Karina Dutta Karmakar

🪔 About

Karina Dutta Karmakar is an Indian classical dance figure based in Ottawa, Canada, known for her work as an artistic director, choreographer, instructor, performer, and entertainer. She has received training in Kathak, Odissi, and Indian Contemporary dance since 1998 under the tutelage of Guru Saveeta Sharma. Dutta Karmakar continues to refine her skills and perform as a company dancer with Upasana The Spirit of Dance. She is a co-founder, artistic director, choreographer, and dancer of Jannat Performing Arts, an Ottawa-based filmi-fusion dance troupe. Throughout her career, she has choreographed for numerous national inter-university dance competitions, earning accolades for both Bollywood and Indian Classical choreography. Dutta Karmakar has also had the opportunity to participate in intensive workshops with esteemed artists such as Kathak legend Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji and Bollywood dance maestro late Saroj Khan. Her dance journey has also seen her explore various Western dance styles, including Hip-Hop, contemporary, and salsa. Beyond performing and choreographing, Karina Dutta Karmakar is dedicated to dance education. She led university dance teams from Carleton University at significant cultural events like the South Asian Alliance Culture Show (2011), the North American Culture Show (2012 and 2013), and Bollywood Dance Canada (2015). During the COVID-19 pandemic, she offered free virtual dance workshops, reaching hundreds of participants across different age groups and locations. Her contributions to the dance community were recognized in 2021 when Ottawa's FACES Magazine named her "Best Dance Instructor." Awards & Honours: Best Dance Instructor (2021), Best Bollywood Choreography, Best Classical Choreography.