Narendra Patil
Narendra Patil is a contemporary dance artist, choreographer, and educator known for his innovative approach to movement and profound artistic expression. Born in Belgaum, India, Narendra's journey into the world of dance began at a young age when he was introduced to
traditional dance forms. His passion for movement led him to pursue extensive training in
Okinawa Martial Arts, where he attained a black belt, instilling in him discipline, grace, and a deep understanding of the body's capabilities.
Narendra further honed his skills through formal education at the Terence Lewis Dance Foundation Trust in Mumbai, where he immersed himself in the world of contemporary dance.
Narendra's talent and dedication soon caught the attention of the dance community, and he joined the prestigious Terence Lewis Dance Company, where he served as a principal performer, teacher, and assistant choreographer for over a decade. During this time, he also completed a Yoga teacher training course at "The Yoga Institute" in India, further enriching his understanding of movement and mindfulness. Inspired by the teachings of renowned dances artist David Zambrano, Narendra embarked on a transformative journey, exploring improvisation and methods that would shape his artistic vision. He became the first Indian contemporary dancer to participate in intensive programs across Europe, delving deep into Zambrano's Flying Low and Passing Through methods. His experience training under the stalwarts of Martial Arts, and Contemporary dance in India and abroad inspired him to create and develop his own vocabulary.
Since transitioning to a freelance career in 2013, Narendra has continued to push the boundaries of contemporary dance, collaborating with artists, choreographers, and institutions around the world. His work has been showcased at prestigious venues and festivals, earning him recognition for his creativity, versatility, and dynamic performances. Such as ‘AXIS MUNDI’ and Geneva Project, David Zambrano, Deltebre Dansa Festival, Open Look Festival, and Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, among others.
Narendra Patil is also recognized as the co-founder and artistic director of the SANSKAR International Dance Festival in India, a project that he initiated alongside fellow artist Rakesh Sukesh. The inaugural edition of the festival was met with resounding success. Through SANSKAR, Narendra continues to foster a vibrant community of dancers and artists,
providing a platform for cultural exchange and creative exploration on an international scale. In addition to his work as a performer, Narendra is also a passionate educator, sharing his knowledge and expertise with aspiring dancers through workshops, classes, and guest teaching engagements. He is committed to empowering the next generation of dancers and fostering a
deeper appreciation for the art of movement.
In 2022, Narendra moved to Germany to work as an independent artist. Since 2023, he has been based in Kassel, where he works as a guest teacher at various institutions, including State theatres, SOZO Visions in Motion in Kassel, and Zentrum für Zeitgenössischen Tanz in Cologne.Continuing to explore new avenues of expression, Narendra also is actively involved in his own artistic performances and movement research.
Expressive Body (Performative practice)
The focus will be on building and expanding imagination and creativity in spontaneous performance. As a choreographer, Narendra will lead you to work on different movement possibilities and approaches through his research and investigation. Participants will be given specific tasks to understand how to create different body language as a performer.
Expressive Body collects twenty-five years of my experience in dance and performance.
Through my practice I experienced that whatever movement techniques or tools I use, they are all integrated into performative practice.
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The language of dance can express very different states, different feelings, different experiences, different meanings. Body and consciousness are inseparable. Every manifestation of a living person, no matter how they present themselves, always has a bodily representation. Everything we experience, think, decide is embodied bodily. In dance we find a whole spectrum of wholeness — I know what I'm dancing about, I experience it emotionally and I translate it bodily very clearly.
I formulated my pedagogical mission as «Turning performers into versatile Artists». As you know the ability to feel and express emotions turns a technical performer into an Artist. Versatility contains two meanings. One is a bit more technical — the ability to perform on different stages, music, with a group or solo, etc. The other meaning is about the ability to create and perform in different lines of character, research variety of themes and stories. Where we put our attention throughout the practice: understanding how to create different body language; understanding how to get into, switch between different emotional states; expanding performance imagination; receiving tools that expand the movement knowledge; building confidence to perform on any stage, to any music; engaging in self-reflection methods.