I am a dance, theatre, and performance studies scholar invested in examining the intersections of bodies, power regimes, and choreography as resistance against social harm. I am an advocate for anti-oppression in the academy. I am a parent, an immigrant, and a feminist.
I am Professor of Dance and Performance Cultures at Brunel University of London where I was also Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion (2024-2026). I am the author of the award-winning book Akram Khan: Dancing New Interculturalism (Palgrave, May 2015) and also Unmaking Contact: Choreographing South Asian Touch (OUP, 2025). I have a PhD from Royal Holloway, University of London (2011) on the British-Bangladeshi dance artist Akram Khan, an MA in Physical Theatre from Royal Holloway, University of London (2001) and a BA (Hons) in Theatre & Performance from the University of Plymouth (2000). I trained in classicised and contemporary Indian dance in India and specialised in physical theatre in the UK.
Prior to joining the Theatre Department at Brunel, I was a Senior Lecturer in the Drama Department at the University of Wolverhampton and have also taught in the Theatre and Performance Department at the University of Plymouth.
I am currently serving on SubPanel 33 for REF2029 for both the Criteria Setting Phase and the Assessment Phase and did the same for REF2021.
I was Co-Chair for TaPRA (Theatre and Performance Research Association) alongside Dr Broderick Chow (2022-2025) and Dr Rachel Hann (2022-2024) – please read our Chairs-Elect statement here. I served as an elected Board of Directors for DSA (Dance Studies Association 2018-2021). I am on the advisory board for Contemporary Theatre Review journal, the Journal of Embodied Research and the Physical Cultural Studies monograph series by Cardiff University Press. I have served as a sub-panel member for Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies for REF2021 (2018-2022). I was elected as Secretary to join the Executive Committee for SCUDD (Standing Conference for University Drama Departments) (2013 to 2016). I was an Editorial Board Member on SDHS ‘s (Society of Dance History Scholars) ‘Studies in Dance History’ monograph series (2015-2018), a co-convenor for the Bodies and Performance Body Working Group at TaPRA (Theatre and Performance Research Association) (2014-2017) and a co-editor for the Training Grounds section of Theatre, Dance and Performance Training Journal (2015-2018).
Royona Mitra 