Amita Dutt

Amita Dutt Professor of Dance at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata,  has been serving the world of Kathak for more than two decades. 

Groomed in the strictest classical traditions under Pdt.  Birju Maharaj,  Prof.  Bela Arnab,  Pdt.  Vijay Shankar and other leading maestros of the premier Kathak gharanas,  Amita dances with a hypnotic force and subtle sensitivity combining rhythmic virtuosity with delicate expressiveness,  commendable,  ‘taiyaari’ with mastery in ‘abhinayanga’.  In her art we find a successful blend of tradition and talent,  environmental totality as well as breathtaking dynamism.  Her innovative,  analytic mind has also constantly encouraged her to experiment with new ideas-thus expanding the boundaries of Kathak. 

Amita Dutt having her roots in Calcutta has performed far and wide across three continents.  Among her innumerable dance recitals in prestigious dance and music festivals,  mention may be made of the Khajuraho Dance Festival,  the Konark Festival,  Utsav Mahakaleshwar,  Rajgir Mahotsav,  the Biswa Banga Millennium Festival,  the First South Asian Festival of SAARC Countries,  the India Festival in USSR,  the American Dance Festival,  Uday Shankar Festival,  Sarat Chandrika Festival,  North American Bengali Conference,  Nritya Nitya Utsav,  the Young Choreographers Festival,  Bishnupur Tourism Festival,  the India Festival at Singapore entitled Incredible India  @ 60,  China Kunming International Culture and Tourism Festival and many more. 

During the Autumn Festival of 1990 at Darjeeling,  when the President of India,  Sri R. Venkataraman,  came as the Chief Guest,  the Governor of West Bengal Prof.  Nurul Hassan invited Amita to present her traditional dance and choreographic composition Durga.  She also performed for the official government function for the Golden Jubilee of Indian Independence at Patna (1997). 

During the visit of the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe to Kolkata,  Amita Dutt performed in the lead with her University troupe in her own choreographic creations on Tagore’s songs.  She has also popularized her dance by performing at academic conferences and institutions. 

In addition to giving solo recitals,  Amita has been experimenting with new choreographic patterns blending pure Kathak movements with popular songs and innovative themes and has staged a number of very successful choreographic productions including Durga,  Chitra Jhankar,  Nazrul nana Chande,  Biswa Beena Robey,  East West Encounter,  Joyodhwani,  Amrapali,  Dash Avatar,  Varsha and Basant-Bahar. 

Amita Dutt has given three recitals for the National Program of Dance on Doordarshan.  Her performances have also been telecast over various channels innumerable times both in India and abroad including USA,  Germany,  Hungary and the former USSR.  Her interviews over the radio and the television in various parts of the world have spread the message of Kathak far and wide. 

Besides being an excellent dancer Amita Dutt is also a brilliant student of English Literature and a Gold Medalist of the Calcutta University.  Her academic background has helped her to popularize her dance form through her prolific publications in major books and journals such as Bhakti in Indian Classical Dances (Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad),  Desh Binodon 1987 (Special Issue on Dance),  The Statesman Festival Number 1990,  Special Independence Golden Jubilee Issue of Desh and Dance Specials of Nandan.  Papers on major aspects of dance written by her have been published in various departmental Journals of Rabindra Bharati University and Gauhati University and in Rabindra Bharati University Convocation Volumes 2005 and 2006.  Amita’s Kathak Mahotsav (monograph) was published by Kathak Kendra,  New Delhi and she is a regular contributor to the dance sections of The Statesman,  Aajkaal and Bartamaan and has written for The Hindustan Times,  Sananda,  Pratidin,  Business Economics,  Dainik Statesman,  West Bengal and Paribartan. 

Amita Dutt's conference paper - The Resurgence of Indian Classical Dance in the Twentieth Century: Colonial Inheritance or Indigenous Self Fashioning? - presented at an international seminar of the  Department of English,  Calcutta University,  has been published in the volume ‘Colonial and Post Colonial Perspectives: Context,  Text,  Inter-text’.  Edited by Krishna Sen & Tapati Gupta.  (Published by Das Gupta and Co.  Pvt.  Ltd. ,  Kolkata.  2007. ) Her article Bhakti in Indian Dance features in the volume ‘Religion and Art’ edited by J. K. Sadani and published by Bharatiya Sahitya Samsad,  Jaipur,  Ahmedabad and Kolkata.  2007. 

