Local Resident Selected For The State New York Choreographers Initiative 2022
Sukanya Burman of Jamestown is one of 13 New York-based choreographers to be selected for the state New York Choreographers Initiative 2022, a funding opportunity administered by The New York State DanceForce, in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts.
For artists and more information go to www.danceforce.org.
The Choreographers Initiative is designed to help choreographers develop their choreographic skills by providing them with resources to advance their creative practice. The awardees each receive a $2,500 stipend, access to a mentor, and support for 24 hours of creative time with dancers and other collaborators of their choice. Each project is basically a mini-residency, designed to fit the specific needs of each artist.
Originally launched in Western NY, the Choreographers Initiative expanded in 2022 to include 55 counties of New York state and now serves choreographers who reside in the regions of Western New York, Central New York, the Capital District/North Country, and Hudson Valley/Long Island.
Burman is a dancer and choreographer born and raised in Kolkata, India.
She began her formal dance training in Bharatanatyam at the age of 3 and trained in Kathak, modern, contemporary dance and ballet. She holds a Diploma in Contemporary Dance and Movements Arts. She toured nationally and internationally as a repertoire member of Rhythmosaic Dance Company, later moving to New York City to pursue an Independent Training Program at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance.
Since then she has taught classes and performed extensively both in the US and in India. She is a guest faculty at the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet and a guest performer at the Indorican Multicultural Dance Project. She recently founded Sukanya Burman Dance Company in Jamestown. She is interested in exploring socio-cultural discourse with an emphasis on bridging the gap between Western modern and Indian classical dance. She also hopes to raise awareness, accessibility and provide opportunities in dance through arts education.
Burman is a resident artist in the Curriculum in Motion Institute at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.