Saveeta began her studies at age 4 in modern dance
from the Trinidad Dance Theatre and Bharata Natyam
at the Trinidad School of Indian Dance. While still
in Trinidad, her training in Kathak commenced under
Shri Pratap Pawar and then continued under Shri
Pradeed Shankar. She also started her training at
that time in Odissi under Shrimati Priya Pawar.
Thereafter, having won a scholarship from the Trinidad
and Tobago government and an additional scholarship
from the government of India (ICCR), Saveeta studied
Kathak under the world renowned - and premiere guru
of Kathak - Shri Birju Maharaj in Lucknow Gharana
at the Kathak Kendra Institute for Kathak of New
Delhi. Saveeta then studied Jaipur Gharana under
Shri Durga Lal, also in New Delhi. During the same
time, she also studied Odissi under Shrimati Aloka
Pannikar and Guru Mayadhar Raut at the Shri Ram
Bharatiya Kala Kendra College of Music and Dance
in New Delhi. In addition, she studied Mayurbanj
Chhau for three years under Guru Alok Nath Visoy
and Guru Sai Babu at the Shriram Bharatiya Kala
Kendra. Saveeta also studied Uday Shankar Oriental
Dance under Shrimati Tanushree Shankar. Saveeta
finally completed her studies in India with one
year's study at the Natya Institute of Choreography
under Maya Rao, and three years as singer and musician
in Hindustani classical music under Irene Roy Chaudhari
at New Delhi's Kathak Kendra which included three
years of tabla under Guru Ambika Prashad Misra.
To finish off, she received a Baccalaureate Cum
Laude in 1987 in Dance from the University of New
Delhi and continued on at the University of New
Delhi to a Masters Degree in Dance in 1989.
After her arrival in Ottawa in 1990, Saveeta founded
Kadam Dance Academy, later incorporated as a not-for-profit
dance company as Upasana the Spirit of Dance. During
this time, she created, choreographed and performed
nationally and internationally many of her original
works, notably NAMASKAR (1992), JOURNEY THROUGH
INDIA (1994), DREAMS OF FIRE (1995), SIDHARA (1997),
IMAGES OF PASSION (1998), RHYTHMS OF INDIA (1999),
RITUAL AND FIRE (1999), COLOURS OF INDIA (2000 and
2001), PARADISE LOST - NEW WORLDS (2003), INCARNATIONS
OF FIRE (2003), JOURNEY TO APSARA (2003), AYESHA
(2004), STAIRWAY FROM HEAVEN (2005), THE BURNING
BRIDE (2006) and the upcoming performances of WILDFIRE
(2008) and VENOM (2008).
In 2000, Saveeta created the annual dance festival,
DANs/cE KAPITAL - Revolution in Movement, showcasing
Canadian and international dance works, now a one
week celebration of dance.
In 2000, Saveeta received the Corel Award for her
contribution in excellence of dance and new choreography
for RITUAL AND FIRE; and was nominated in 2006 for
the K. M. Hunter Artists Award. Her work is funded
by the City of Ottawa, Ontario Arts Council, Canada
Council for the Arts and Heritage Canada.