Her contributions in cultural encyclopedias include ‘Some Indian Dance Forms: Kathaka,  Bharata Natyam,  Kuchipudi’ in Aesthetic Theories and Forms in Indian Tradition Vol.  VI Part I (Ed. ) Kapila Vatsayan & D. P. Chattopadhyaya - A Project of Indian Science,  Philosophy and Culture,  Center for Studies in Civilization,  New Delhi,  2009 and three sections: ‘Kathak Dance: Origin and Variations of Gharana’,  ‘Technique of Kathak Dance’ and ‘Hasta Mudras in Indian Dance’ in Vol.  VI Performing Arts in Indian Culture: Encyclopaedic Survey in Eight Volumes edited by Jaikishandas Sadani,  Bharatiya Vidya Mandir,  Jaipur & Kolkata,  2008. 

Amita’s moving deliberations in seminars and conferences all over the world in academic conferences and other forums have helped to spread the message of her dance.  The Tagore Festival at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign,  USA featured Amita as the Key-note Speaker (Tagore on Education) as well as the star performer (2004). 

2009: China Kunming International Culture and Tourism Festival (3 

performances),  Kunming,  China.  (W. B. Govt.  & Foreign Affairs Dept.  

China)

2009: Ganga-Gomati-Barak-Brahmaputra Festival,  Kolkata. 

2009: National Institute of Homeopathy,  Salt Lake City,  Kolkata

2008: Bishnupur Tourism Festival,  Bishnupur,  Bankura,  WB.  (W. B. Govt. )

2008: Centenary Celebration of Government College of Engineering and Textile Technology,  Serampore

2008: Uday Shankar Festival,  Kolkata.  (W. B. Govt. )

2008: Government Music College,  Agartala,  Tripura

2008: Indian Institute of Technology,  Kharagpur

2008: Tripura University,  Agartala,  Tripura

2008: Government Music College,  Agartala,  Tripura

2008: Incredible India @ 60,  (12 performances),  Singapore (EZCC)

2008: Banipur Lok Sanskriti Utsav 2008 (W. B. Govt. )

2008: Burdwan Dance Festival,  Krishnashayar,  Burdwan,  W. B. 

2008: Ganga Gomati Brahmaputra Festival at Agartala,  Tripura (Govt.  of 

Tripura)

2007: Baharampur Dance Festival,  W. B. 

2007: Neermahal Tourism Festival,  Tripura (Govt.  of Tripura)

2007: West Bengal State Youth Festival,  Kalyani,  W. B.  (W. B. Govt. )

2007: Rabindra Bharati University on the occasion of the visit of H. E.  

Shinzo Abe,  the Prime Minister of Japan. 

2007: Haldia Institute of Technology,  Haldia,  W. B. 

2007: Calcutta University,  150th Anniversary

2007: Diamond Jubilee of Indian Independence,  Rabindra Bharati University at Aban Mancha

2007: Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,  Kalady (Kochi),  Kerala. 

2006: Yale University,  New Haven,  Connecticut,  USA. 

2006: Indian School of Mines,  Dhanbad

2006: National Library,  Kolkata

2006: Silver Jubilee celebrations of the West Bengal State Music Academy,  Rabindra Sadan,  Kolkata. 

2006: Rabindra Bharati University,  Kolkata. 

2006: Central Glass & Ceramic Institute,  Jadavpur,  Kolkata. 

2006: Haldia Utsav Whole Night Classical Music and Dance Program,  Haldia,  W. B. 

2006: Burdwan Vasantotsav Dance Festival,  Krishnashayar,  Burdwan,  W. B. 

2006: Uday Shankar Dance Festival,  Rabindra Sadan,  Kolkata.  (W. B. Govt. )

2005: Swaranjali Dance Festival,  Shillong,  Meghalaya (Gitanjali Dance Academy). 

2004: Baishakhi Festival,  Habitat Centre,  New Delhi (Impresario India)

2004: Balasore Vikas Mahotsav,  Orissa (EZCC)

2004: University of Tulsa,  Oklahoma,  USA

2004: Swarthmore College,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  USA

2004: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign,  Illinois,  USA

2004: Fayetteville State University,  North Carolina,  USA

2004: University of Notre Dame,  South Bend,  Indiana,  USA

2003: Wright State University,  Dayton,  Ohio,  USA

2003: University of Delaware,  USA

2003: Jadavpur University,  Kolkata

2003: Rabindra Bharati University,  Kolkata. 

2003: Mahraja Shiyaji University,  Baroda,  Gujrat

2003: Berhampore Dance Festival,  Murshidabad,  West Bengal. 

2003: Uday Shankar Festival,  Rabindra Sadan,  Kolkata (W. B. Govt. )

2003: Bengali Cultural Festival,  Nehru Centre,  Mumbai.  (W. B. Govt. )

2003: Burdwan Vasant Utsav Dance Festival,  West Bengal. 

