Paromita Kar
Teaching
Paromita has taught dance since she was 16 years old, and has taught dance in a variety of settings such as dance classes and workshops at studios, private dance students, beauty and talent pageant coaching, the Toronto District School Board system, post-secondary settings such as York University Dance Department. In 2016, she received the Artist in Education First Steps grant from Ontario Arts Council to teach South Asian dances in Ontario schools.
She has taught dance workshops workshops in United States, Netherlands, and Canada. Her young students have performed at events such as Toronto International Youth Dance Festival, North York Festival, Smiles Across the Universe fundraiser, Carassauga International Pavillion, Nowruz Persian New Year School assembly, and various community events. Her adult students have performed her choreography at Tirgan Festival (Toronto), the largest North American festival showcasing Persian culture, Miss Canada Globe talent section, Festival Orientalys (Montreal), South Africa, Aurora Multicultural Festival (Aurora), as well as Afghan music videos under international directors. She was also part of the Dance Education Summit hosted by the Canada International Dance Culture Association in 2016.
Currently during the worldwide COVID pandemic, she is teaching her regular dance weekly classes as well as dance workshops online via Zoom, in accordance with social-distancing regulations.
Weekly classes offered in traditional Indian dance and Bollywood, Persian dance (for children), Persian dance (for adults) and Afghan dance. Contact Paromita at paromita.kar@gmail.com for latest schedule, information and details! She can also be contacted for custom choreography and teaching for special events!
Workshops
Paromita has taught workshops at private dance studios in Netherlands, United States, and Canada. Topics taught include Afghan dance, Tajik dance, Anatolian dances, Intro to classical Indian Odissi dance, the Rasa Theory from classical Indian dances, and Bollywood dance, as well as for several corporate settings. For more information and details on workshops and availability, please contact Paromita.
Afghan, Tajik and Anatolian dance workshops. Studio Caravane. Hosted by Sanaa Dance. Montreal, Canada. 2017.
"The Nine Moods": Rasa and Classical Indian Dance. The Cloud Danslab. The Hauge, Netherlands. 2015.
Bollywood Dance Workshop, BellyUp Studio, Oakville, Ontario, Canada. 2016
Recent Workshops:
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D.E.V.I Virtual Platform: Folk Dances of Rajasthan- Chari and Ghoomar- Online (August 2020)
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Workshop and demonstration on Kurdish Bablekan dance on behalf of Dilan Dance Company- as part of Community Folk Art Council of Toronto segment of CIOFF 50th anniversaryWorldwide Virtual Marathon of Folklore (August 2020)
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Festival of India Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay, Ontario: Rajasthani Dances (July 2019)
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Regent Park , Toronto: (November 2018): Bollywood Dance Workshop
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Studio Caravane, Montreal, Canada (March 2017): Tajik, Afghan and Anatolian Dances, hosted by Sanaa Dance
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BellyUp Bellydance Studio, Oakville, Canada (October 23, 2016): Spicy Bollywood Dance Workshop
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Hindu Cultural Society, Toronto, Canada (July 2016): Classical Indian Dance workshop
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The Cloud Danslab, The Hague, Netherlands (June 19, 2015): Rasa and Physicality Workshop/ Classical Indian Dance
In-School Workshops and Public Outreach
In 2016, Paromita received an Ontario Arts Council Artist in Education First Steps grant towards teaching Indian dance in Ontario schools. Paromita is always happy to engage school students in dance educational activities, which are fun, energetic, and educational.
Above: Paromita teaching Khalbeliya dance, from the deserts of Rajasthan in northwestern India, in Toronto schools in 2005.
Below: Paromita leads participants through an interactive session on Central Asian dances; demonstrating Uyghur dance on the Left, and leading them through an Afghan attan (circle dance) on the Right. at Historic Annette Street Library, Culture Days. Photo credit: Ken Dobb.
Dance Classes and Students
Paromita teaches a variety of regular dance classes based out of her home studio, as well as for private students in Maple and several other locations. Currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for safety and social distancing, all her classes are being taught via Zoom! Contact her today for more information and details on Studio Topaz Digital Dance Lounge, offering Zoom classes on Persian Dance, Traditional Indian Dance, Bollywood dance and Afghan Dance! Below are some photos of previous student performances.
Below: Students at Toronto International Youth Dance Festival 2015, David Peccault Square, Toronto.
Below: Left: Students at North York Festival 2015, Mel Lastman Square, Toronto . Centre: Paromita and her student at Carassauga India Pavillion, Hershey Centre, Mississauga 2016. Right: Paromita's student performing at Carassauga India Pavillion 2018 at Hershey Centre, Missisauga.
Below: (Right) Paromita's student performing Paromita's Bollywood dance choreography with butterfly wings at Carassauga India Pavillion 2019. Photo Credit: Bryon Johnson. (Left) Paromita's student performing her choreography at Toronto International Youth Dance Festival 2017 at Nathan Phillip Square, Toronto.
Paromita presenting at the Dance Educator's Summit 2016, hosted by CIDCA (Canada International Dance Culture Association). Paromita spoke about the challenges of teaching/performing international dance forms, and the resources available to dance educators focusing on these forms.
Zoom Teaching During the Pandemic
Paromita has been teaching her regular classes as well as special workshops during the COVID pandemic through Studio Topaz Digital Dance Lounge. Regular class offerings include (for children and adults):
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classes in Persian dance and Iranian heritage dances (ongoing)
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Afghan Dance (ongoing)
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Traditional Indian folk dances (ongoing)
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Bollywood Dance (recommencing in January 2021)
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Classical Odissi dance (recommencing in January 2021).
In her regular classes, she has had students from all over the world and all across Canada, including students from France, United States, Montreal and several other places. Zoom classes are accessible from anywhere in the world with an internet connection!
She has also taught online dance workshops as guest instructor for:
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DEVI organization: in Rajasthani traditional Dances (Aug 2020, Zoom)
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On behalf of Dilan Dance Company (under Artistic Director Fethi Karakecili) a movement section demonstration/instruction in Kurdish traditional Bablekan dance with live Davul as part of the Community Folk Art Council presentations for 50th anniversary of CIOFF- the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts. (Aug 2020, Zoom)
She has also organized master classes under her own instructors in Iranian dances. Contact Paromita (paromita.kar@gmail.com) if interested/curious about dance classes/instructions and digital dance and culture workshops during the COVID-19 pandemic!
Workshop Review: Paromita's Workshop for Ontario Folk Dance Association
Written by Karen Bennett in Folk Dancer: The Magazine of World Dance and Culture; Vol. 45 No. 3. June 2014
Original Source: https://www.ofda.ca/fdo/archives/2014/3jun_14.pdf
