39+
Years of Experience
12+
Students Taught
1
Followers
❖ Guru Parampara ❖
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Joanna De Souza is a Canadian Kathak choreographer, dancer, and teacher, born on October 22, 1955, in Whitby, Ontario. Her lifelong study of Kathak began in 1978 under the late Pandit Chitresh Das in California, where she received traditional one-on-one guru-shishya parampara training. From 1981 to 1985, she was a member of the Chitresh Das Dance Company.…
Journey Timeline
1955
Born — Born in Whitby, Ontario, Canada
1978
Began Kathak study — Began studying Kathak under Pandit Chitresh Das in California
1981-1985
Chitresh Das Dance Company member — Part of the Chitresh Das Dance Company
1985-1987
Master's Degree in Kathak — Lived in Kolkata, India, studied under Nrityacharya Prohlad Das, and received Master's degree in Kathak from Prayag Sangit Samiti, standing first in India. Also studied sarangi with Pt. Ramnath Misra.
1987
Began teaching Kathak — Returned to Canada and began teaching, initially at the University of Toronto's Athletic Department
1988
Co-founded M-DO/KathakToronto — Co-established M-DO/KathakToronto in Toronto
1991
M-DO/KathakToronto established as leading institution — M-DO/KathakToronto recognized as a leading Canadian arts institution for Kathak dance
1993-2012
Toronto Tabla Ensemble member — Musician and dancer with the Toronto Tabla Ensemble
2003
Established Chhandam Dance Company — Founded her professional dance company
2015
Received Angikam's Dr. Maya Rao Award — Awarded for innovative Kathak choreography
2018
Toured India with "BARDO" — Collaborative work with Misty Wensel and Chhandam Dance Company
2021
Podcast Interview — Interviewed by Pramit Baul for his Kathak podcast
2025
Featured in documentary — Featured in "Kathak: The Dance of Storytellers | Short Documentary" by Daisy's House Productions
Photo Gallery
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Video Library
Performance videos will appear here.
Signature Performances
Signature repertoire pieces will be showcased here.
Performance Map
A world map of performances will appear here as tours are recorded.
Awards & Honors
- 2015 · Dr. Maya Rao Award — Angikam
- Dora Award
Media Coverage
- Kathak: The Dance of Storytellers | Short Documentary
Daisy's House Productions
- Joanna shares some stories in this 2021 Podcast
Pramit Baul's Kathak podcast
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