Susmita Chatterjee

🪔 About

Sushmita Banerjee is a distinguished Indian Kathak exponent, choreographer, researcher, and guru, primarily associated with the Lucknow Gharana. She began her Kathak training at the tender age of four in the Lucknow Gharana. Her extensive tutelage included renowned gurus such as Pandit Ramnarayan Mishra, Shrimati Maya Chatterjee, and Pandit Vijay Shankar. She also briefly trained under the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj, under whose guidance she played a pivotal role in reviving the "Katha Shaili" of Kathak, a narrative style emphasizing storytelling through dance. Academically, Sushmita Banerjee holds a bachelor's degree in English literature from Loreto College, Calcutta, and a master's degree in English literature from Calcutta University. She is a graded artiste of Doordarshan and an empanelled artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Her career as a performer has taken her across the globe, with performances in major festivals throughout India, Europe, Africa, North America, and South-East Asia. Notably, she was invited by UNESCO to present her choreographic works in Tokyo in 2007, having previously visited Japan in 1992-1993 to showcase Kathak. As a choreographer, her notable works include "Africa" and "Abhishar" (both based on Tagore's works), "Pratiksha," "Sita," "Tal-Tarang," "Chakravuyha," "Kumarsambhavam," "Hanuman," and "Gauhar Jaan." Many of these productions have received support from the Ministry of Culture and Human Resources. Sushmita Banerjee is also a dedicated researcher, currently undertaking extensive work to revive old compositions of Wajid Ali Shah, the Nawab of Oudh, a contribution recognized with the Emeritus Fellowship by the Government of India. She has been featured in Professor Pallibi Chakrevorty's book, "Bells of Change," for her significant contributions to Kathak. She has established dance centers in Kolkata, Kerala, and Geneva. She founded "The Kerala Gharana," a platform dedicated to the learning, teaching, and sharing of Indian dance and culture. In Kolkata, she serves as the Artistic Director of "Stuti – Centre for Performing Arts". Additionally, she is actively involved with SPICMACAY, conducting workshops in educational institutions across India. She also contributes as a member of the Board of Judges for the Inter Collegiate Dance Competition organized by Calcutta University and has participated in debates and talks for All India Radio, Kolkata. Awards & Honours: Emeritus Fellowship, Sringarmani, Arya Natya Samaj, One of the top 100 ICONIC Artists (2021), Best Choreography Award (2021), Nritya Sadhana Puraskar.