Two-Week Residency Reflections
Wainsgate Chapel, Hebden Bridge & The Creation Works, Cornwall
This year’s two-part residency brought together five early-career choreographers and artistic lead Seeta Patel for an intensive period of exploration, making, and mentorship. Each week offered a distinctive environment and atmosphere – Wainsgate Chapel’s raw, open space and Cornwall’s spacious creative studios – allowing the cohort to approach their work from multiple perspectives.
Reflections from Choreographer Seeta Patel
This years residency format talent development program was really inspiring. I was particularly excited by seeing the mentees minds opening to different ways of thinking and seeing Bharatanatyam. It was so great to be in new spaces and connect with each other without external distractions. Can’t wait to see where the mentees go in the next part of their journeys.
Mentee Reflections
Sneha Semaleesan
Challenges and how they were overcome
Sneha’s biggest challenge was understanding what “Step 0” of choreography looks like – how to begin before entering the studio. With many possible directions for her concept, she felt overwhelmed until her mentorship helped her break down ideas into smaller, choreographable units.
Another challenge was articulating complex ideas clearly. Through dialogue, testing, and feedback from peers, she developed greater clarity and confidence.
Influence of the time between residencies
Week 1 sparked new questions that shaped Sneha’s preparation for Week 2. Mentorship sessions between the residencies provided clarity, guiding her toward understanding her choreographic voice and working with dancers’ varied capabilities. She now views ongoing inquiry as vital to her artistic growth.
Devaki Rajendran
Tools, methods, or perspectives to carry forward
Devaki’s key takeaway was the importance of specificity and clarity. While creative play and exploration are essential, she emphasised the need to set clear parameters so that experimentation yields meaningful results. Leading her own session and participating in others helped cement this learning.
Advice to future applicants
Devaki encourages future applicants to apply even if they feel not “ready.” She notes that opportunities like this – where dancers can experiment collectively with supportive mentorship – are rare in the UK Bharatanatyam landscape.
“Now is the time. Take the step, even if you’re afraid.”
Kavya Iyer
Support from Seeta and the artistic team
Kavya, returning to the programme for a second year, found this year’s model – having Seeta present throughout the week – particularly transformative. Seeta’s provocations, questions, and real-time observations encouraged curiosity and agility in decision-making.
A major area of growth was understanding music within ensemble Bharatanatyam. Seeta’s guidance helped her see how musical elements could be distributed across dancers to shape texture and intention.
Conversations with Seeta and Ami also supported Kavya in thinking long-term about creative sustainability.
6. Influence of group dynamic
The cohort’s openness, enthusiasm, and generosity created a safe and stimulating environment. Observing peers’ leadership styles and processes enriched Kavya’s understanding of group devising and reaffirmed the value of an honest, curious ensemble.
Adithi Ravi Prakash
Biggest takeaway from the residency
Adithi learned that courage is a creative tool. She realised that choreography evolves through doing – not preparing. Moments when her plans fell apart taught her to let go, respond to the reality of the studio, and stay open to the unexpected.
She also recognised the importance of resisting the instinct to dismiss unfamiliar outcomes too quickly; surprising moments often hold the most potential.
Unexpected moments during the residency
One standout moment occurred during Shrey’s task involving choreography generated from binary code. Each dancer received a binary sequence mapped to movement rules, and together these sequences formed a surprisingly coherent choreographic pattern.
This revealed to Adithi that movement can emerge from anything logic, systems, or patterns and that the possibilities for starting points are truly limitless.
Closing Reflections
Over two weeks – one in a historic chapel and another in a coastal creative sanctuary – this year’s cohort engaged deeply with choreographic practice, mentorship, and community-building.
The residencies offered a rare combination of focused studio work, conceptual exploration, peer support, and artistic risk-taking. Each mentee emerged with new insights, tools, and confidence as they continue developing their voices within Bharatanatyam.
This year’s programme reaffirms the importance of creating sustained, meaningful opportunities for emerging choreographers—and the transformative power of space, mentorship, and collective curiosity.