Sunena Gupta

🪔 About

Sunena Gupta is an emerging Kathak dancer, choreographer, and student, known for her innovative work in using classical dance to address contemporary social issues. She is a dedicated disciple of Guru Mulla Afsar Khan, under whom she trained at the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society. Gupta was honored with the 'Natya Visharad' best student title during her eighth-year diploma examination. Currently, Sunena Gupta is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing degrees in Politics and Economics. At Berkeley, she serves as the captain and choreographer of Nazakat at Berkeley, the university's premier competitive Kathak team. Her performances have taken her across Singapore, California, and London, and she has notably performed twice for welcome events of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore. Gupta is particularly recognized for her production, "Umeed: Colors of Hope," a Kathak performance that delves into themes of mental health, chronic illness, and self-image issues. This production, which debuted in her hometown of Singapore in August 2018, is deeply personal, drawing from her own experiences with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder. "Umeed: Colors of Hope" has since been performed in London, New York, and various major cities across India, demonstrating the versatility of Kathak by incorporating pure raags, fusion music, Western percussion, and Sufi music. Through her dance, Gupta also actively raises funds for charities in Singapore, using her art to create awareness on social issues. She also presented "Dhanak: After the Storm" at the New York Kathak Festival. Awards & Honours: Natya Visharad.