Roger Sinha

Born in London in England of an Armenian mother and an Indian father, Roger Sinha was immersed in English culture from an early age. He said to be closer to "Fish'n chips than khari". When Roger was 8 years old, his family moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This newfound culture collided with the two others and started his quest for identity.
In 1984, Sinha decided to devote his life to dancing. In 1990, as part of his choreographic research, Roger discovers Bharata Natyam a classical dance form from southern India. The integration of this technique in his dance vocabulary allowed him to reclaim his heritage and to express his pride in being Indian. He moved to Montreal in 1989 and danced for choreographers such as Jean-Pierre Perreault and Sylvain Émard Danse. His first solo Burning Skin, was an international success and launched his choreographic career. His inspiration stems from a deep felt and intense need to reclaim his Indian heritage and to use this tradition to shape a modern expression of his reality. His work uses the universality of the body to explore cultural harmony and dissonance, and tensions created by the collision of East and West. Beautifully expressive mudras and the rhythmically complex footwork of Indian dance combine with the full body movements of modern, ballet and the martial arts. All of Roger's history and experiences both innate and acquired intermingle and punctuate his creative signature. Martial arts, ballet, contemporary dance and later on Bharata Natyam, participate in his distinctive choreography.
Besides creating for Sinha Danse he co-choreographed, with Sandra Laronde, Tono. This work by Red Sky has been presented in both the summer olympics in Beijing the winter olympics in Vancouver and was invited to perform at the Canadian Pavillion in Shanghai in May 2010. Besides being a Choreographer he is also a filmmaker and his dance video Hater ‘n Baiters won the popular vote for the Radio Canada International Roots competition in April 2010.
= History =
Roger Sinha, artistic director, choreographer and dancer founded Sinha Dance in 1991. Since then, the company has more than 10 pieces to its repertoire. The journey began with Burning Skin (1992), followed by Benches (1996) created upon request by the Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers. Loha/Thok (2002-2002) was then created and greatly appreciated by the critics and the public due to the symbiosis and the elegance in movements performed by Natasha Bakht and Roger Sinha. The Agora de la Danse hosted the show for the 2001-2002 program and 7 performances were presented. This creation is born from a collaboration that keeps flourishing between the two Canadian choreographers.
Apricot Trees Exist took place on the dance floors in 2004. The sextet is brilliantly interpreted and won the heart of the public and the critics right from the first showings. It performed in 14 theaters in the greater Montreal area and appeared once again in the program of the Agora de la Danse for a total of 8 performances.
Roger Sinha is very interested in video art and new technologies. The solo Zeros & Ones (2008) clearly express that passion. While the show Zeros & Ones, Quebasian Rhapsody and Burning Skin was touring in India, the first short film, The Barber of Bangalore, is shot. These three pieces have beamed on 5 cities of India: Bangalore, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Kolkata and Bhoomika.
Later in 2008, Sinha was invited as co-choreographer the piece Tono, directed and created by Sandra Laronde, artistic director and choreographer of Red Sky, a company based in Toronto that addresses themes of cultural differences. Tono was selected at the Luminato festival in Toronto in 2009, the Beijing Olympics, and the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. Most recently, the show is invited to perform at the Universal Exhibition of Shanghai in China in May 2010.