Jasmin Vardimon

Jasmin Vardimon (born 1971) is a UK-based choreographer, dancer and artistic director of the Jasmin Vardimon Company, which she formed in 1998 in the UK. Vardimon is an associate artist at Sadler's Wells Theatre, since 2006.

Vardimon has been recognized by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) receiving in 2013 the award for Excellence in International Dance, in recognition of her choreographic work over recent years. Vardimon's contributions to dance and theatre were also recognized by Royal Holloway, University of London, receiving an Honorary Doctorate in 2014. In 2018 she received an honorary fellowship from the Institute of the Arts Barcelona.

Vardimon was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to dance.

Career

The Jasmin Vardimon Company (formerly Zbang Dance Company) was founded in London in 1998 and incorporated in 2001.

Vardimon became an associate artist at The Place (1998), and a Yorkshire Dance Partner (1999- 2005). In 2004, Jasmin Vardimon Company became an Arts Council England Regular Funded Organisation (RFO) and since has been supported as an Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation (NPO).

To date two books have been published which explore Jasmin’s work: Jasmin Vardimon’s Dance Theatre, Movement, Memory and Metaphor (2017) by Libby Worth, published by Routledge and Justitia and Multidisciplinary Readings of the Work of the Jasmin Vardimon Company (2016), edited by Paul Johnson and Sylwia Dobkowska, published by Intellect . These are part of the education resources which the company offer.

Early age

Vardimon grew up in a Kibbutz Ein Hahoresh in central Israel. After years of doing athletics and gymnastics she then began dancing at the age of 14. Vardimon became a member of the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company for five years and in 1995 moved to Europe after winning the British Council ‘On the Way to London’ Choreography Award.

The Jasmin Vardimon Company relocated to Ashford, Kent in 2012. In 2022 JV H.O.M.E was opened, a purpose built building, dedicated to the company’s research, creation and multi-disciplinary creative learning programme. JV H.O.M.E became the company's new creative home. The studios and production space are dedicated to the company's creative research and future productions, as well as education programmes, community engagement and multi-disciplinary artistic study. JV H.O.M.E is supported by Kent County Council and Arts Council England.

Works 2025 - Yesterday for Staatstheater Braunschweig, Germany 2024 - NOW for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2024 - Choreography for Carmen at Glyndebourne Opera 2023 - Q for MIR Dance Company, Germany 2022 - ALiCE for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2021 - Alice in VR Wonderland (virtual reality dance performance) for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2021 - Canvas for JV2 2021 2020 - Dark Moon for JV2 2020 2020* - BodyMap for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2019 - Tomorrow for JV2 2019 2019 - (In Between) for Ballet Central 2018 - Medusa for Jasmin Vardimon Company, premiered at the Gulbenkian. 2018 - Choreography for Paloma Faith's single, Loyal 2018 - (In Between) for JV2 2018 2017 - Tomorrow for JV2 2017 2016 - Pinocchio for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2016 - Tomorrow for Hellenic Dance Company, Athens Greece 2016 - Tannhäuser for Royal Opera House, London 2015 - (In Between) for JV2 2015 2015 - MAZE for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2015 - Tannhäuser for Lyric Opera of Chicago 2014 - Park for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2014 - Tomorrow for JV2 2014 2013 - (In Between) for National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) 2013 - Yesterday for Bitef Theatre, Belgrade Serbia 2013 - Choreography for Atlantis BBC drama (Episode 2) 2013 - Tomorrow for JV2 2013 2012 - Freedom for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2012 - Home for OperaShots season with composer Graham Fitkin, Royal Opera House 2 2011 - Shabbat for Decade Tour, Bare Bones, UK 2010 - 7734 for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2010 - Tannhäuser for Royal Opera House, London 2008 - Yesterday for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2007 - Because for Hellenic Dance Company, Athens Greece 2007 - Justitia for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2005 - Park for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2003 - Lullaby for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2002 - DisEase Room for Welsh Independent Dance, Cardiff 2002 - Oh Mr. Grin for Transition Dance Company, UK 2001 - Ticklish for Jasmin Vardimon Company 2001 - Shabbat for Bare Bones, Birmingham, UK 2000 - LureLureLure for Jasmin Vardimon Company 1999 - Tête for Jasmin Vardimon Company 1998 - Madame Made for Jasmin Vardimon Company 1997 - Therapist for Jasmin Vardimon Company 1995 - Echo Isn't there for Suzanne Dellal Centre, Israel 1993 - Mr. Hole in the Head for Suzanne Dellal Centre, Israel 1992 - Master Morality for Suzanne Dellal Centre, Israel 1991 - Lo Tinaf for Suzanne Dellal Centre, Israel

Awards and recognitions

2023 - Jasmin received Honorary Ambassador of Ashford Award 2022 - Awarded MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours, for her service to dance. 2019 - Nominated for Best Choreography at the UK Music Video Awards for her choreography for Loyal 2018 - Honorary fellowship from the Institute Arts Barcelona. 2014 - Honorary doctorate from Royal Holloway, University of London 2014 - The Kent Culture Award's Artist Award 2014 - Arts Council England's Exceptional Award in partnership with Turner Contemporary 2014 - Destination East Kent Award 2013 - Dimitrije Parlić Award, Serbia's Choreography Award 2013 - Invited by Sadler's Wells to become the first Artistic Director for the newly formed National Youth Dance Company 2011-14 - Visiting Professor at Wolverhampton University 2006–present - Associate Artist at Sadler's Wells 2003 - A nomination for Best Female Artist at the Critics' Circle National Dance Awards 2000 - Jerwood Choreography Award 1999-2005 - Yorkshire Dance Partner 1998 - The London Arts Board ‘New Choreographers’ Award

Since September 2011, Vardimon has been a visiting professor at the University of Wolverhampton. Her company donates an annual prize for drama graduates of the university.

In 2012 Vardimon launched JV2, a full-time Professional Development Certificate course at her company's home base in Ashford, Kent.

In 2013 Vardimon was invited by Sadler's Wells Theatre to be the first Artistic Director of the newly formed National Youth Dance Company.

In 2014 she received an honorary doctorate from Royal Holloway, University of London, in recognition of her outstanding achievement in her field, and her contribution to the university and to education generally.

It is a practical course designed to bridge the gap between student and professional life, and aims to train participants as versatile and multi-disciplinary performers by exploring the dialogue between dance and theatre, improving strength, endurance and technique. Towards the end of the course the students form a young company, experiencing touring nationally alongside the Jasmin Vardimon Company.