Katie Ryan

Photo @Simon Richardson

Katie Ryan is a free-lance dance artist specialising in the classical Indian dance style of Odissi.  A graduate of London Contemporary Dance School, Katie is uniquely placed as a UK-trained dancer pursuing Odissi at a professional level.  Aiming to work with the medium of classical Indian dance to present work drawing both on tradition and personality, Katie is a member of Odissi Ensemble who toured their debut production Shades of Love in 2012 and are currently touring Of Gods and Mortals. In 2013 – 2014 Katie danced in Devika Dance Theatre’s Yaa Devi, which toured Karnataka, India, with previews in Leeds and Birmingham. Katie received her first choreographic commission from Akademi in 2011 to create a site specific work Kalpavriksha for South Hill Park, Bracknell.  Since then Katie has choreographed This Wicked Desire (2012) in a project by Opera Holland Park and English National Ballet, worked as Movement Director on Opera Holland Park’s production of Les Pêcheurs de Perles (2013) and created and performed in My Soul is Alight (2014-2016) and Saheli (2016). Katie has practiced as a Physiotherapist since 2015, giving her further insight into the physical aspects of dance training and injury prevention. Alongside her work as a Physiotherapist, Katie continues to pursue opportunities to dance, teach and create, and has recently been awarded a Marion North Choreographic Mentoring award from the Bonnie Bird Choreography Fund for which she will receive mentoring from acclaimed dance artist Seeta Patel.