THE COMPANY

ATMA Dance is a London-based company Limited by Guarantee, with a charitable status. It was formed in 2009 under the Artistic Direction of Choreographer and Performer Mayuri Boonham. The word ATMA, taken from the Sanskrit language meaning, from the soul, encompasses Boonham’s artistic vision as she strives to create choreographic works that relate to life and the world in which we live in. Using the classical South Asian form of Bharatanatyam at the core of her movement vocabulary, Boonham infuses influences of Contemporary art forms to reimagine South Asian dance, creating an evocative and unpredictable aesthetic. By communicating stories in both abstract movement or within a narrative, Boonham’s approach of creating and conceptualisation pushes boundaries, whilst entering new territories to create works that has a truly omni-cultural appeal.

Within one year of the company’s formation in 2009, ATMA Dance produced two new touring works, ‘Sivaloka’ and ‘Ghatam’, both of which were nominated for the London Fringe Festival award in 2011. The works toured nationally and internationally, including seasons such as Spring Loaded at The Place, the Bristol Harbourside Festival as well as a performance in the Netherlands.

ATMA Dance received funding from the Arts Council England in early 2013. With this support and since her appointment as Choreographic Affiliate for the Royal Ballet, Mayuri has been carrying out research projects with Royal Ballet artists. Two new creations evolved from this research: ‘Vāc II’, which was staged as part of Draftworks in April 2013 and ‘Forsaken’, a commission from The Royal Opera for the Verdi/Wagner Deloitte Ignite Festival 2013 curated by Stephen Fry and The Royal Opera, presented in September 2013. ‘Forsaken’ featured Royal Ballet artists Yasmine Naghdi, Sander Blommaert and Nicol Edmonds and saw Mayuri collaborate with two opera singers, two musicians/veena players and a pianist.

In May 2013 ATMA Dance premiered ‘Erhebung’ – a dance-sculpture sonic art installation developed in collaboration with Sculptor Jeff Lowe, Sound Artist Bill Fontana and Costume Designer Moritz Junge. This work toured at art galleries and museums between 2013-2014. In 2014 ATMA Dance premiered Ex Nihilo / The Human Edge for nine dancers at The Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House before touring in the autumn in the same year.

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In 2016 ATMA Dance were in residence at The Unicorn Theatre, London where they developed initial ideas for ‘The Magic Fish’ – a new work for young children and family audiences. Commissioned by The Place, GemArts, Pavilion Dance South West and funded by Arts Council England the work premiered at The Place and headlined their Something Happening For Kids Festival 2016.