Sukanya Burman is an award-winning dancer, choreographer, and arts leader whose work bridges Indian classical traditions and contemporary movement. As the first South Asian member of NYS DanceForce, she is recognized for advancing artistic excellence while expanding access and representation within the dance field. Her choreography and performances have been presented nationally and internationally. Sukanya’s work is known for its theatricality, emotional depth, and thoughtful reimagining of classical narratives through a contemporary lens. Rooted in Bharatanatyam and Kathak and informed by modern dance practices, her artistic voice challenges rigid boundaries between tradition and innovation. Sukanya has been recognized as a Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion Artist and a recipient of the New York State Choreographer’s Initiative. She is also an award recipient of NYSCA’s Support for Artists for he Bayadere: The Past, Present, and the Future, a large-scale production that received critical acclaim for both its artistic rigor and its interrogation of ownership, lineage, and belonging within Bharatanatyam. In addition to her performance and choreographic practice, Sukanya is a sought-after teaching artist and speaker, having presented and taught Bharatanatyam at the American College Dance Association. She is a member of the inaugural HueArts NYS Leadership Cohort and was recognized by YWCA as a Women of Achievement honoree, receiving the Power the Future Award. As Artistic Director of Sukanya Burman Dance, she leads initiatives that broaden the regional dance landscape, including the Jamestown Dance Festival, a first-of-its-kind event in Western New York centering under-represented dance forms. As a first-generation American and South Asian immigrant artist, Sukanya brings a deeply rooted, contemporary perspective to her creative and leadership work.
