar and the Embassy of Lebanon.
Adam Towndrow
Adam has been a Creative Producer and Consultant for Dance Organisations since 2005. He has been involved in the development of dance organisations; strategising on production ideas and concepts and supporting the distribution of award-winning live performances that have taken place across the UK, Europe, Asia and Australasia. Adam is a creative and critical thinker, challenging and exploring innovative ways of delivering and executing processes.
His passion is creating mutually beneficial partnerships between communities and cultural organisations, charities and education settings, funding bodies and artists.
Aishani Gosh
Aishani Ghosh (she/her) is a freelance performer, artist and facilitator. Her training started in Bharatanatyam under the guidance of Smt Chitraleka Bolar. She trained at London Contemporary Dance School, graduating with a first and the Principal’s Award. Since then she has performed for choreographers such as Vidya Patel, Shobana Jeyasingh, Dickson MBI, Seeta Patel and many others.
Through her movement practice Aishani is intrigued by culture and diasporic bodies and how that can present in bodies. Using a movement practice rooted in Bharatanatyam, Contemporary and Uday Shankar style and with an interest in learning and expanding the way her body can move, Aishani co-created her first piece of work for Resolution festival 2023.
As a facilitator Aishani’s aim is to amplify voices that often get overheard. She teaches and choreographs for the Royal Academy of Dance and teaches in special educational needs schools as a form of physical rehabilitation.
As an individual Aishani is very creative and loves to explore the intersectionality between movement and other mediums.
Vittoria Butti
Vittoria is an Arts Administrator with experience working in the charity sector. She is dedicated to supporting cultural organisations that place diversity, inclusivity and equity at the core of their work. Vittoria is passionate about facilitating the smooth running of women-led organisations, uplifting the voices of women in the performing arts sector. Drawing from her background in Theatre studies, she also keeps nurturing her creative side through her practice as Sound Designer.
Artistic Director
Executive Producer
Company Manager
Associate Producer
Company Artist
Company Administrator
Ian Abbott is a producer and writer who specialises in producing, strategic development, access and fundraising in the creative and cultural industries in the UK and Asia. He has been a trustee, advisor, lead and held senior roles at 2Faced Dance Company, Creative Dundee, Casson & Friends, Neon Dance, Pavilion Dance South West, Citymoves, Sadhana Dance and the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora.
He is the founder and editor of the Hip Hop Dance Almanac and Ink Cypher, writes regularly about dance, theatre and institutional power and has been writer in residence at festivals in Canada, India and across the UK. His creative output spans radio broadcasting, film making, performance and interactive voice skills for the Amazon Alexa.
Yen-pei Chen is a chartered accountant, corporate reporting consultant and integrated thinking advocate. Having started her career in tax practice, she has enjoyed a varied career in professional education publishing and in research and policy. She is currently working as a freelance technical expert for the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).
While working for the global professional body, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Yen-pei led the organisation’s thought leadership research and policy influencing on corporate reporting, sustainability reporting and tax. In doing so, she engaged with policy-makers at EU, international and UK policy makers, including the European Commission, the OECD, the IFRS Foundation, IFAC and HMRC to influence future policy direction.
She has a special interest in the role that tax can play in a just transition, as well as integrated reporting and its impact on corporate culture. Lately, her keen commitment for well-being for all has prompted her to start training as a music therapist.
Sonya Donawa is an arts advocate and community engagement strategist with experience in cultural programming, audience development, and nonprofit leadership.
She currently serves as the Associate Director of Community Engagement at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Delaware (U.S.), where she contributes to the development of impactful initiatives that expand access to the arts and deepen relationships with audiences. With a strong focus on community outreach and engagement, Sonya works to create meaningful experiences that foster cultural exchange, stimulate creative expression, and elevate community participation in the arts.
Her work is rooted in the belief that the arts are a powerful vehicle for change, and she is committed to building spaces where people can connect, learn, and grow through creative expression.
With experience in union/non-union venue and event management, Sonya has developed a strong skill set in coordinating intricate projects, working alongside artists, and leading initiatives that unite communities through the arts.
Natasha has worked as a Project and Events consultant both in the UK and in Trinidad and Tobago. She led on several projects in T&T including Young Voices Trinidad and Tobago (YVTT), Mentoring by the Masters, Bocas Lit Festival children’s programme, and the musical theatre production Jab
Molassie.
She developed her passion for collaborating with artists, allowing creative individuals and organisations to express themselves freely whilst using her extensive Project and Administrative background to collate innovative ideas to achieve the best result.
Natasha works as a freelancer on several projects, primarily as the Project and Partnership
manager with Brixton Chamber Orchestra, managing their flagship projects of touring council housing estates in Summer and Christmas, as well as several other community events. She also worked in the City of London in a cultural mix of global financial organisations, holds a Diploma in
Business Administration and has extensive hands-on knowledge in Operations, Marketing and
Collaborative Facilitation work.
She has volunteered timelessly with several charities within her community. She studied ballet for 20
years and will always be the first one up on the dance floor at any party! Natasha has a great
passion for all performing arts.