Episode Notes

Twice Dora Award nominated Joanna de Souza received a Master’s Degree in kathak dance through Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad, India. Her study, premised in deep respect for the tradition, began in 1978 under her guru, the late Pandit Chitresh Das. Joanna is celebrated internationally as a dancer, a choreographer, and is a much sought-after teacher. Named one of the "leading Indian classical dancers in Canada" - INDIA TODAY Magazine, she has represented Canada at festivals in Lahore, Pakistan, and Holguin, Cuba. In 2006, she toured Australia with Jeff Martin (The Tea Party) and Toronto Tabla Ensemble.

Joanna co-founded M-DO/KathakToronto, which since 1988 has been home to dance classes, master classes and workshops, at the highest artistic level. Her dance company Chhandam, has toured nationally and internationally with their innovative approach to kathak. In 2018, Chhandam, in collaboration with choreographer/dancer Misty Wensel, performed a five-city India tour of their contemporary work BARDO. Joanna was a musician and dancer with the acclaimed Toronto Tabla Ensemble from 1993-2010. She maintains a regular Toronto-based teaching schedule, and teaches across Canada, India, and the US. In 2015 she was recipient of Angikam’s Dr.Maya Rao Award, in recognition of her career-long body of innovative kathak choreography.

Show Highlights

(0:02:20) How did Kathak find you/?

(0:08:07) What is it about Kathak?

(0:10:07) How is the physicality of Kathak different?

(0:11:53) Balancing Chakkars on both sides

(0:13:01) The importance of stamina

(0:15:54) Pt Chitresh Das ji's Father Prohlad Das ji

(0:22:29) A day's worth of training

(0:25:06) The process of learning

(0:28:58) Length of depth of training

(0:35:19) Life in California

(0:42:38) MDO Toronto

(0:52:52) What draws people to you?

(0:55:03) How do you teach differently from your guru?

(1:02:17) Contemporary Work in Canada

(1:09:49) The versatility of Kathak

(1:11:58) Future of Kathak in Toronto

(1:16:18) Topping the Master's Kathak Exam