Natasha Bakht
Natasha Bakht is a dancer and choreographer of Indian origin specialized in BharataNatyam, a recently modernized form of classical Indian dance historically practiced by ancient temple dancers. In Canada she trained with Menaka Thakkar for twenty years and has toured internationally with the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company performing classical Indian repertoires in Asia, Europe and North America.
Since 1990, Natasha has collaborated with contemporary Canadian choreographers Joan Phillips, Roger Sinha and Robert Desrosiers in numerous festivals, notably the Canada Dance Festival of Ottawa, Dancing on the Edge Festival in Vancouver and the fFida (fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists). In England, she collaborated with choreographers Laurie Booth and Wayne McGregor of the Random Dance Company and has performed three seasons in London with the prestigious company of dance choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh, who is celebrated for her revolutionary interpretations of contemporary Indian dance.
In addition to her extensive interpretative work, Natasha has produced and choreographed original works since 1994; Dance if You Must, Appropriating Edges, and Obiter Dictum, nominated in the category of “Best new choreography” at the 2003 Dora Mavor Moore Award. Renowned for the grace and energy with which she integrates modern and classical Indian dance techniques and beyond her career as a dancer, Natasha Bakht holds a Masters degree in Law from New York University and teaches Common Law at the University of Ottawa.
Photos
Photo by David Hou