2002: Visvabharati,  Santiniketan. 

2002: Burdwan University,  West Bengal. 

2002: Durham Arts Council,  NC,  USA. 

2002: University of Purdue,  Lafayette,  Indiana,  USA. 

2002: Nazrul Birth Anniversary Festival,  Kolkata (W. B. Govt. )

2002: Burdwan Vasant Utsav Dance Festival,  West Bengal. 

2002: Govt.  of India Tourism & Indian Museum Vasanta Utsav,  Kolkata.  (Govt.  of India Tourism)

2001: Bishnupur Mela,  Bishnupur,  West Bengal. 

2001: Young Choreographers’ Festival,  Kolkata (Padatik)

2001: Kathak Dance Festival of the West Bengal State Music Academy, 

Kolkata.  (W. B.  Govt. )

2001: Dance Drama Festival of Govt.  of West Bengal,  Kolkata.  (W. B. Govt. )

2001: Institute of Education Auditorium,  Doha,  Qatar. 

2001: Rabindra Bharati University,  Kolkata. 

2000: Biswa Bangla Sammelan Millennium Festival,  Kolkata. 

2000: Uday Shankar Festival,  Siliguri.  (W. B.  Govt. )

2000: Rabindra Bharati University,  Kolkata. 

2000: Howrah Girls College,  Howrah. 

1999: American Dance Festival,  Durham.  USA.  (U. S.  Govt. )

1999: Duke University,  American Dance Festival,  Durham,  North Carolina,  USA. 

1998: Government Sanskrit College,  175th Anniversary,  Kolkata. 

1997: Rajgir Mahotsav,  Bihar.  (Govt.  of Bihar)

1996: Tripura Tourism Festival,  Agartala.  (EZCC)

1996: North American Bengali Conference,  Houston.  USA (NABC)

1996: Arizona State University,  Phoenix.  Arizona,  USA. 

1996: Georgetown College,  Georgetown.  Kentucky,  USA. 

1996: University of Kentucky,  Lexington.  Kentucky,  USA. 

1996: Cleveland State University,  Cleveland.  Ohio,  USA. 

1995: Andaman Festival,  Port Blair.  (EZCC)

1995: Imperial College,  University of London,  UK. 

1994: Utsav Mahakaleshwar,  Ujjain,  Madhya Pradesh. 

1994: North American Bengali Conference,  Chicago.  USA (NABC)

1993: Konark Festival,  Orissa.  (EZCC)

1993: Presidency College,  175th Anniversary,  Kolkata. 

1993: Nritya Nitya Utsav,  Chaudaya Memorial Hall,  Bangalore. 

1992: First South Asian Music Festival of SAARC Countries.  (EZCC)

1991: Kathak Mahotsav of Jaipur Kathak Kendra. 

1990: Sambalpur Festival,  Orissa.  (EZCC)

1990: Jabalpur Medical College,  Madhya Pradesh. 

1989: Jawaharlal Medical College,  Belgaum,  Karnataka. 

1988: University of Central Florida,  Orlando.  Florida,  USA. 

1988: Columbia University,  New York,  NY,  USA

1988: Sarat Chandrika Festival of Kathak Kendra,  New Delhi. 

1986: University of Burdwan Convocation,  Burdwan,  West Bengal. 

1986: University of North Bengal Convocation,  Siligiri,  West Bengal. 

1986: Indian School of Mines,  Diamond Jubilee,  Dhanbad,  Bihar. 

1984: Asiatic Society,  Bi-Centenary,  Calcutta

1983: Calcutta University,  125th Anniversary,  Calcutta. 

1982: Khajuraho Dance Festival,  Madhya Pradesh.  (Govt.  of M. P. )

1981: Indira Kala Sangit Vishwa Vidyalaya,  Madhya Pradesh

1981: Dover Lane Music Conference

1980: Park Circus Music Conference

1980: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,  London,  UK. 

2009: Silver Jubilee Conference of the Paschim Banga Itihas Samsad,  Kolkata

2008: International Workshop on Biohydrogen Production Technology,  IIT,  Kharagpur,  West Bengal. 

2008: 34th Annual National Conference of the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists,  Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics,  Salt Lake,  Kolkata. 

2008: Inauguration of Science & Technology Fair 2008,  Kolkata. 

2008: UGC-sponsored Workshop on Capacity Building of Women Managers in Higher Education,  Kolkata. 

2007: Vice Chancellor’s Conference,  Association of Indian Universities 

sponsored by Jadavpur University,  Kolkata. 

2007: Tenth Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Stereotactic & 

Functional Neurosurgery (ISSFN),  Rotary Sadan,  Kolkata. 

