BIOGRAPHY

Sontosh Kumar Chatterjee is an outstanding Choreographer / Dancer / Teacher of the culturally unique story telling Classical Kathak dance of India. Last 25 years all over the country as well as India and abroad with competence , skill and dignity. His unique sense of choreography added with creative excellence and profound knowledge has enabled him to achieve international success of successes and fetching immense prestige to the Country's cultural heritage. Today he is an accomplished reputed dancer known to all most every part of the World.

 

Academic Qualification :

Learnt Kathak for 8 years from the age of 6 under the guidance of Pt.Ram Narayan Misra of Lucknow style of Kathak. Later he receive special training for next seven years under the Indian tradition of "Guru Sishya" parampara where a student reside in teacher's home and learn in exchange of service to the family. This was done under the doyan of "Kathak", The doyan and only maestro Sitara Devi at Bombay,India. Later for 5 years he took intensive apprenticeship under the guidance of Pt. Vijay Shankar in Kolkata India.

He has attended all the intensive workshops by Padma Bivusan Pt. Birju Maharaj at Padatik Dance Center, Kolkata, India.

He has completed all the required examinations (Junior and Senior Diplomas) and also the Prestigious Sangit Prabhakar examination from Prayag Sangit Samiti at Allahabad in First Division with high distinction

 

Performances :

Since 1965, Sontosh Kumar is performing in India. 1990, 1991 he toured Europe and 1992 -94 he toured USA. In Kolkata, India he has performed at various festival such as Orient Music Conference, Ragini Music Conference, Tansen Music Conference and international Marshall Art festival. In Delhi, India he has performed at Kathak Mahotsav , after that Bharatiya Vidyabhavan, National Festival of Kathak Dance Kalka Bindadin Jayanti.

In Mumbai, India he has performed at Swami Haridas Sangit Sammelan and Dance festival organized by Sitara Devi in memory of her father, Pt. Sukhdev Maharaj. He has also performed at countless times at various prestigious performances such as Marwar Fesival at Jaypur, Bhatkhande festival at Lucknow, Madras Dance festival and U.P. and Bihar States of India.

In Abroad in 1990 he has choreographed an evening length Kathak Ballet "Swarga Shava" and also performed in Red Bridge Festival at London, U.K. He also dance at many other performances at Germany, France and England.

In 1991 he has performed at festival of Asian Dance and Music at Bedfordshire, London, U.K. In 1992 he toured USA. their he performed several performances in Minnesota, Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, Texas and California. In 1994 his USA tour included performances in collaboration works with Rincon Del Flamenco, a renowned Spanish Flamenco Dance Company.

1996 some of his performances include the "Sarat Chandrika" festival in Delhi.
1997 Uttarbanga Natya Jagat festival in Siligui. Solo as well as choreographic performances at Gyan Mancha at J.D. Birla hall in Kolkata, In association with reputed dance institute, Padatik.
1998 - Kathak Mahotsab in Delhi.
1999 - This was followed by an exceptionally brilliant performance at the "Bindadin Maharaj" festival. The Puri beach festival in 1999 was yet another major contest of the guru where he is displayed a unique combination of innate creativity and traditional from which receive and overwhelming response.He next perform in Bangladesh in the various metropolitan cities of India like Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai.
2000 - The group choreography in the "Ganga Project" at the Habitat Center in Delhi was his next well deserved trophy. By the end of this year. Sontosh Kumar had earned both national and international fame and was welcomed to Join the Padatik Dance Center as one of its eminent teachers which the gracefully accepted.

1995 - Sontosh Kumar is a versatile artist and has brought profound glory to his country by his outstanding performances and creative feats not only in his homeland but also abroad. he has performed and appreciated for his unique talent.He has been a memorable years in the life of his uniquely blessed artist, for he was graced with the opportunity to express his outstandingcreativity once again by means of a series f performances both in Europe and in America.

In USA he has performed in places like Washington D.C. Denver, Houstan, Pittaburh, Newyork, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Nashville Clark Valley, Little rock, Jackson , Detroit, Miami, Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Virginia, San Francisco, Boston etc.

 

Workshops :

In 1990 and in 1991 he has done several workshops at England, Scotland and several places in Europe such as Cambridge University, Churchill College, Huntington jail, Oxford High School, Redford City Council School for Handicapped children, Berlin, Munich, Bonn, Hamburg Stuttgart, Nottingham, Devon, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Coventry. In 1994 He did Kathak residency workshop and performances at Germany.

 

Teaching :

He has taught Kathak for last 35 years in India. He taught for 5 years at Padatik Dance Circle at Kolkata. In 1990 and in 1991, he taught Kathak at London and Germany, He also conducted many workshops that time. In 1992 he has conducted 6 weeks of master classes at Minnesota, USA. He also taught Houston, Texas.

In 1994 he has conducted master classes for at Nritya Jyoti Dance Theater and also school assembly works for the people schools in Minnesota, USA.

 

Awards :

Out of the numerous awards that Sontosh Kumar has already achieved, some of the very few may be appended below :
1989 - "Singer Mani Award" from Haridas Sangit Festival, Mumbai.
1990 - "Maharaj" award from North Bengal Natya Jagat, Siliguri.
1993 - "Uttara Bangla Padak" Gold medal from Bangladesh.
During 1993-2001 he rendered thrilling and sensational performances throughout India as well as abroad earning International reputation which Genuinely made him a world figure. His audio cassette "Kaise Machi Brijme Hori" was released from H.M.V. in 2000 which made him still more renowned in 2001 he visited USA for the fifth time maintaining his fame, popularity among his viewers.

2002 - Another dimension of his God gifted talent was revealed, when he choreograph in a documentary film titled "Badla".

He achieved "Pandit" title Asia Plus paper from Tajikistan. He worked as a dance trainer in a highly respectable position in I.C.C.R from December 2002 -Feb 2006 being posted in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. This foreign assignment fetched immense recognition to India only dew to him. Farther during 2011 July - June 2014, He has posted at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in a still higher rank I.C.C.R.

In 2013 he achieved "Surya India Festival Award" in Malaysia.