Saswati Sen

Saswati Sen
Saswati Sen in 2014
Born (1953-08-25) 25 August 1953
Chittaranjan, West Bengal, India
OccupationsKathak dancer, choreographer and teacher
Organization(s)Kalashram Institute, Delhi
Known forLucknow gharana of Kathak
AwardsSangeet Natak Akademi Award (2004)

Saswati Sen (born 25 August 1953) is an Indian Kathak dancer, choreographer and teacher. She is regarded as a leading exponent of the Lucknow gharana and has been particularly noted for her abhinaya.[1][2] A senior disciple and long-time dance partner of Birju Maharaj, she teaches and performs at the Kalashram Institute[2][3] he founded in New Delhi.[a][4]

Biography

Born in Chittaranjan, West Bengal into a Bengali family. Her parents' families were legal and medical professionals; they were also active participants in Bengali theatre.[5][6] Sen was educated in Delhi, and completed schooling from Lady Irwin School, Delhi in 1968.[7] Sen began her Kathak training under Kathak guru, Reba Vidyarthi at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, before becoming a disciple of Birju Maharaj in 1967.[8]

She went on to work alongside Birju Maharaj for more than four decades as his dance partner and senior disciple,[3] and later as a teacher at his Kalashram Institute in New Delhi.[2] She also appeared as a Kathak dancer in Satyajit Ray's film Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977).[9][10]

Sen received a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2004.[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ First located in Jor Bagh, later moving to Gulmohar Park.

References

  1. ↑ "Saswati Sen". Oxford Reference. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Anand, Shilpa (18 May 2012). "Kathak's 'abhinaya' queen". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 Singh, Pallavi (10 July 2013). "A disciple's tribute to Pandit Birju Maharaj". Mint. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Massey, Reginald (1999). India's Kathak Dance, Past, Present, Future. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. p. 51. ISBN 978-81-7017-374-8.
  5. ↑ "Vidushi Saswati Sen". New York Kathak Festival. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Saswati Sen". The Kathak Ensemble & Friends. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Life Members of LISAA". Lady Irwin School. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Saswati Sen. Niyogi Books. p. 14. ISBN 978-93-81523-82-7.
  9. ↑ Dasgupta, Priyanka (18 January 2022). "Music maestros recall Kolkata's jugalbandis with Birju Maharaj". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Saswati Sen at IMDb
  11. ↑ "Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2004 Awards Ceremony & Festival". Sangeet Natak Akademi website. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

Further reading

  • Acocella, Joan (16 October 2006). "Hard and Fast". The New Yorker.(subscription required)
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