ABOUT

SUJIT VAIDYA

Photo by Chris Randle

Sujit Vaidya (Choreographer/Dancer) is an independent dance artist based in Vancouver BC. Trained in Bharatanatyam, he predominantly works as soloist and continues his training in Bharatanatyam with Guru A.Lakshman.

His artistic choices reflect the curiosities and experiences he holds as a queer artist of colour, while deeply engaging with an art form rooted in tradition. His choreographies question the narrative and relevance of non inclusive traditional texts. He aims to create space for queer expression within the context of Bharatanatyam and seeks collaborations with other queer artists of colour.

His works have been programmed in festivals such as Vancouver International Dance Festival, Dancing On The Edge and MAI Montreal to name a few.

He was the first South Asian artist to receive the Vancouver City’s Mayor’s award as best emerging dance artist in 2010.

He is currently developing a dance on film titled Sacred Sacrilegious which is supported through the Sadhana Project Residency Program, by Anandam Dance Theatre in Toronto and The Canada Council For The Arts.

Photo by Chris Randle

Sujit Vaidya (Choreographer/Dancer) is an independent dance artist based in Vancouver BC. Trained in Bharatanatyam, he predominantly works as soloist and continues his training in Bharatanatyam with Guru A.Lakshman.

His artistic choices reflect the curiosities and experiences he holds as a queer artist of colour, while deeply engaging with an art form rooted in tradition. His choreographies question the narrative and relevance of non inclusive traditional texts. He aims to create space for queer expression within the context of Bharatanatyam and seeks collaborations with other queer artists of colour.

His works have been programmed in festivals such as Vancouver International Dance Festival, Dancing On The Edge and MAI Montreal to name a few.

He was the first South Asian artist to receive the Vancouver City’s Mayor’s award as best emerging dance artist in 2010.

He is currently developing a dance on film titled Sacred Sacrilegious which is supported through the Sadhana Project Residency Program, by Anandam Dance Theatre in Toronto and The Canada Council For The Arts.

REVIEWS & INTERVIEWS

SWAPNA MAYA

Review by Anil Patade for Inside Look

One of the joys of being part of the relatively small (but ever active) Vancouver South-Asian arts community is being able to watch the evolution of an artist right from the time he or she performs in public for the very first time.

SAMAR

Review by Anil Patade for Inside Look

In the 1990s and 2000s, there were several occasions a year in Vancouver when one might attend a Bharat Natyam arangetram, or find dance recitals by exponents of Bharata Natyam or Odissi, and once in a great while, a fine Kathak performance.

The Dance Centre PODCAST

Sujit Vaidya: Episode 48

Sujit and Claire discuss Sujit’s dance journey, starting with discovering Bharatanatyam at a young age, his other career choices and finally finding Bharatanatyam again in Vancouver and taking his first dance class in his 30s.

OFF CENTRE: YouTube Inteview

Queer Arts Festival 2023

Queer Arts Festival 2023: Bharatanatyam dance artist Sujit Vaidya celebrates brown queerness

Montreal Rampage: Choreographer Sujit Vaidya Delves into ‘the Other’ with Off Centre

Stir: Dance review: Co.ERASGA’s Passages of Rhythms is a cross-cultural conversation

The New Indian Express: Presented With a Sensitive Delineation

The Georgia Straight: Powerful emotion meets the strange and surreal at Dancing on the Edge

Sabhash: Doctor turned dancer

DanceViewTimes: Presented With a Sensitive Delineation