Productions currently on tour

SEVENS 

SEVENS, a triple bill of Bharatanatyam and Kathak dance choreographed by Nina Rajarani MBE, with an original music score by composers Y Yadavan and Shammi Pithia. The production explores the sacred, and sometimes sinful, significance of the number seven. From playful and energetic, to soulful and contemplative, the show takes the audiences on an emotion-filled and entertaining journey.

SEVENS received funding from Arts Council England for its R&D phase in 2016 and creation / touring in 2021. SEVENS features 5 dancers and 3 musicians, with commissioned work by a costume designer, a dramaturg and a lighting designer. The production toured to the following UK venues in 2021 and 2022: 

• The Playbox Theatre, Warwick
• Kala Sangam, Bradford
• Pavilion Dance South West, Bournemouth
• Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham
• Harrow Arts Centre, London
• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
• The Rose Theatre, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
• Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
• The Place, London
• Wiltshire Music Centre, Wiltshire
• South Hill Park, Bracknell
• Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
• Curve, Leicester
• Dance City, Newcastle Upon Tyne
• Corner Stone Arts, Didcot
• Watford Palace Theatre, Watford

Following its success, it received funding from Arts Council England to support further touring. Sevens toured in India for the first time in December 2024, followed by a much-anticipated UK tour in 2025.

SEVENS Audience Quotes

It was so amazing to see such a concept on stage. I have not seen something like this in this format before. I felt as though I didn’t want the show to end. My heart melted during Seven Steps. I felt rejuvenated through Seven Snags and so intrigued by the final piece Seven Sins. The music and lighting was very moving and mesmerising. Such a treat to the senses.

Brilliant – life affirming.

It’s wonderful to see any form of work that goes beyond the parameters in some form that challenges one’s intellectual and emotional landscape. 

It was very unique to see the musicians also perform alongside the dancers on stage and move with the dancer’s steps and beats. It was so brilliant. This is innovation, and it’s in its truest sense that it’s really breaking some parts of how music and dance is presented. Very impactful.

The energy was so great. There were points where I just held my breath and couldn’t breathe for almost minutes.

The piece ‘Seven Sins’ was so moving – I had shivers and tears in my eyes. It was the best thing I have seen in a long long time.

It was completely impressive from beginning to end and the variations in pace and the intricacy of the steps, the costumes and the way the dancers and musicians interacted and the different ways of feet tapping and turning – quite mesmerising.

EkatA

Compelling classical dance, infused with contemporary relevance and rooted in a deep knowledge of South Indian music and Bharatanatyam dance technique, for audiences everywhere. Award-winning choreographer and dancer Nina Rajarani MBE presents a solo Bharatanatyam recital of dance pieces she has choreographed to the music compositions of her husband Y Yadavan who accompanies on vocals.

Ekata was funded and toured in 2019 with support from Arts Council England. This project featured shows of new solo works of classical Bharatanatyam dance performed by Nina Rajarani MBE, enabling her to re-establish herself as a solo classical dancer and presenting work of the highest standard with top quality live music.

Ekata toured from 2019 to early 2020, with additional performances cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The production returned in 2025 and is currently touring alongside Sevens, supported by funding from Arts Council England.

EkatA Audience Quotes

Beautiful. Been to watch this live all the way from Bournemouth to Birmingham, exclusively for this show, and I loved every bit of it. My 12-year-old daughter was mesmerised as well.

Performance at Yeovil: please, please come back soon!

The show was stunning; the storytelling, the costumes, music, vocals and everything was so beautiful.

This was a real treat with the flute and all the other instruments. The singing was really beautiful and the duet was really sweet between the husband and wife duo. What a treat.

We had a lovely evening. This was fantastic to watch, so totally different from anything we’ve seen before and I’ll definitely come again. It’s lovely.

I found the show amazing, it was very detailed and deep. I loved the mudras, music and the storytelling. It was very compelling and it made me think about different things in my life. It was a really really good performance. It’s amazing and I highly recommend going to watch it because it is an experience to witness.

There’s parts of our life where sometimes we forget how to feel and there’s a passionate level within this music and dance that evokes something in us. Leaves you feeling alive. Beautiful, really worth it.

Jham!

Jham! An innovative classical Indian dance and music production conceptualised and created by choreographer Nina Rajarani MBE, and music composer Y Yadavan. Jham! is an upbeat, playful and energetic collaboration between dancers and musicians that highlights the rhythmic play between the ancient and the modern. Jham! has a distinctly interactive feel, with musicians and dancers working off one another to produce creative ‘jamming’ that is fun and engaging with contrasting aspects of classical v/s modern. Jham! features 4 Bharatanatyam and Kathak dancers and 4 prominent musicians including a beatboxer and Indian percussionist (tabla), a Karnatik vocalist, a saxophone player and a violinist/flautist, all of whom interact with audiences, drawing them into the jamming experience.

Jham! was originally created and toured as a full-length performance for indoor theatre spaces between 2013–15 funded by Arts Council England.

In 2022, Jham! was adapted for the outdoors, building on Srishti’s success of performing at UK festivals in the past. Jham! has been programmed by the following festivals and venues.

Jham! Audience Quotes

Lively, energetic performance blending old & new dance traditions. I was transfixed from beginning to end.

Musicians and dancers that were able to communicate and carry the audience with them. The dancing was very enjoyable to watch and executed with talent.

Exceptionally skilled performers.

Programme was very well put together and was a riveting performance. Particularly impressed by the complexity of the rhythms. The sound adjustment was good. We would like to see them again.

