I am a Professor of Dance and Performance Cultures at Brunel University London and the author of the award-winning book Akram Khan: Dancing New Interculturalism (Palgrave, May 2015). I have a PhD from Royal Holloway, University of London (2011) on the British-Bangladeshi 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 classical 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 Chairs-Elect for TaPRA (Theatre and Performance Research Association) alongside Drs Broderick Chow and Rachel Hann. Please read our Chairs-Elect statement here. I also serve as an elected Board of Directors for DSA (Dance Studies Association). 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 