KAY CROOK
Artistic Director
Kay Crook is a freelance dance artist and Artistic Director of Chhaya Collective, a female-led contemporary dance company working between UK and India since 2013.
Kay has choreographed productions for Chhaya, including ‘Antara’ (Interwoven productions, Asian Arts Agency, UK), ’Falling Light’ (Kha Foundation, India), and current touring productions, ‘HYMNOS’ (duet) and ‘KHAOS’, (supported by Arts Council England, Dance in Devon and Barbican Theatre); an all female ensemble work and outreach programme promoting women’s empowerment, featuring six female dancers and three live musicians.
Kay facilitated Chhaya’s live stream collaboration between India and UK in 2017, allowing thirty dance artists to connect, choreograph and perform collaboratively across two continents, in partnership with Shoonya (Bangalore), Arts View Live (UK) and Exeter Phoenix.
Kay has hosted projects in India, Portugal, Cyprus and Germany, in collaboration with international artists Ajeesh Balakrishnan, Rakesh Sukesh and Nakula Somana.
Kay is the Founder and Director of Chhaya Youth Dance Company (representing the South West at UDance 2018) and has been Associate Lecturer for Attakkalari (Bangalore) and Artist in Residence for PERA (North Cyprus) and for 3Fall Dance Company, creating commissions 'WOLF' and 'PHOENIX'.
Kay has taught in collaboration with State of Emergency, Take Art InspirED, The Point Eastleigh, Earthfall, StopGap, Exeter Phoenix, HFC Master Series, Bridgwater College, Exeter College, Tacchi Morris, Dartington Arts and Cygnet Theatre in the UK, Tanzart-Kirschau (Germany), LAB-Arts (Portugal), In2it Festival (Norway), HIFA (Zimbabwe) and Attakkalari, Shoonya and Lshva in India.
Kay is also a member of the Heather Walrond Company, performing ‘The Rising’ nationally and internationally, touring 2015 - 2019, in collaboration with VOU Dance Company (Fiji).