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Wolfson Honorary Fellow awarded an MBE in The King’s Honours List 2026

5 January 2026
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Balbir and Paul - Unmasking Pain

We are delighted to celebrate that our Wolfson Honorary Fellow, Balbir Singh has been awarded an MBE in The King’s Honours List 2026

Balbir founded the Balbir Singh Dance Company in 1995 after graduating from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and has built a nationally and internationally respected company from our base in Leeds. His work brings together Kathak and Western contemporary dance, touching lives through deep, long-term work with communities in West Yorkshire and beyond.  For three decades they have championed creativity, health, wellbeing and connection.
Professor Paul Chazot noted 
"This honour belongs to everyone who has shared the journey with us over the years. We couldn’t be prouder of this richly deserved recognition of Balbir’s leadership, artistry and lifelong commitment to people and communities. Please join us in congratulating Balbir and the whole company, including our brilliant artists, audiences and followers."
On his recent visit to Parliament to meet with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting as part of the NHS Hindu Network. Balbir talked about the Durham University collaboration on the Unmasking Pain project and work that has grown out of it.
Balbir said "The significant impact of the partnership with Professor Paul Chazot and colleagues at the University has been felt across the country with participants, groups and health based staff at Thomas and Guy's Hospital INPUT Pain Unit. Without the fabulous resources of Durham's Oriental Museum and Botanics we would not have been able to grow the project so successfully to gain national recognition and celebrate the work in Parliament."