2007: 1st Women’s State Convention of West Bengal Universities’ Joint 

Staff Council,  Rabindra Bharati University,  Kolkata. 

2007: Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan,  Raniganj,  W. B. 

2007: 44th Annual Convention of Sri Sarada Sangha,  Salt Lake,  Kolkata. 

2007: Post Centenary Golden Jubilee of the University of Calcutta held at the Centenary Hall,  Calcutta University,  Kolkata. 

2006: National Conference on Promoting Partnerships towards Education for Sustainable Development,  Kolkata. 

2006: Platinum Jubilee of the Bar Council of West Bengal held at Rabindra Sadan,  Kolkata.  Chief Guest: Dr.  A.  P.  J.  Abdul Kalam,  President of India. 

2006: The National Symposium ‘In Quest of Excellence – Industry,  Education and the Media’ organized by the Netaji Subhas Open University,  Kolkata. 

2005: WEDC International Conference organized by the Institute of Public Health Engineers,  India. 

2005: International Workshop & Conference of the Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute,  Jadavpur,  Kolkata. 

2005: First International Conference on Pattern Recognition and Machine Intelligence (PREM’05) organized by the Indian Statistical Institute,  Kolkata. 

2005: WEDC International Conference organized by the Institution of Public Health Engineers,  India at Purbasree,  Bharatiyam,  Salt Lake,  Kolkata. . 

2005: Australia-India Exchange organized by the Dept.  of English,  Calcutta University and The Centre for Postcolonial Writing,  Monash University,  Melbourne,  Australia,  Kolkata. 

2004: 56th Indian Pharmaceuticals Conference,  Science City Auditorium,  Kolkata. 

2004: International Conference organized be the Dept.  of Statistics,  Calcutta University held at the Fort Radisson Hotel,  Raichak,  near Kolkata. 

2004: International Steel Seminar 2004 organized by the Steel Scenario at the Park Hotel,  Kolkata.  (MSTC). 

2004: First Anniversary of the Exchange [Indo-US] Program Participants Alumni Association (EPPAA),  American Center,  Kolkata. 

2004: 11th All India Convocation and Conference of Surnandan Bharti held at Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir,  Ponda,  Goa. 

2004: Ma Sarada’s 150th Anniversary celebrations organized by the Ramakrishna Sarada Math and Mission at Mahajati Sadan,  Kolkata. 

2003: University Grants Commission Golden Jubilee Conference,  Aban Mancha,  Rabindra Bharati University,  Kolkata. 

2003: Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Indian Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology organized by USCON XII held at the Hotel Taj Bengal,  Kolkata. 

2003: International Seminar on Frontiers of Basic & Applied Molecular Biology organized by the Departments of Biophysics,  Molecular Biology and Genetics,  University of Calcutta the Science City Auditorium,  Kolkata. 

2003: 125th Birth Anniversary Celebration of the Mother held at the Sri Aurobindo Hall,  Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. 

2003: 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Sri Sarada Ma organized by the Sri Sarada Sangha,  Cuttack Branch at the Kala Bikas Kendra,  Cuttack. 

2003: Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of West Bengal College & University Teacher’s Association (WBCUTA) held at Calcutta University Centenary Hall,  Kolkata. 

2003: 82nd District Conference of Rotary International District 3290 at the Netaji Indoor Stadium,  Kolkata. 

2003: Doctor’s Day organized by Megha Eye Centre at the Sanskriti Auditorium,  Burdwan,  WB. 

2002: 28th WEDC International Conference organized by the Institute of Public Health Engineers,  Science City Auditorium,  Kolkata. 

2002: Convocation of the Rotary International Zone V & VI Governor Elects’ Training Seminar held at the Hotel Le Meridien,  Chennai. 

2002: XVIII Annual Convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) at Hotel Taj Bengal,  Calcutta.  Chief Guest: Hon’ble Sri Buddhadev Bhattacharjee,  Chief Minister of West Bengal,  & Sri Nitish Kumar,  Misnister of Tourism,  Govt.  of India. 

2001: International Conference on Ophthalmology (OPTHACON 2001): Science City Auditorium,  Kolkata. 

2001: International Festival Night of the Rotary International Assembly,  Ball Room,  Hotel Anaheim Hilton,  Los Angeles,  California,  USA. 

2001: Silver Jubilee celebrations of Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan,  Tinsukia. 

2001: International Steel Seminar organized by Steel Scenario,  Oberoi Grand Hotel,  Kolkata. 

2001: Re-union of the Calcutta University Post Graduate English Alumni Association,  Calcutta University Centenary Hall,  Kolkata. 

