(WNY News Now) – Jamestown – Sukanya Burman Dance, a local contemporary dance company, held its 1st Annual Showcase at the Christ First United Methodist Church in Jamestown on June 29th, showcasing the strides made since its formation last year.
The showcase, accompanied by several delectable Indian dishes, such as Dhoklas, Chana Masala, Kheer, Samosa, and Pakora, provided an opportunity for the company and its students to demonstrate their talents in a variety of performances from different genres and styles.
Sukanya Burman Dance informed the audience of the upcoming Jamestown Dance Festival they are organizing, which is set to take place on September 7th at 7 p.m. and September 8th at 4 p.m. in Jamestown at the Reg Lenna. Doors will open an hour beforehand each day. The festival will see performances from a plethora of dance companies, including Sukanya Burman Dance themselves, Barkha Dance Company, Biodance, Soles of Duende, and Sandip Mallick.
Additionally, they will be hosting a panel discussion and film screening at the Robert H. Jackson Center that weekend, and each of the respective dance companies will be hosting dance workshops. The dates and times for the events are currently pending, as well as the location for the dance workshops.
The event also saw the announcement that the company is expanding its operations into the Buffalo area. They have begun a 4-week Kathak series at the Harlem Road Community Center, located at 4255 Harlem Road, Amherst, NY. The series will take place from July 10th to July 31st, with classes beginning at 6:30 p.m. and concluding at 8:00 p.m. The series will serve to teach newcomers the basics of Kathak, a North Indian Classical Dance Form. Sukanya Burman and Ira Sahu will instruct the classes, with assistance from Rimi Das. Participants will learn and master intricate footwork, rhythm work, graceful hand movements, and the art of expressive storytelling. The cost to attend the series is $80.
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Once the series has concluded and the Jamestown Dance Festival is over, they intend to continue offering Indian Classical dance classes in the Buffalo area in the fall. Sukanya Burman Dance is also collaborating with professional dancers in New York City and presenting their work in the city. While they do not currently have plans to establish regular classes in the area, they are excited to establish a foothold in one of the largest dance markets in the country.
To finish off the showcase, Sukanya Burman led the audience in forming a large circle to learn a basic 4 step dance routine. The atmosphere abounded with enthusiasm, as participants were given a taste of what the company has to offer.
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All in all, the 1st Annual Showcase of Sukanya Burman Dance has shown both the cultural significance the company brings to the area and how far the company has come in such a short time. The future looks bright for the company, and we eagerly await to see what else they have in store.
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