Omar Yousaf London, United Kingdom

I am interested in collaborating with anybody who works on artistic projects involving music, dance, and films about psychological topics. Always looking for new collaborators who can help out with short films that I write scripts for. Regardless of what aspects of the film-making process you can contribute to, please get in touch.

My psychology background is in experimental social psychology (in which I did my PhD at the University of Cambridge), and I've published articles on cognitive dissonance, attitude/behaviour change interventions, religious cognition, self and motivation, dispositional/trait mindfulness, and the social psychology of health.

Following my PhD in 2010, I worked for four years in different health psychology settings (Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, and Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London). From 2014-2017, I was a psychology lecturer at the University of Bath where I lectured in health psychology, social psychology, and the psychology of music. From 2017-2022 I was a senior lecturer in psychology at Bath Spa University where I taught in social psychology, personality and individual differences, and the psychology of music. 

Currently, my research is in social and personality psychology, the psychology of music, mindfulness, religion, creativity, and emotional intelligence. I have predominantly used quantitative (especially experimental methods) but I'm also experienced in qualitative and mixed-methods.

My music background is in Indian classical music (Hindustani style), which I have received formal training in from Ranbir Singh Ji (Taus and Dilruba player based in India) and Surjeet Singh Ji (Sarangi player based in London).

Apart from teaching the instruments of dilruba, esraj, taus, and taar shehnai, I direct an Indian music ensemble at the University, and teach Indian classical music theory, performance, and improvisation.

I also perform as a vocalist in the ensemble, and have performed as a soloist dilruba player since 2008 (venues include Winstanley Theatre in Trinity College at Cambridge, The Walter Roy Theatre in Norwich, and Michael Tippett Centre at Bath Spa University). Some of my performances are available on my YouTube channel.

My dance background is predominantly in various street and ethnic dance styles which I started learning in the early 90s in Copenhagen, where I grew up. In 2002, I started choreographing hip-hop routines to music of different cultures and with a wide range of rhythmic flavours (including Latin, Indian, and African). I also performed as a solo and group dancer in Denmark and then from 2004 in the UK.

My choreographies incorporate elements from various street styles such as old school hip-hop, popping, lyrical hip hop, jazz-funk, and dancehall. I am particularly interested in integrating various dance styles, and draw inspiration from various musical genres in order to experiment with movement and expression. To see some of my choreographies, please visit my YouTube channel.