Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy
Contemporary Dance Artist
Choreographer
Performer
Educator
Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy Contemporary dancer, choreographer, and teacher from India. Postgraduate Diploma in Choreography, SEAD, Austria. Has trained, worked, and presented dance works in India and Europe.
Artist Training Statement
I began my journey in dance in the late 1990s, working in films, television, and stage shows. These experiences gave me discipline and teamwork skills but also showed the exploitative side of the industry, pushing me to search for more meaningful artistic expression.
From 2002–2007, I trained at Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Bangalore, studying contemporary dance, Bharatanatyam, Kalaripayattu, yoga, and release techniques, while learning from international guest teachers. I also gained experience in production, pedagogy, and stagecraft.
Later, I studied choreography at SEAD in Salzburg and worked with Bodhi Project Company. Exposure to dramaturgy, collaboration, and international artists shaped my choreographic voice. I continued to deepen my practice through workshops and residencies worldwide, including Pact Zollverein (Germany), Julidans (Netherlands), FACETS (India), mentorship with Akram Khan Company (UK), and ADAM Artist Lab (Taipei).
With no formal institutions for contemporary dance in India, my training grew through companies, residencies, and collaborations. This self-driven path shaped me as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher—rooted in India but connected to global conversations in contemporary dance.
Performer
Worked in India, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, and the UK. Performed in works by Jeremy Nelson, Samir Akika, Navtej Johar, Jayachandran Palazhy, Liz King, Sudesh Adhana, and Preethi Athreya Tours in India, Japan, and Europe.
Choreographer
Created works for stage, street, and site-specific contexts. Winner, Prakriti Excellence in Contemporary Dance Award (2012). Commissioned by Serendipity Arts Festival (2018), Youth Festival Delhi (2017), Park Festival (2013). Collaborated with dancers from Kashmir, Delhi, Bangalore, and Europe. Part of creative teams for street art projects AREA (2010) in Europe and Freedom City (2017) in Newcastle, UK. Empanelled with ICCR (2017) Jomba dance festival South Africa (2024)
Teacher
Guest faculty at Attakkalari, Gati, STEM, Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company, Danceworx, Rangayana, Motley Theatre Group (India), and SEAD (Europe). Mentored artists through KHA Foundation, Play Practice, Drishtikon Dance Foundation, and Gati residencies. Visiting professor at Ashoka University, Shiv Nadar University, and Ambedkar University (New Delhi). From 2002–2007, part of the Education Outreach Program for Bangalore schools led by Tripura Kashyap.
Arts Management
Rehearsal Director at Attakkalari and Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company.,Project Manager at Gati Dance Forum, Play Practice, and KHA Foundation. Experience in production and technical management for stage performances.
Fellowship
Bhoomi College Fellowship (2022–2024): Studied and practiced a holistic approach to art, life, and sustainability.
Curriculum Virtue
Teaching/Facilitation
Title - Resting is Motion
Contemporary Dance and Composition Course Outline
Deepak has been developing pedagogy for contemporary dance since 2004. His training is informed by multiple sources of movement methodology, the core of the workshop is to find safe movement practice and to recognise the individuality of the dancer in the class.
Overview
The class will be a combination of guided improvisation and set movement tasks, lessons will also involve some video presentation, reading and working on a presentation by the end of the semester. The course aims to give an overview of contemporary dance practices and an introduction to movement composition. Practical sessions encourage the students to reflect and explore the possibilities of movement. Emphasis is placed on breath, alignment, joint articulation, and the use of gravity and momentum to facilitate movement. Creative sessions allow students to explore creating short movement sketches which will demand them to think, question and investigate the body and its politics. Theory sessions will give students a brief about the history and development of modern and contemporary dance.
