Dance productions with co-dancers

Sanjukta Banerjee

Dr. Sanjukta Banerjee is an award-winning Indo-Canadian dancer, choreographer, and educator renowned for her dynamic stage presence and excellence in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, and Kathakali. Holding a Doctoral degree in Dance from York University, Canada, her work bridges tradition and contemporary thought, bringing scholarly depth and artistic brilliance to every performance.

An alumna of Kolkata Kalamandalam, Banerjee was tulelaged under Late Kalamandalam P. Govindan Kutty and Dr.Thankamani Kutty. Banerjee is an empaneled artist with Doordarshan, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, and Sangeet Natak Akademi. She has captivated audiences across India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.

Banerjee is globally credited for her iconic portrayal of Durga during Navratri and Mahalaya which was broadcast nationally on Indian Television-Doordarshan for ten consecutive years (1994–2014), earning her widespread recognition and acclaim.

As the Founder and Artistic Director of Saugandhikam Dance Academy, Banerjee leads one of the Greater Toronto Area’s premier institutions for Indian classical dance . With multiple teaching locations in North York, Scarborough, and Mississauga, as well as global online programs, she mentors the next generation of performers with a focus on excellence, discipline, and artistry.

In addition to performance and teaching, she is a sought-after curator, mentor, and rehearsal director, shaping high-caliber productions and cultural initiatives across Canada. Her work is supported by Dancemakers, To Live continues to elevate Indian classical dance on international stages while building a vibrant artistic community in the GTA.

EDUCATION

2021 PhD., York University, Toronto, Canada

“Men in Mohiniyattam: An Ethnographic Study on Gender Binaries” (Barbara Sellers-Young)

http://hdl.handle.net/10315/38778

1999 MA English Literature, University of Calcutta, India
1996 BA (Hons) English Literature, University of Calcutta, India

TEACHING

Artistic Director, Saugandhikam Dance Academy 1999-present
Seasonal Faculty, Sheridan College, 2021
York University, Toronto, Canada, 2015-2021
Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, India, 1997-2007
Nehru Childrens’ Musuem, Kolkata, India, 1999-2007
Kalamandalam Research Institute, Kolkata, India, 1990-2000
Arangetrams conducted under Saugandhikam Dance Academy
Mentoring dance and theatre artists
Rehearsal director for several dance and theatre productions
Dramaturge in various dance productions

Awards

Bennet Family Graduate Bursary Award, York University, 2021
“Natya Kala Rathna” title by Regatta Kala Kendra and NKK, Toronto, 2015.
"Singar Mani" title awarded by Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai, 1999
"Outstanding Young Person Award” by North Calcutta Junior Chamber, Kolkata,1997
"CCI" award '97 by Critic Circle of India, New Delhi,1997
Senior Research Scholarship, by Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India, 1996-1997
“Jadubhatta Purashkar” '95 by Salt Lake Music Conference, Kolkata, India,1995

Eminent Personalities

Conference Presentations

“Interconnectedness of Nature between Mohiniyattam and Tagore’s musical composition” at University of Toronto, FOOT 33 conference, department of Dance and Theatre Studies, 2025
Asia-Pacific Dance Festival and Conference, University of Hawaii, 2019
American Men’s Studies Conference, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 2017
International Federation for Theatre Research, University of Stockholm, Sweden, 2016
15th Art History Symposium 2016, York University, Toronto, 2016
Dance Transition Resource Centre 2016, “On the Move”, Toronto, 2016
ICONDE 2014, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 2014

Workshops/Residencies:

‘Embodiment of Tagore’s Poetic vision’ curating the residency under Dancemakers with local and international collaborators, Toronto, 2024-2025
Tagore’s Reading group and workshop, Toronto 2025
Dancing in the grove with Sanjukta, Toronto, 2024
Embodiment of Tagore’s Poetic vision’ curating the residency under Dancemakers with local and international collaborators, 2024
‘Engaging In Repertoire’ co-curated by Tanveer Alam and Nithya Garg, Dancemakers, 2023
Natya Shastra and its utilities, Grand Valley State University 2017
Grand Valley State University, Michigan, USA, 2017
“Dance as Language of Communication” on the event of World Language Day, University of Michigan, Lansing, USA, 2010
Dance-drama construction, Singapore 2006
Elements of Acting and Character-construction, Mumbai 1997; Kolkata 1998
Workshops on Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam in Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, 2000
Movement analysis through Mohiniyattam, Lebanon,1994
Introduction To Bharataatyam, Lebanon, 1994