This was my first experience of this kind of dance (classical Indian dance) and I was mesmerised. It was really energetic and drew me in. The company were all very charismatic performers. The live music element really made it stand out from other dance performances I’ve seen. I really enjoyed it.

It’s brilliant to see work like this in the centre of Worthing. The performers’ enjoyment was infectious and made the show feel like a spontaneous street party, which pulled in passers-by and the audience really responded to the celebratory vibe. Loved it!

Press Quotes

Nina Rajarani’s choreography redefines classical Indian dance by seamlessly blending traditional Bharatanatyam and Kathak with contemporary themes. Her innovative approach transcends conventional frameworks, exploring modern-day narratives into the classical repertoire while preserving its essence. 

Narthaki

Her technique is beautiful, her speed and rhythm extraordinary and her feet fascinating to watch. A single toe movement can convey volumes.

The Stage 

The highlight was the deeply moving vocal, composed and sung faultlessly by Y Yadavan. 

The Independent

Venue Quotes

Your teamwork, dedication and positive energy as a performance group is outstanding. Your chorographical approach to cut across the stringent lines of traditional lines to connect your creative expression with contemporary audiences is remarkable. Ours being an institution working in the realm of traditional classical performance forms, your approach to new creations is inspiring for our students and faculty as well.

Kesavan Narayanan, Art and Tourism Management of Kerala Kalamandalam, India

Gorgeous evening and beautiful performances between dance & music. Simply stunning.

Deborah Kermode, CEO & Artistic Director of MAC Birmingham

The performances of Jham! were fantastic and we had a lot of great feedback from our audiences, children and adults alike. Many said it was their favourite part of the day. It was a pleasure to work with your performers.

Jessica Santer, Head of Engagement and Participation, Turner Sims, Southampton

It is a beautiful show and delivered with such a high quality of execution and skill, I’m delighted to have seen your work. A re-invigorating evening!

Beth Byrne, Creative Director, Warwick Arts Centre

High quality. Loved the live music. Professional and efficient management.

Jeanette Hinton, Performances Producer, Pavilion Dance South West

Wonderful to work with, beautiful and high quality work – fantastic to programme.

Gemma Curtis, Head of Programming, Worthing Theatres and Museum

SRISHTI is committed to having a positive impact on the local community

The tours are supported with an outreach programme that provide workshops / performance excerpts in various settings including schools, community centres and care homes. We work with some groups to create curtain raiser performances, bringing local schools and community groups into our performance space, introducing them to our world of classical Indian dance and music.

Hill Spring International School, Mumbai, India

My favourite part was the enactment of the story ‘Matilda’ by dancing and expressing it. It was graceful and we could understand the story easily.

Student at Hill Spring International School, Mumbai, India

Sannidhi Primary School, New Delhi, India

School in Vrindavan, India

A very good job. Children loved her. Feedback was that she has a very pleasing personality and is able to build a rapport from the word go. She hit the ground running and made optimum use of the time. Also she understands the nuances of what holds the children’s interests.

Meera Khanna, CEO, Guild of Service, Outreach Organiser, India

Reckleford Infant and Nursery, Yeovil

The workshops made me feel happy and I loved and enjoyed learning lots of dance moves and the animals.

Students at Reckleford Infant School and Nursery, Yeovil

Thank you so much for a wonderful afternoon. The children and staff had a really lovely time engaging with the dance workshop and have been asking for further dance opportunities! Please get in touch if you are in the area again as the children really enjoyed the workshop and we would appreciate the opportunity for a repeat in the future.

Jo Greathead, Headteacher and DSL, Reckleford Infant School and Nursery, Yeovil 

Poole High School, Wimborne Road, Poole, Bournemouth

The workshop leader’s explanation of story-telling and vocal qualities was very effective, bringing the traditions & groundings of the art forms to life. 

Matt Hawksworth, Young People’s Producer, Pavilion Dance South West

King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

The workshop exceeded my expectations as it was really fun working creatively in a new style of dance and doing group choreography.

I have learnt how small rhythms can be translated to make a powerful sequence.

Students at King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

Masterclass at Kerala Kalamandalam, India

Feedback from masterclasses and curtain-raiser performances

Midlands Arts Centre with support from Chitraleka Dance Academy, Birmingham

Everyone was very encouraging and I learnt something new from each person there, so I think I definitely got more confident in my dancing.

Masterclass and Curtain-Raiser Participant

Westlands Entertainment Venue with Thumka Bollywood Dance group, Yeovil 

I gained an insight into the cultural meaning and significance of the moves, which was very interesting. Watching the instructors dance and their ability to interpret the meaning of the actions so artistically was lovely to see.

Masterclass and Curtain-Raiser Participant

Chitrakalaimanram Centre for Performing Arts, Coventry

We were so fortunate to do a curtain raiser event along with another leading school in the Midlands Chitraleka Dance Academy. Our heartfelt thanks to Team Srishti. Chitrakalaimanram’s senior students participated in this great event.

Chitra Myooran, Artistic Director of CCPA, Coventry 

Manushi Dance, Nottingham

Thank you for programming Manushi to be a part of this event. The piece was choreographed in 4.5 hours by an amazing dancer. It came together so beautifully in such a short time. We all enjoyed the experience and loved the whole show. It surely is a powerful show!”

Vina Ladwa, Artistic Director of Manushi Dance, Nottingham

Open rehearsals that were held for the SHARPE ACADEMY, Harrow Arts Centre

Thank you for today. The students and I really enjoyed the sharing. It’s clearly going to be a great show. I hope the tour goes well.

Daniel Sharpe, Principal of Sharpe Academy, Harrow Arts Centre