Team Mela : Yarisha Singh
547 views · Published 13 September 2014 · 0:46 · Indexed 19 October 2026
Channel: Mela on SABC · 2014 · People & Blogs
Yarisha Singh can best be described as a versatile specialist who is equally adept in ballet, Spanish, African, Irish and contemporary dance styles – while also being a yoga expert. Yarisha graduated from UCT School of Dance in 2001 with a B.Mus. in dance and a distinction in choreography. She immediately embarked on her professional career with Free Flight Dance Company under the direction of Adele Blank. In 2002, having developed an interest in the Spanish style, she joined La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre, where she performed until 2008. At this point she moved back to Johannesburg to join the newly formed Mzansi Productions under Esther Nasser and Dirk Badenhorst. This was a direct spin-off from the dance reality TV show Dans Dans Dans in which Yarisha took third place. She has won various other dance titles, including the 2009 Gauteng MEC Award for ‘Most Outstanding Female Contemporary Dancer’, two Kanna Awards from the KKNK and a nomination for the ‘Most Promising Female Contemporary Dancer’ at the 2009 FNB Dance Umbrella/Indaba. From 2001-2008, Yarisha taught contemporary dance and choreographed for various institutions in Cape Town including UCT School of Dance, Cape Junior Ballet and Cape Academy of Performing Arts. She also performed as a guest artist with Cape Town City Ballet, Ballet Theatre Afrikan, Jazzart Dance Theatre and Jozi Dance Company. She was drawn to yoga as a discipline that promoted physical, mental and spiritual harmony and in 2009 intensified her practice as dance injuries began to take their toll. She went on to quality with distinction as a yoga teacher – putting this skill to use when she travelled Asia for two years with her husband. While in Phuket,Thailand, she worked as a yoga therapist and detox consultant at Atsumi Detox Retreat Centre helping to heal guests with various emotional and physical problems. On their return home, she founded her new yoga and wellness venture called Yoga by Yarisha which she now directs in Johannesburg. As a new mother and entrpreneur, Yarisha still finds much fulfillment and happiness in choreographing for dance companies within South Africa – and she is now poised to become a TV guru.
