Rhythms of the Earth: A Kathak – Flamenco Duet
Sudeshna Maulik
Sudeshna, a Kathak practitioner, is a most promising Indian Classical dancer .Based in Canada, she maintains an active performing career that spans over North America, Europe, and Asia. Endowed with an electrifying presence & total involvement in dance, her performances always speak of a rare intensity & authority. She brings in her dance mastery in Kathak technique that is the fruit of
meticulous training under Pt. Chitresh Das initiated at the tender age of seven. She continued her training from Bharatiya Kala Kendra, New Delhi and later at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi under the guidance of Kathak legend Padmabhibhushan Birju maharaj. From last few years she had been a part of Kadamb’s performing unit (Padmashri Kumidini Lakhia’s Dance Company.) & was learning the finer nuances of choreography & the art form from the great visionary of modern Kathak. Having imbibed from her teachers the best of different traditions she blossomed a style that’s distinctly her own & had been a part of numerous productions in India and abroad sponsored by the I.C.C.R., I.T.D.C, International Dance Companies etc. She is a graded artiste in Delhi Doordarshan (National Telivision of India) and has performed in C.P.C. (Central production centre) in different ballets choreographed by Guru Pt. Birju Maharaj Ji, Kumudini lakhia and Aditi Mangal Das etc A renowned performer in India, Maulik has danced in numerous performances in Russia, China, Taiwan, the United States, and all over Europe, and given workshops and lecturedemonstrations all over the world. Currently she resides in Montreal, Canada (Became permanent resident in Feb, 2006). where she has found a renewed enthusiasm to integrate her
passion and dedication for Kathak by developing specific projects by which she can incorporate
her strong creative urge of self – exploration through her dance vocabulary. This evolution based
on her dedication and supreme passion for Kathak, is transcending her art into yet another
dimension, a dimension materialized through various project in Canada (since her arrival in
2007) by partnering with prestigious producers like Mai, Gesu, Maison de la culture, Studio
303, Access Asie., Kalanidhi Arts Foundation, Raagmala ,Toronto.Masala mehendi
Masti,(Toronto),Kathak Mahotsava(Toronto) Sampradaya Dance Academy, Usha Kala
Niketan, Dancing on the edge (Vancouver) Folklorama ( Winnipeg) , Festival Du monde
(Sherbrooke city)Halifax multicultural fest (Halifax))and numerous other arts and community
organisations. She has come forward in partnership with Silken Dance to launch the first
edition of the Quebasie Festival in Montreal in October 2009 (An Asian dance festival lasting
three days).
The federal govt (Canada Council for the arts) and the Quebec govt (CALQ) have encouraged
her endeavour by awarding her several highly competitive grants to support her objectives and
carrier goals.
Finally, this from the German press, “She represents the very best in Eastern dance.”
Her major choreographic contributions and performances are listed below.
Rossane Dion ( Flamenco Dancer )
Rosanne Dion has been working in the world of Flamenco dance for over 25 years. She lived in Spain for 6 years where she studied with the greatest masters of Madrid and Jerez de la Frontera. For over ten years, she remained in close contact with Spain through annual trips to continue her training and continue to improve. In 2007, she received a fellowship from the Canada Council for the Arts, which allowed her to develop new techniques including the bata de cola. Constantly in love with Flamenco, Andalusia and its culture, her career has led her to dance all over Quebec as well as in Ontario (Toronto, London, Ottawa, etc.), Nova Scotia, the United States, France and Spain. In 2018, she was a guest teacher at the El Duende Flamenco Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, to give an internship. In October 2023, she participated in the show PASSION, sharing the stage again with the Spanish dancer Raoul Ortega at the Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts. The show RETOUR created with Fernando Gallego Torres, has been touring in the network of Maisons de la culture de Montréal since 2022 (Plateau Mt-Royal, Janine Sutto, St-Laurent, Claude Léveillé, Pierrefond…) the show was also presented at the Orientalys festival in 2021 and at the Festival des Traditions du monde in 2024. In April 2023 she danced at the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax with Maria Osende’s company for two performances of the first April’s Fair in Halifax. In 2019 she was selected to dance in the production of “CARMEN” by the Opéra de Montréal at the Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of La Place des Arts, under the direction of Charles Binamé. In 2018 she was invited to dance in the production of “QUDUD-FLAMENCO” by the FMA (Festival du Monde Arabe) with Spanish artists Celia Romero and Carlos Piñera, the show was presented at the Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts in Montreal and at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto for the Duende-Flamenco Festival. That same year, she was invited to present the main show of the first Flamenco Festival in Ottawa, where she presented the show “AL COMPÁS DEL AIRE”.
In 2017, she shared the stage with dancer Raoul Ortega with the show “FASCINATION” presented at the Maisonneuve Theatre of Place des Arts in Montreal and at the Palais Montcalm-Maison de la musique in Quebec City. That same year, she danced in the projects: “UN DÍA CUALQUÍERA” at the Rialto Theatre and in “REMEMBRANZAS” in the hall of the Church of the Gesù.
In 2016, she participated in the show “HOMMAGE À PACO DE LUCIA” at the hall of the Church of the Gesù. She has participated in several projects including “POR CAI” by the singer “El Bancalero”, accompanied by guitarist José Vega (in Toronto at the Club Hispano and at the Montreal Flamenco Festival). That same year, she was a guest artist for the Jorge Miguel Flamenco Ensemble in London, Ontario.
Since 2015, her show “MOMENTOS FLAMENCOS” has been presented at several Festivals across the province as well as in theaters (Théâtre du Marais in Val-Morin, Maison de la Culture Ahuntsic, etc.) with the singer “El Bancalero”, Caroline Planté on guitar and Miguel Medina on percussion. In September 2015, she participated in the Closing Show of the Montreal Flamenco Festival at the Rialto Theater.
In 2013, she danced at the OFF Festival in Jerez, Spain. In 2011, she danced at the tablao La Taberna in Jerez, Spain.
In 2010 and 2011, she shared the stage with the internationally renowned dancer José Maya at the International Percussion Festival, accompanied by the singer and guitarist José Galvez. She will also present two shows “EL QUEJILLO DE LA TIERRA” and “COMPÁS EN EL AIRE” with the renowned singer and guitarist José Galvez. Since 2014 she has directed the Rosanne Dion Flamenco School, which is dedicated to promoting the art of Flamenco through its school and workshops