Sudarshana Chakraborty

🪔 About

Sudarshan Chakravorty is an internationally renowned Indian dancer, choreographer, and art activist, celebrated for transforming the landscape of Indian contemporary dance over three decades. A child prodigy who began dancing at the age of four, his foundational training included classical forms such as Bharat Natyam under Guru Bandana Dasgupta and Kathakali under Guru Govindan Kutty. He further expanded his physical vocabulary with modern dance and jazz from France-based Nana Gleason, and engaged in explorations of contemporary dance with various European choreographers. Chakravorty founded Sapphire Creations Dance Company in 1992, an academy dedicated to fostering young ideas, growth, and experimentation in dance. Under his artistic direction, the company has performed in over 22 countries across five continents, showcasing his innovative idiom that addresses sensitive contemporary issues. He is recognized as a pioneer of a dynamic experimental form, creating works that delve into themes such as gender, relationships, HIV, and global warming. Notably, his 1996 production "Alien Flower" was Asia's first LGBTQ dance production, and "POSITIVE LIVES," focusing on people living with HIV, became a subject of research at UCLA. His production "EKONAMA" received recognition from UNESCO Newsroom as the only Asian presentation on global warming. Based in Kolkata, India, Chakravorty is also the Director of INTERFACE, Kolkata's first International Dance Biennial, which he initiated in 2002. He is a prolific writer, workshop leader, mentor, and collaborator, having choreographed for over 16 films and 10 plays. In addition to Sapphire Creations, he recently founded the SUBIJOYA DANCE FOUNDATION to holistically promote dance, music, and arts in Eastern India. His contributions have been recognized with several accolades, including the Oniel De Fellowship by Kalabharati, Canada (2005), the Shyamal Sen Smriti Purashkar in Kolkata (2008), and the Stagcraft Award for Best Choreographer (2015, 2018). Awards & Honours: Oniel De Fellowship by Kalabharati (2005), Shyamal Sen Smriti Purashkar by Swapnasandhani (2008), Stagcraft Award for Best Choreographer (2015), Stagcraft Award for Best Choreographer (2018).