sujata banerjee dance company (sbdc)
Edgware
The Sujata Banerjee Dancy Company (SBDC) was founded in 1985 by artistic
director and choreographer Sujata Banerjee. SBDC is at the forefront of
promoting and developing South Asian dance in the UK and internationally. We
create, produce and tour new choreographic works, develop artistic partnerships
across genres and through our training and mentoring programme, education and
outreach projects and the SBDC dance academy, nurture the next generation of
artists and promote access to and awareness of, South Asian music and dance in
all its forms. A company limited by guarantee registered in England no. 5450905,
Registered office: 1 Stage Close, HA8 5LQ, Registered Charity No. 1137391 Sujata
Banerjee Sujata Banerjee, the founder of SBDC, is one of the most respected
Kathak artists of UK today: a choreographer, teacher, mentor and educator.
Sujata is also recognised internationally for her remarkable contribution in
developing Kathak, through mentoring many teachers, creating performance
opportunities for dancers and musicians. Sujata has toured all over the world,
teaching, creating productions and also performing as a solo artist. She had the
opportunity to train intensively with legendary teachers of dance and music in
India: Pandit Vijai Shankar, the master of all masters - Pandit Birju Maharaj,
and Mrs Ruby Bandopadhaya. She started teaching at the age of eighteen and set
up her own school, Nrityam in India, in her early twenties. In 1982 she moved to
UK and within a year started teaching, performing and exploring choreographic
work with Kathak movement sensibilities. The first such collaborative work was
with Birkshire Youth Contemporary Dance Company in 1987. Sujata Banerjee Dance
Company was set up in 1985, which eventually became a registered Charity
organisation. Her passion in dance education is remarkable. She played a vital
role in writing, developing the ISTD Kathak syllabus. Sujata has been a part of
the ISTD Classical Indian Dance Faculty since its inception. She is a committee
member, senior examiner and was the Chair of the Faculty for nearly ten years.
Sujata studied Sport Science and a big believer in the benefits of analytical
and scientific teaching methods. She is a true visionary for dance. Her unique
pedagogy has produced many Kathak professionals who are versatile Kathak dancers
with ability to work successfully with renowned choreographers and directors of
other dance/art forms. Her command over Kathak, sense of humour, easy - positive
and charismatic attitude is inspiring and she is able to keep anyone engaged in
class. In 2019, Sujata received two major awards; MBE, Queen’s award for her
outstanding service to Dance and also the prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement
Award’ from the One Dance UK for education and participation, Nominated for 2020
IADMS Dance Educator award.
