Sujata Banerjee

🪔 About

Sujata Banerjee is a highly respected Kathak dancer, teacher, choreographer, mentor, and educator, primarily based in the UK. She is recognized internationally for her significant contributions to the development of Kathak. Banerjee grew up in Kolkata, India, where she undertook her initial dance training. She received intensive training from legendary teachers in India, including Pandit Vijai Shankar, Pandit Birju Maharaj, and Mrs. Ruby Bandopadhaya. She began teaching Kathak at the age of eighteen and established her own school, Nrityam, in India in her early twenties. In 1982, Banerjee moved to the UK and, within a year, began teaching, performing, and exploring choreographic work with Kathak movement sensibilities. She founded the Sujata Banerjee Dance Company (SBDC) in 1985, which has since become a leading Kathak performance and teaching organization in the UK. SBDC is dedicated to promoting and developing South Asian dance both in the UK and internationally, creating new choreographic works, fostering artistic partnerships, and nurturing the next generation of artists through its academy, training, and outreach programs. Banerjee is known for her unique pedagogy, which has produced many versatile Kathak professionals. She has a keen interest in understanding the biomechanics related to dance and incorporates her knowledge of sports science into her teaching methods. Beyond her company, Sujata Banerjee has played a vital role in dance education in the UK. She has been involved with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Classical Indian Dance Faculty since its inception, contributing to the original syllabus consultation, rewriting the syllabus and specification, serving as a committee member, senior examiner, and as the Faculty Chair for nearly a decade. She has toured globally, performing as a solo artist and creating productions. Awards & Honours: MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) (2019), Lifetime Achievement Award for education and participation (2019), Honorary Lifetime Membership Award (2016), IADMS Dance Educator award (Nomination) (2020), Lifetime Achievement Awards (Shortlisted) (2017).