“Imagine design coming to life, I dance to be a designer of movement.”

 

Ashwin is a dancer who was a wolf among the sheep and didn’t let anything or anyone break his stride. Leaving a promising corporate career behind, Ashwin vowed to follow his heart’s desire into the world of dance.  As a child, his introduction to dance was through Bollywood, but since then his passion and dedication towards the art form have helped him evolve into one of the company’s finest contemporary dancers.

Ashwin accomplished a B.Com degree from Christ University, Bangalore. His relentless drive has led him to win numerous state and national level dance competitions. Whereas his unparalleled flair for college choreography has gained him great popularity in Bangalore!

He has played a pivotal role in his performances in some of the most prestigious events with Nritarutya, across the country and abroad. His physical ability to twist and contort his body, gives him the unconventional flexibility not many can boast of.

 

His penchant for what’s hot and what’s not in the fashion biz has given him an edge in costume designing. Glam-fam has fancied his eyes since the university days and it has taken shape as he strokes away numerous costume sketches for the company. He believes that fashion also influences choreography, which can be seen in his work. His love for patterns, cuts, drapes, and designs of clothes inspire his choreographic processes.

He has taken his fashion flair a notch higher by designing outfits for celebrities, one of them being the judge in dance reality show, Dancing Star on Colors Kannada.

Ashwin draws his inspiration from artists like Damien Jalet and the renowned Alexander Ekman. He dreams big and wants to reach a time and space in life where he explores dance beyond the physicality, and transports his audience to an alternative world through his choreography and storytelling.

Ashwin’s transformation has been praise-worthy as he gels into administrative end quite smoothly. Apart from dancing, he has suited himself to fit into the managerial shoes and sets an example of finding a balance between both.

Training and Workshops

  • Carnatic rhythm under Smt. Ranjani V
  • Kutthuvarise under Sri Mahesh
  • Carnatic rhythm under Smt. Ranjani V
  • Attended workshops under Scottish Dance Theater, Hofesh Shecter, 2 faced dance company, Erica Kaufman and Diya Naidu
  • Modern Dance workshop- Nathaniel Parchment
  • Flying Low workshop- Narendra Patil
  • Contemporary release technique workshop- Swathi Mohan
  • Hip Hop workshop- Shane Mendes
  • Modern & Ballet training- Cheryl Lynn Obal
  • Aerial Silk workshop- Luz Zoni
  • Theatre workshop- Md Pallavi
  • Contact Improvisation workshop- Abhilash Ningappa
  • Bharatanatyam training- Guru Smt Minal Prabhu, Guru Smt Radhika Ramanujan, Guru Sri Praveen Kumar
  • Pilates training- The Zone studio, Anjali Sareen
  • Yoga training- Amrutha Bindhu Yoga
  • Silambam workshop
  • Ranga Kunitha workshop
  • Contemporary Dance training- Nakula Somana
  • Body Conditioning & Technique training at Nritarutya studio

 

Projects of Note

  • Make in India opening ceremony at Hanover Messe, Germany and Mumbai.
  • Closing ceremony of Pro Kabaddi League 2016 and Opening ceremony of Pro Kabbadi League 2017.
  • Dancer in Nritarutya’s artistic production, Prayog 4.
  • “Mirzya” a Bollywood movie directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
  • Opening ceremony of BRICS summit 2016.
  • Serendipity Arts Festival at Goa.
  • Adiyogi Festival at Isha Foundation.
  • Book launch of “India Fantastique” celebrating designer duo Abu Jani- Sandeep Khosla’s 25 years in the fashion industry.
  • 70th birthday celebrations of Mr Amitabh Bachchan in the mega-production titled “Madhushala”.
  • “Madhur Milan” a musical, for the 80th birthday celebrations of Smt. Kokilaben Ambani.
  • Indian Musical- Shakuntala, commissioned by the Vedanta Group.
  • Collaborative project for the finale episode of The Dewarists Season 3.
  • RDP Nritarutya Colaboration- The great Indian Oct Fest, NH7- Bangalore, Pune, Delhi.
  • 53rd Bangalore Ganesh Utsav.

 

 

Credits: Photographer- Shashank Ramesh | Costume Styling- Mayuri Upadhya and Ashwin Kumar | Makeup- Artistry by Vydurya Lokesh