Prominent Performances

2019 - Present

2026 Upcoming events
- Annual day(26th Sept at Yorkwoods Library Theatre )
- Dance Ontario weekend Yogasutra Saugandhikam Dance Academy
- Toronto Sankriti Sanga opening ceremony Notun Juger Bhore
2025:
- DanceMakers(April)
- Carrassauga(May)
- Chandalika(November)
2024:
- 45th year celebration of TBDG
- Toronto and India tour
- 25th year celebration of Saugandhikam Dance Academy
- Toronto performance performance with India tour with Saugandhikam Dance Academy students
- DanceShare Series-Criss-Cross Curation
- Common Ground Dance Festival
- Carrassauga
2023:
- Parliament of World Religions, Chicago
- Vivekananda Fund raising Dinner, Vedanta Society
- Toronto International Dance Festival
- Dakshina Festival, Regatta Kala Kendra
- Carrassauga
2022:
- Toronto Bengali Drama Annual Event
- Carrassauga
2020:
- India Tour
- Carrassauga
2019:
- Asia-pacific Dance Festival, University of Hawaii
- Guelph International dance festival
- Carrassauga

2009 - 2018

2018:
- TCF Fund raising event
- AKMG Convention
- Golden Jubilee Celebrations, Vedanta Centre
- Parliament of World Religions
- Carrassauga
2017:
- Arts at Noon, Grand Valley State University
2015:
- International Dance Festival
- Panorama Indian Day Festival
- Durga Puja celebrations
- Dancing Damsels Festivals, Toronto
2014:
- Dancing Damsels Festivals
- Follow- Me TV launching Ceremony
- Udayshankar Dance Festival, Kolkata
- Dance festival, St. Louis
- Durga Puja celebrations Omaha, New York, Cleveland
2013:
- Toronto Islington-Albion Festival,
- Dundas Square, Indian Consulate
- 33rd North America Bengali Conference, Toronto
- Toronto Islington-Albion Festival,
- Inspirations 2013, sponsored by Toronto Arts Council
2011:
- Indian festival, Saugatuck Performing Arts, Michigan
2010:
- World language Day, University of Lansing

1999 - 2008

2008:
- Epar Bangla-Opar Bangla, WMBA, Michigan
2006:
- NCPA
- Konark Festival, Orissa
- All India Women’s' Conference, EZCC, Kolkata
- National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai
- Rabindra Jayanthi Celebrations, Singapore
2005:
- Darjeeling Carnival org. by ICCR, EZCC, Russian Consulate
2004:
- Swarna Nritya Pratibha, Sangeet Natak Academy, Delhi
- Basanto Utsav, Burdwan University
2001:
- Udayshankar Dance Festival, Kolkata
- Basanto Utsav, Kolkata Rajya Sangeet Academy
2000:
- Udayshankar Dance Festival, Kolkata
- Konark Festival, Orissa
- Indian Classical festival, Kuwait, Qatar, Doha
1999:
- Haridas Sangeet Sammelan
- Bhakti Kala Kshetra (Org.: ISKCON)
- India International Centre
- Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, Mumbai

1989 - 1998

1998:
- Kal Ka Kalakar (Org.: Sur Singar Samsad)
- Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, Mumbai
- Bhakti Kala Kshetra (Org.: ISKCON), Mumbai
- India International Centre, New Delhi
- Udayshankar Dance Festival, Kolkata
- Vasanta Utsav (Org.: EZCC) Burdwan, W.B.
- Kal Ka Kalakar (Org.: Sur Singar Samsad), Mumbai
1997:
- Vasanta Utsav (Org.: EZCC) Burdwan, W.B.
1996:
- Udayshankar Dance Festival, Kolkata
1995:
- Salt Lake City Music Conference, in Calcutta
1994:
- International Festival of Performing Arts, Beirut, Lebanon
- Salt Lake City Music Conference, in Calcutta
1991:
- Youth Festival
- 3 - City Dance Festival (Org.: ITC) in cities of Vishakhapatnam, Patna, and Lucknow
- Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Kerala Kalamandalam, Calcutta
- 3 - City Dance Festival (Org.: ITC) in cities of Vishakhapatnam, Patna, and Lucknow
1990:
- Salt Lake City Music Conference
- Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Kerala Kalamandalam
- Youth Festival, Russian Consulate, Calcutta
- Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Kerala Kalamandalam, Trichur
- Youth Festival, Russian Consulate, Calcutta
1989:
- 37th Dover Lane Music Conference. Kolkata

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