Rashpal Singh Bansal
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Posted: 10 August 2009 
Choreographer and dance artist Rashpal Singh Bansal died in the first week of August. He was just 29. He trained at London Contemporary Dance School in the 1990s and was associated with many dance companies and organisations in London. He was choreographing his own work from 1997 and for a while ran his own company, United Dance Artists. In 2004 he was the recipient of a Bonnie Bird Choreography Award at Laban and worked with Shobana Jeyasingh, contributing a section of choreography to her work Transtep. In 2005 he received a Robin Howard Foundation Commission from The Place. The work he produced, called Parallels, featured in Dance Umbrella that year, alongside Dissonant another another commission from ROH2. In 2007 he appeared in Darshan Singh Bhuller’s multi media production Find Me Amongst the Black at Southbank Centre and in 2008 his work Anything… but exotic was part of the Springloaded season at The Place. Our reviewer said his solo was "mesmerizing" read more He started his dance career studying Performing Arts at Newham Sixth Form College, East London, where he worked with a range of artists who inspired him – including Clare Connor, Wayne McGregor, Mark Murphy and Saburo Teshigawara. Tributes "Rashpal Singh Bansal was one of the most talented and thoughtful choreographers of his generation and his loss will be keenly felt by all. Dance Umbrella was proud to present his works Dissonant and Parallels in 2005, the first year of our Brief Encounters strand, in which talented, younger choreographers are introduced into the context of our Festival. Rashpal had a powerful stage presence and his performances, particularly in his own work but also in works by others including Shobana Jeyasingh, were memorable. He had much, much more inside him and I am deeply saddened that we will never know what he might have given us in the future."
"I met Rashpal Bansal in 2004 through Wayne McGregor and I asked him to choreograph a short piece for us and we remained friends ever since. Our long conversations over the phone or in person ranged from choreography to relationships and much in between. Whatever it was, Rashpal always engaged with it with a rare passion and intensity. When he danced in the studio his face and his entire being seemed to lock into a concentration that left the outside world ( where he sometimes felt vulnerable and frustrated) behind. He cared deeply about the possibilities and resonance of movement and brought a seriousness and intelligence to the art of dance making. His depth of feeling often meant that the contrary voices and politics of the dance world at times caused him distress. As an Asian man from a traditional family trying to forge a career in the arts he was particularly under pressure. Rashpal was a rare and beautiful young man and I mourn his loss not only as a friend but also as a fellow choreographer." Shobana Jesyasingh.
"For the past 10 years, Rashpal was part of the artistic community of The Place, as a student at London Contemporary Dance School and as a performer and choreographer. He made his Resolution! debut in 2004 and in 2005 presented a full evening of works in our theatre, including that year's Robin Howard Foundation Commission. His work was also included in the Spring Loaded season in 2008. He was a regular presence at The Place, developing his own work and supporting that of other artists. Photo:Rashpal in 2005 |
By Satinder Kaur Nagra - 11th August 2009
Rashpal was the best brother one could ever ask for he was so caring and giving. We had a wonderfull relationship and I cannot start to say how much I miss him. He has ripped my heart in two and taken one part with him. I never thought I would have to make arrangements for my own brother's funeral. Our family is distort and the shock has not even sank in yet. We are expecting him to walk through the door. I feel so numb as I write this message but I feel like Iam writing to him that if by any chance that this is a mistake then please come home. We need you. My son your nephew needs you. I never realised how much my brother was loved and how big he was in the arts, and I feel so sad that I had to find this out by lossing him first. I am so sorry goldy if I let you down but I will make sure you get the best as I bring myself to say Good Bye. Your sister Satinder xx.
By Eckhard Thiemann - 11th August 2009
Rashpal was an important figure in the programme of Woking Dance Festival. We comissioned two new works from him in 2005 and 2007, a site-specific work for a public staircase and 'LONDON', his tribute to the multi-cultural city he loved, which formed the centrepiece of his only evening-long programme dedicated to his work. Rashpal was a singularly intense artist, always querying his practice and his position in the complex sructures of the arts in the UK. I miss his intense questioning. He often challenged the status quo for me. Rashpal also itnroduced me to a number of dancers and artists, with whom I now continue to work on a regular basis. For this I will always be grateful and I will miss him as a friend, artist and trusted colleague.
