Trained in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam since the age of six

Dr. Swati Raut
Performer, Choreographer, Teacher and Mentor
[email protected]
www.swatidance.com
00 44 1257 464481
About Dr Swati Raut
Dr Swati Raut, an established Bharatanatyam dance artist, choreographer,
teacher and educator who has worked in the Northwest region of England for
the last two decades. Her highly successful dance career began in the UK in
1987. Since then, Dr Swati Raut has not only established herself as a leading
classical dance artist but has concurrently focused attention in training and
developing the next generation as a young dancers and teachers.
Dr Swati Raut is on the Board of Directors for ‘Dance Manchester’ and is a
Committee Member of the ISTD -The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
for the Classical Indian Dance Faculty. She is also a Unesco (CID- International
Dance Council) approved Artiste.
Swati Dance Company
Dance Background:
In 2010 Dr Swati Raut set up her dance company Swati Dance Company and
Swati Youth Dance to creatively engage & enrich communities in the
Northwest of England and beyond, through educating, exploring and sharing
the experiences of Indian Classical Dance.
Swati Dance Company’s philosophy is creation and propagation of Indian
classical dance form of Bharatanatyam through excellence in practice and
making it accessible to wider audiences and uniting communities through
Indian dance and culture.
Dr Swati Raut received her dance training in Bharatanatyam (Pandanallur
Style) at ‘Nrityashree’, Mumbai, under the tutelage of Guru Krishnan Kutty.
Her Guru is not only a well-known Kathakali dancer but also a much admired
Bharatanatyam teacher who trained under the late Lakshmi Kantham of
Tanjore of the Pichhaiya Pillai School. Following her Arangetram (dance
graduation) in 1979, she continued to train in Bharatanatyam and also learnt
Mohiniattam (another form of Indian classical dance) from Smt. Ammu Kutty.
She has performed extensively in India in the eighties, both as a solo artist
and in Dance Drama productions by Nrityashree.
Dr Swati Raut came to the UK in 1987 to complete her Ph.D in Organic
Chemistry from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. However, her
interest was rooted in dance and she started to teach dance to community
groups in the Northwest where she was based. In 2005 Dr Swati Raut
founded Northwest Dance Alliance with few other regional dance teachers of
Indian classical dance. The group now exists informally.
As a performing artist, Dr Swati Raut has performed in successful dance
productions such as “Devi Diva” and ‘Shivoham’. Dr Swati Raut is invited to
perform regularly in prestigious venues such as the Nehru Centre in London,
the Lowry in Salford Quays, Unity Theatre in Liverpool, Heron Theatre in
Cumbria. Dr Swati Raut has worked closely as a freelance artist with the
leading dance organisations such as SAA-UK, Milapfest, Surdhawani, Indian
Association Manchester, Indian Association Lancaster.
Swati Dance Company
Current Work:
Teaching & Mentoring
Presently Dr Swati Raut teaches Bharatanatyam to more than150 young
children in the North West region through weekly and weekend classes in
Salford, Wigan, Bolton, Preston, Blackpool and Liverpool. She is the Principal
Teacher at Milapfest Arts School in Liverpool.
Over the last two decades Swati has trained several young children in the
region and many of her students have successfully passed various grades of
the ISTD examinations with distinction. 4 dancers have completed their
Arangetram (dance graduation) under her guidance and mentoring.
Lecture-Demonstration:
Dr Swati Raut is regularly invited for the lecture-demonstration nationally and
internationally. Her latest lecture-demonstration was on the topic
'Bharatanatyam- the classical dance form with health benefits’. It focussed on
the Health Benefits of the regular and active practise of Bharatanatyam. The
lecture was part of the BIDA (British International Doctors Association) 10th
International congress held on 3rd & 4th November 2014 in Sri Lanka.
She has been the visiting lecturer at the Liverpool Hope University on 'Dance
and Cultural Identity' for the academic year 2013- 2014 and 2014-2015.
Professional Development:
Swati Youth Dance set up by Dr Swati Raut has received recognition regionally
and nationally through their performance at high profile events. The Youth
group has been successful in their selection at the regional and national
platform of U.Dance since 2012, a national programme managed by Youth
Dance England.
