Natasha Koshti-Symons (MPsych Hons) I have been a dancer since the age of 4 and have progressed with exams in tap, ballet and modern dance. However with an Indian heritage and love of Indian dance and music, I found a passion for Asian dance and wanted to give others the opportunity to experience the modern vibrant taste of India today. Having learnt Bollywood dance during visits to India, I continued my development of Indian cultural dance through lessons in classical traditional Indian dance such as Khattak and Bharatanatyam and different forms of Yoga.
I have also broadened my education into different dance styles that I have experienced with my travels around Asia - Persian, Chinese, Sri Lankan and Thai dancing. My understanding of Thai dancing was through class lessons during a student exchange to Thailand, my Chinese dance experience came through a student University exchange throughout the summer at Shanghai Maritime University, where we were educated in all aspects of Chinese culture, including dance, music and other traditional art forms and I worked for 4 months in Sri Lanka in 2014.
Last year I worked on choreographing a short 4 minute Bollywood/Bhangra dance for a wedding scene for a well known German film company and in 2013 I spent a month in Mumbai working with different Indian dance teachers of different styles including a 3 week dance workshop in Mumbai with top Bollywood Choreographer Saroj Khan
Education: I achieved MPsych Advanced Psychology (Hons) from Plymouth University after attaining a 2:1 in at degree level. Other qualifications include grade 8 in singing alongside exams in piano and flute, as well as exams in Tap, Ballet and Modern dance.
With over 10 years of dance teaching experience I have taught many age groups and abilities. With the majority of school work being in mainstream schools, I have also experience with special educational needs children. Many schools require workshops to support the "about India" section of the curriculum or sometimes to go alongside healthy schools project as part of a PE lessons and to give a wider cultural understanding. I have conducted 'after school' clubs for infants and also workshops for various occasions to all ages, as well as my group performing for many events.
Dance Committee’s
Plymouth Mela: Along with teaching, I was involved in the committee for organising the first ever Plymouth Mela in 2010 and the second Mela in 2012. My group also performed a 20 minute piece and I choreographed a mass performance Bollywood piece where many dance schools from the local community got together and were taught this piece by me to perform as a mass.
Dance Dance Dance: is another event I on the committee for, after 6 successful years, raising money for charity the performances take place in the university staging dance performances from around the world for a night dance that aims for integration through culture. This year we we unable to use the University Theatre and I was involved in organising Dance Around The World at the Barbican Theatre, Plymouth.
Natasha's Bollywood Dance School: Bollywood dance is a fusion or old and new India, I mix music pieces together to tell stories about recent Bollywood films using all forms of Indian dance, the class has been running for over 7 years now and has been a part of many events within the city including Diwali Eid, ICCI Dome, Plymouth Mela, Derriford Hospital, Illuminate, Theatre Royal, Dance Dance Dance and charity events and many more. Please see class details about Bollywood dance for more information.
Please note: I am fully CRB checked, a professional member of Foundation for Community Dance as well as being fully insured, with all documentation available upon request.
Other Information: I was crowned Miss Inspiration UK 2016 (alongside Miss Inspiration Charity UK 2016 and Publicity) for my on going charity and community work. I was then crowned Miss Royle Charity UK 2017 and am currently Mrs Plymouth Atlantic 2019/20 competing in the UK national finals in Jan 2020- with this i am working closely with MIND and awareness for mental health and body confidence, running creative writing workshops this service users and Bollywood. I am also supporting lots of local charities and events spreading mental health acceptance.
Natasha's Bollywood Dance School (Dancing since 2008)