By Satinder Kaur Nagra - 12th August 2009
I would just like to say thank you to everyone who has said something about my Brother. He always said he wanted to leave a marked in the industry and i know now that he has. Dance was his world and passion with fire. He had such high hopes but was not able to achieve all he wanted. This is why i know he will be happy to see that the mark he wanted leave he has done it. Goldy (rashpal) look how big you are!!!! I Love You. Gudia (Satinder)
By glyn perrin - 13th August 2009
Five years ago Rashpal and I met and worked together for the first and only time. And now it turns out to have been the last time, a fact I cannot really believe, but just sense with a dull, infinite sadness. We used to walk back to Holloway Road tube station after rehearsals. His conversation was just like his choreography and his dancing: so beautiful. Wired, nimble, serious, vulnerable, honest, startling and challenging. A challenge directed at the comfortable habits I rub along with when there is nobody like Rashpal around to wake me up. He loved video games, and he suggested that I couldn't really be a modern man since I knew nothing about them. That made me smile then, and now it makes me sad and thoughtful, since he is probably right. But we did share a passion for all forms of musical electronica, and CDs were exchanged, and obscure Japanese record labels chased up. Rashpal broadened my mind and opened my ear. He knew the difference between modern and fashionable all right though. Even if the intensity of his dedication to his dance art, rather than to the immediate success it might bring him or the boxes he might be expected to tick, might seem old-fashioned these days ... ah, come on, let's be honest, in that way too you will be ahead of your time, dear friend. In a brief spell you taught me a lot. I wish we had had more time on our walks home. I wish we had had another chance to work together. I wish that it would not be only the vivid image of you that will keep arriving in my mind whenever some unfamiliar challenge of modern life and times turns up that I am too lazy to get to grips with. I wish many things. I so wish I'd told you all this earlier. I wish you were still here.
By Avatâra Ayuso - 13th August 2009
“What do you think?” Rasphal turned around and asked me. This was the first time he crossed words with me, one day after rehearsal. I remember his intense way of looking at my eyes, giving me the time to answer him, without any hurry, just being patient. I felt I had all the time in the world to reply to him.
He was always asking questions, listening to whatever that came to your mind and re-questioning what you had just said, in order to re-think once again. From our conversations about art (dance was just the starting point), I felt he was eager to understand the world, and that he was open to share his search with you, to take you by the hand in that long pathway if you wanted to come with him.
To continue questioning the world around us and to create dance as passionately as he did might be the best way to keep him with us.
By Amy McGann - 14th August 2009
By Amy McGann, Rachel Evans, Anja Schall, Sarah Golding, Kate Mummery, Xenoula Eleftheriades, Jake Nwogu, Kate Scanlan and Janina Rajakangas.
“We were all lucky enough to work with Rashpal delivering Random Dance education projects. Most people will think of Rashpal as a beautiful dancer and talented choreographer- we knew him as a passionate and inspirational teacher. He was of course committed to his professional dancing and choreographing, but he was also committed to his work with young people. He set himself and them high standards and he realised the potential in them that they had not necessarily seen in themselves. His energy and sparkle in his eye engaged some of the hardest to reach- converting some of the most challenging young people into dance lovers. Organisation was not one of his strongest points, but his sense of humour and quick wit would carry him through many a situation. We and all those young people that he inspired will miss him so much. There was so much more to see…”
By Mandeep Raikhy - 14th August 2009
Rashpal's tremendous passion for dance, politics and sports will be remembered by all those who were fortunate enough to experience it. From his innate sense of inquiry to his constant quest for perfection, from his intensity in the studio to his unconditional loyalty as a friend, Rashpal touched us all in the most profound ways. My heartiest condolences to all his loved ones.
By Jasmine Wilson - 19th August 2009
Everyone at Wayne McGregor | Random Dance was shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news of Rashpal's death. We had a longstanding relationship with Rashpal, first meeting him as an enthusiastic and talented youth project participant at The Place. Over the years he worked with us on other projects both as a participant and teacher and we were thrilled and proud of his success as a choreographer and performer. I last worked with Rashpal last Summer when he assisted us on our Proprius project at East London Dance and the Royal Opera House. He was, as always, a pleasure to have with us, showing great talent and integrity both creatively and in his interaction with the young participants. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this time. He will be missed. Jasmine Wilson, Wayne McGregor | Random Dance
By Marc Brew - 19th August 2009
I remember the first time I met you and trying to find a way to remember your name. We joked at the following:
Rash - stands out from a crowd
pal - a best friend.
Thank you for making me laugh, for being such good company, sharing your fine art of dance. But most importantly for being you.
I will miss you.
Love Marc Brew
By Lizz Fort - 20th August 2009
"Rashpal touched our lives both as a loving friend and a fellow dancer. He was a man with a great heart and an enquiring mind. We will cherish the intensity, the energy and the creativity that he brought to the studio and his lively friendship. We will miss him more than words can express. Our deepest condolences to his family at this very sad time."
Saju Hari, Mavin Khoo, Kamala Devam, Devaraj Thimmaiah, Shane Shambu, Avatara Ayuso, Lisa Stefani, Yamuna Devi, Mandeep Raikhy, Jose Agudo, Navala Chaudhari - present and past dancers at Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company who worked with Rashpal
