Reflections of 2024
Artistic Director's Note
"As we stand at the threshold of a new year, I find myself reflecting on the journey we’ve undertaken together. On behalf of SAMPRADAYA Dance Creations, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our artists, artistic collaborators, and our audiences for being part of this extraordinary milestone—35 years of unwavering dedication to artistic excellence, cultural storytelling, and the transformative power of South Asian dance.
This year has been nothing short of remarkable. With SALAAM RAHMAN, we brought to life a truly unique artistic vision—a harmonious blend of South Asian dance and music with the incredible support of a supremely talented Indian music ensemble and the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra. This was more than a performance; it was a celebration of shared artistry and a testament to the richness of collaboration. Together, we created an unforgettable tribute to A.R. Rahman’s music while honoring the diverse talents within our community.
Through programs like our Adavu Lab series, we nurtured spaces for dancers to reconnect with their craft—a quiet yet powerful act of coming together to practice, share, and grow. Presentation initiatives like HORIZON, KALANGAN, and SANCHARI showcased our commitment to fostering artists at every stage of their journey, serving as platforms for both emerging and established voices to shine. These moments weren’t just about performances; they were about building connections, creating meaning, and inspiring one another." - Suma Nair
Past events
Kalangan Series ft. Adithya PV
The recent Kalangan Series performance featuring the talented Adithya PV was a memorable event, held on Sunday, October 20th, at Sampradaya Theatre. Adithya captivated a full-house audience with his dynamic presence and powerful Bharatanatyam artistry, delivering a truly inspiring afternoon of dance. The event was a beautiful showcase of a rising star in the Bharatanatyam community.
Salaam Rahman
On October 5th, 2024, we celebrated 35 years of Sampradaya Dance Creations with a spectacular live tribute to the legendary A.R. Rahman. Featuring the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, an Indian Music Ensemble, and over 30 talented dancers, the event showcased a vibrant fusion of music and dance that honored Rahman's extraordinary contributions to the arts.
"Salaam Rahman" celebrated his innovative work as a two-time Academy Award and Grammy Award winner, captivating audiences with a blend of Eastern classical music and contemporary sounds. We are grateful for the overwhelming response.
About Us
Dance Creations
Sampradaya Dance Creations is an award-winning Canadian professional dance company specializing in creating and producing classical and contemporary dance works rooted in the South Asian dance form of Bharatanatyam. Sampradaya's strength lies in its pursuit of excellence by creating a stunning range of solo and ensemble works that are infused with the creativity of Indian dance vocabularies and inspiring audiences with its innovative approaches to traditional movement.
Sampradaya Dance Creations maintains a strong presence in the Canadian dance scene through its national tours and festival participation. Sampradaya Dance Creations has toured across Canada and internationally to India, the United States, Indonesia and Ireland.
Programming
Lata Pada, Founder
Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher & Cultural Consultant, Lata Pada is recognized as one of Canada’s leading artists and arts advocates. An award-winning artist, she holds the distinction of being the first South Asian artist to receive the prestigious national honor of the Order of Canada in 2009. In January 2011, she was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India. In 2012, she was honored with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contribution to the community as a Canadian citizen. More recently, Lata was inducted into the 2013 Inaugural Mississauga Legend’s Row as well as being named one of the Most Influential Individuals of the City of Mississauga.
As the Founder of Sampradaya Dance Creations, Lata’s choreographic vision is compelled by her desire to redefine bharatanatyam in the ‘here and now’ as it navigates new and uncharted territory resulting in a stunning range of solos, ensemble works and multi-disciplinary productions.
Lata has trained under India’s eminent gurus Kalaimamani Kalyanasundaram and Padmabhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan. Originally from Bangalore, India, she has made Canada her home since 1964. She holds an MFA in Dance from York University and is an Adjunct Professor in their Graduate Program.
“Her clear direction in dance makes her one of the few who can successfully translate a thousand-year-old tradition into 21st century realities “
Toronto star