About SBDC: 

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The Sujata Banerjee Dancy Company (SBDC) was founded in 1985 by artistic director and choreographer Sujata Banerjee, MBE. 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.

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Sujata Banerjee MBE

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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. 

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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.