Dipa Talukder

Dipa Talukder is an accepted and aspiring young Kathak performer. Dipa started dancing at a tender age of six and has been training in the field of Kathak dance for the past thirteen years. She is currently enrolled as a senior student in ‘ Panwar Music and Dance’ headed by Shri Hemant Panwar and Smt. Vaishali Panwar. She has completed the intermediate level of the program and now is in the progress of doing the expertise level. Since her enrollment in the school, she has had many opportunities to represent the institution by doing performances under her Guruji. Some of these shows include, Shradhanjali, Annual Diwali Concerts, Kathak Mahotsav , and Prabasi Bengali Cultural Shows just to name a few. ‘Panwar Music and Dance’ has also given her the privilege to meet and take classes under Guru Shri Rajendra Gangani, who is currently the head of the Jaipur Gharana in India.

Dipa first started her dance lessons from Salina Ahmed Jharna under the institution called Saj Academy of Dance. Her first steps to dance were taught by Salina. She had performed at many events under Saj Academy, namely the annual school events, Masala Mehndi Masti, Mosaic, Toronto Sanskriti Sangstha, Panorama India, Carassauga, and Ratha Yatra, After six and a half years of learning Kathak and Bengali folk under Salina Jharna, Dipa had received her diploma in 2005.

To expand her knowledge in the field of Kathak, Dipa also took the opportunity to take private lessons from Alokparna Guha (from Calcutta, India), a well-known teacher/ performer in the field of Kathak Dance. Through Alokparna, Dipa has learnt Kathak more theoretically and in much more depth, inspiring her to take dance professionally.

Dipa is currently doing a lot of her own choreography and performances. Most recently, she performed at Toronto Sanskriti Sangstha where she choreographed a mujra. This performance was very much appreciated by the audience. Dipa hopes to become a well-known professional dancer and teacher in the years to come.