Saswati Sen

🪔 About

Saswati Sen, born on August 25, 1953, in Chittaranjan, West Bengal, India, is an acclaimed Indian classical dancer, choreographer, teacher, and author, renowned for her mastery of Kathak, particularly in the Lucknow gharana tradition. She is celebrated for her expressive abhinaya (narrative expression). Sen began her initial Kathak training at the age of six or seven under Smt. Reba Vidyarthi at Delhi's Kathak Kendra and Bharatiya Kala Kendra. She later became a dedicated and senior disciple of the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj, training under him for over four decades. She received a national scholarship from the Ministry of Culture in 1969. Despite initially pursuing medical studies, Sen left college to fully commit to her artistic path in dance. Throughout her career, Sen has been a leading performer in Kathak Kendra's repertory company, captivating audiences at major festivals such as the Khajuraho Dance Festival, Kathak Prasang in Bhopal and Jaipur, and international events worldwide. She collaborated closely with Birju Maharaj on numerous dance-dramas, publications like Anga Kavya and Haas Kunjan, and the instructional video Kathak Parichay. She also appeared in Satyajit Ray's 1977 film, "Shatranj Ke Khiladi." Saswati Sen serves as the Secretary and driving force behind Kalashram, the Delhi-based institution founded by her guru Pandit Birju Maharaj, where she oversees core teaching programs and trains the next generation of dancers. Her pedagogy emphasizes a holistic approach to Kathak training, integrating technical precision with expressive depth. In 2013, she authored "The Master Through My Eyes," a biographical tribute to Birju Maharaj. Following Birju Maharaj's passing in 2022, Sen has been instrumental in preserving and evolving his legacy through meticulous documentation and curated festivals at Kalashram. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2004), Sanskriti Award, Shringar Mani Award, Critic's Recommendation Award, Nritya Choodamani Award (2012).