On receiving an MBE
When I learned that I would be receiving an MBE, I felt very still for a moment. It is a great honour, and I accept it with deep gratitude . . .
“As artists how can we be part of the solution to the climate crisis? How can we create work that brings focus and attention to our precarious relationship with nature?”
Roots and Routes project at Gledhow Valley Woods: Mohana Sangeetha
Balbir Singh founded Balbir Singh Dance Company (BSDC) in 1995 as a platform to bring north Indian Kathak and western contemporary dance together in a synthesis of dance styles. As the company has grown in experience and ambition, it has evolved beyond its original focus on dance performance to create spaces of dialogue, transformation and healing.
“My work celebrates the human condition. It helps me make sense of the world. Being blessed with this gift of being a vessel for the art-form, it is my privilege to share this with audiences. There is no room for complacency or self congratulation. It is always about making new work that faces the unknown.”
“Balbir Singh’s story is a testament to quiet perseverance, not only in his artistic journey but in his determination to create work that is meaningful, relevant and rooted in community. In a world that often celebrates loud voices, Balbir’s approach demonstrates that one person’s dedication can make a profound difference.”
Community exhibition devising session, Oriental Museum, Durham University: Charlotte Spink and Hilary Stout
“Where we come from, who we are in the present and where we are going in the future are all points in time that reference each other constantly in our daily lives.”
Explore how culture and heritage are woven into Balbir’s work
Connecting with nature and heritage at Kirkstall Abbey: Devika Rao and Academy students
A life spent asking what dance can do
Discover a creative journey that has taken Balbir Singh from theatres and stages to universities and libraries, care homes, community halls, hospitals, sports arenas and even research laboratories . . .