Choreographing new work:
Dr Swati Raut has been choreographing new work for her company and youth
group which has been performed regionally and nationally in the UK. Her
latest choreographic work includes Kinkini, Basant Bells & Aadi.
Swati Dance Company
New Choreographic work by Dr Swati Raut:
Kinkini – ‘Anklets in a maze'
Please view excerpts from this performance on YouTube by clicking on
the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kVL6FD5LXM
Kinkini - Anklets in a Maze was a site specific choreography especially created as a
part of 'Something Beautiful - Combermere Abbey Commission', in 2007 supported
by the Cheshire County Council. This innovative choreography involved 4 acts which
were inspired by the 4 sections of the traditional English garden spaces, where each
act and each garden space was unique. The last act was inspired by the Fruit tree
maze. One of the acts was performed at the U.Dance in 2012.
“Kinkini is an excellent example of Bharatanatyam – classical Indian Dance.
Clad in stunning traditional costumes and jewellery, members of Swati Youth Dance
carried you away to the mysteries of Indian culture. An absolute delight to watch –
there was a great attention to detail and a lot of intricate movement, including neck,
wrists, fingers and ankles. Kinkini is a great piece – the inspiration for this work was
taken from the blossoming gardens of Combermere Abbey.”
Review by Aleksandra Svalova: Youth Dance England’s National Young Dance
Ambassadors
Basant Bells – ‘Sounds of Spring’
Please view excerpts from this performance on YouTube by clicking on
the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy3O82KpRZ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma-VeNcNW2Y
Inspired by Kalidasa’s Ritusamharam - a medley of seasons is danced in this colourful
and exuberant choreography to selected verses from Vasantham or the spring section
of this most languorous text involving 4 Acts. Swati Dance Company collaborated
with guest choreographer Hari Krishna, Artistic Director of inDance, Toronto Canada.
Music was especially commissioned to Praveen D Rao, a versatile music composer
from India.
Basant Bells was performed at Waterside Arts Centre in Manchester, Asian Spring at
Midland Arts Centre in Birmingham promoted by Sampad and other venues including
Yorkshire Sculpture Park promoted by Manasamitra.
Swati Dance Company
“A different style of choreography taking a fresh approach to directionality, level, use
of arms and mudras. Some of the images of the piece were so pleasing and strong
that I can still see them if I close my eyes. The experience of working with such a
creative and technically astute artist like Hari Krishna will leave a lasting legacy for
the young dancers and the company as a whole.”
Review by Bisakha Sarker for Pulse Magazine
Aadi – The Beginning (2014)
Please view excerpts from this performance on YouTube by clicking on
the link below: http://youtu.be/m_9aCy7WFI0--
Choreography in Aadi weaves together the Nritta or the pure dance elements of the
repertoire of Bharatanatyam. The dancers transit seamlessly through the various
rhythms. Interspersed within the rhythmic passages are traditional verses to deities
such as Ganesha, the elephant God, Saraswati, the goddess of Knowledge, learning,
wisdom, reasoning and intellect, Vishnu, the protector who appears in a different
avatara in order to protect the world from evil. Music for Aadi was composed by
Praveen D Rao. Swati Dance Company collaborated with guest choreographer Shane
Shambhu, Artistic Director of Altered Skin, London in this exciting new work.
“The rhythmic elements of the pure dance form Nritta was well woven with some
traditional verses to a gamut of deities spanning from Ganesha, Saraswati, Vishnu,
Siva and Guru. The poise and the coordination among the dancers was striking as
they confidently danced their way through the various rhythms. Swati’s interpretation
of the avatars of Vishnu in the piece was commendable.
Review by Rama Rangan for Pulse Magazine
To book a performance, lecture-demonstration or for future
collaborations: contact [email protected] or the Company Manager
and Advisor: Anita Srivastava [email protected]
Swati Dance Company
Images from current productions:
‘Basant Bells’
Swati Dance Company
Images from current productions:
‘Aadi – The Beginning’
Swati Dance Company
Photo Credits: Simon Richardson, London & K Kreatives, Liverpool
Swati Dance Company