Sumitra Keshava

Sumitra Keshava grew up as the youngest daughter of the Swiss-Indian dancing couple Esther and Keshava in Basel. Every year she travelled to India with her family, integrating Indian art and culture in her life. At the age of five she started learning the classical Indian Temple Dance Bharatanatyam from her father Vidwan D. Keshava, studying it with passion and intensity. 2003, at the age of 16, she delighted a large audience with her Arangetram, the demanding, full-length solo debut of an Indian dancer. Ever since she has been dancing as a soloist and as a member of the Kalasri Dance Ensemble on numerous theatre stages, at festivals and diverse events in Switzerland and abroad. The young dancer received excellent reviews for her expressive acting talent and her dancing skills. Sumitra Keshava performs on stage not only as a dancer, but also as an actress. In the Indian play Shakuntala, a piece of world literature, she played the leading role, appearing in Switzerland and Germany.

Sumitra Keshava continuously improves herself in classical and contemporary Indian Dance as well as Indian music and Yoga. Also part of her repertoire are merry folkdances and expressive Bollywood dances to popular film songs.

Sumitra Keshava teaches at the Kalasri Dance School and conducts workshops for classical Indian Dance and Bollywood dance. In 2012 she successfully completed the Bachelor of Law at the University of Basel.

Most Important Appearances

2011 Amerikannadotsava, North America Kannada Association, Bangalore
2011 Global Ethics Forum, Geneva
2011 Fastenopfer Anniversary, Swisslife Arena Lucerne
2011 Swiss Economic Forum Switzerland, Interlaken
2010 Appearance with the Choir of Nations, Glarus
2010 Museum Rietberg, Zurich
2010 Leading role in the Indian play Shakuntala
2010 Kalasri production Pancha Bhuta
2010 TV appearance in India
2010 Museum of Ethnology, Cologne
2009 Kalasri production Pancha Bhuta
2009 Appearance with the Choir of Nations, KKL Lucerne
2008 Appearance in Skydance, Musical Theatre Basel, Olma Halle St. Gallen
2008 Dasara Festival, Mysore
2007 Kalasri production Stories from the Bible
2006 Diverse Appearances in classical, folkloristic and Bollywood programs
2005 Kalasri production Firebird (music by I. Stravinsky)
2004 Appearance on Swiss TV
2004 Classical Indian Dance programs
2004 Arangetram solo debut
2003 Dance Festival Mysore
2002 Kalasri production Bhava, Raga, Tala
1999 Kalasri production Navagraha – Sun, Moon, Planets
1999 Kalasri production The Female Divinity
1998 Appearance with the Kalasri Dance Ensemble
1997 Kalasri production The Four Seasons (music by A. Vivaldi)
1996 Asia Festival, Music of the World Festival, Basel
1996 Kalasri production The Four Indian Dance Styles
1995 International Dance Festival Mysore in the honour of the 70^th birthday of the King of Mysore