2000: Inauguration of the XVI Annual Conference of Indian Rheumatology Association (IRACON 2000),  Park Hotel,  Kolkata. 

2000: National Seminar on Refractory and Furnaces on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Central Glass & Ceramic Institute,  Kolkata

2000: International Conference of Indian Explosives Ltd. : Gomia,  Bihar. 

2000: International Symposium on Centenary of Planck’s Law,  Max Mueller Bhavan,  Kolkata. 

1999: Medicine for the Millennium Conference,  Kolkata. 

1999: Platinum Jubilee Conference of the Indian Chemical Society,  Max Mueller Bhavan,  Kolkata. 

1999: EMW-2000.  Jamshedpur. 

1995: 82nd Science Congress,  Jadavpur University,  Kolkata. 

1994: International Conference on Particles,  Strings and Cosmology (PASCOS) organized by Physics Dept. ,  Syracuse University,  New York,  USA. 

1991: United Nations Conference on Environment,  New Delhi. 

1991: World Conference on Total Quality,  New Delhi. 

1991: 45th Joint Conference Association of the Physicians of India,  Jabalpur. 

1989: ISELDECS’87,  IIT,  Kharagpur. 

1988: Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of WBCUTA

1987: 9th Congress of the Association of Radiation Oncologists,  Srinagar. 

1987: 47th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics. 

1987: R&D Conference of the Institute of Engineers,  Ranchi. 

1984: Diamond Jubilee Conference of the Indian Chemical Society,  Kolkata. 

Amita has taught and guided the workshops in several parts of the world and thereby popularizing Kathak. 

International Workshops

Workshops on Kathak dance and choreography conducted at Washington DC,  Virginia and New York in October and November 2002,  2003,  2004,  2005,  2006. 

Workshop on Kathak dance and choreography conducted at the Wright State University,  Dayton,  Ohio,  USA,  in October 2003. 

Workshop on Kathak dance and choreography conducted at the Swarthmore College,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  USA,  in November 2004. 

2004: 3-day workshop at Malda.  Organized by Creative Workshop.  70 students participated. 

2003: 3-day Workshop at Burdwan.  Organized by Arup Ratan.  70 students participated. 

2002: Conducted workshop on Kathak Dance under the aegis of Ananda Chandrika,  Purulia at Bikas Bhavan,  Purulia.  85 students participated. 

Friday,  January 18,  2002: Under the aegis of Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan,  Tinsukia Branch.  30 students participated. 

June 4- 5,  2001: Conducted workshop on Kathak dance organized by Ananda Chandrika,  Purulia.  50 students participated. 

Conducted workshops in Kathak under the aegis of the West Bengal State Academy in Malda,  Purulia and Siliguri.  Average of 30 students participated in each. 

Workshops by Pdt.  Birju Maharaj and Sm.  Kumudini Lakhia at West Bengal State Music Academy,  Kolkata. 

Workshops by Kalakshetra on Bharata Natyam,  Hojagari Dance and Innovative Dance at Rabindra Bharati University,  Kolkata. 

Workshop may be organized for one day or several days. 

1. Basics of pure abstract dance movements taught for one hour. 

2. Basics of major rhythmic patterns with corresponding footwork taught for one hour. 

3. Break for half hour. 

4. Short history of dance with special emphasis on Kathak dance discussed: Power Point presentation of the duration of one hour. 

5. One dance item,  combining abstract and expressive dance and of the duration of approximately five minutes taught.  This will take approximately two hours. 

This one-day workshop gives a comprehensive idea of the dance form and students who are familiar with dance can learn and in future perform the item taught. 

1. Basics of pure abstract dance movements taught and practiced every day at the beginning for half an hour. 

2. Basics of major rhythmic patterns with corresponding footwork taught for one hour in the first day.  Subsequently rhythmic compositions and how to perform them taught every day for one hour. 

3. Break for half hour. 

4. Short history of dance with special emphasis on Kathak dance discussed: Power Point presentation: duration of one hour.  This is on the first day. 

6. Several dance items,  combining abstract and expressive dance and of the duration of approximately five to seven minutes taught.  Number of items will depend on the ability of the participants to learn them.  This will take approximately two hours. 

This workshop enables participants to learn and perform Kathak dance items as well as have an idea of the history and aesthetics of Indian dance. 

All items are on recorded music that is on CDs and cassettes. 

There must be arrangements for playing the music and showing the Power Point presentation. 

Copies of the music for the dance items will be given to the students.  The workshop may be concluded with a performance by the students of what they have learnt in the workshop in the first half,  and my performance Mandir se Manch (cf.  relevant attachment) that highlights representative items from the different stages in the history of Kathak.