Ms Sudakshina  Chaudhuri Kundu

Founder & Artistic Director, Tarang Art & Wellbeing Association of Scotland (TAWAS)

Sudakshina is an accomplished Kathak dancer, teacher, choreographer, and inclusive arts practitioner with over two decades of experience in Indian classical dance and community engagement. As the Founder and Artistic Director of the Tarang Art & Wellbeing Association of Scotland (TAWAS), she is passionate about using the arts to promote health, wellbeing, inclusion, and cultural understanding across Scotland.

She received her formal training in the Jaipur Gharana tradition of Kathak at Allahabad University, India, where she achieved the Pravin qualification. She has also undertaken intermediate-level training in Bharatanatyam and Odissi, giving her a rich understanding of India's diverse classical dance traditions and enabling her to create engaging, cross-cultural learning experiences.

Since moving to Scotland in 2005, Sudakshina has been teaching, performing, and promoting Kathak throughout Glasgow and beyond. She has inspired students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, believing that dance is a powerful means of self-expression, confidence building, physical activity, and emotional wellbeing.

A strong advocate for accessibility in the arts, Sudakshina developed Touch Base Kathak—an innovative and inclusive approach that adapts traditional Kathak for people with a wide range of physical, sensory, and learning disabilities, including wheelchair users. This pioneering programme enables participants to experience the beauty, rhythm, storytelling, and expressive movements of Kathak in ways that are meaningful, accessible, and empowering.

Her inclusive practice has led to successful collaborations with organisations across Scotland, including Sense Scotland, Capability Scotland, Corseford School, and a range of community groups, schools, and wellbeing organisations. Through workshops that combine dance, music, creativity, and mindfulness, she has helped participants improve confidence, social connection, and overall wellbeing.

Alongside her community work, Sudakshina remains committed to preserving and promoting the authentic traditions of Kathak. She continues to teach classical Kathak to children, young people, and adults while creating welcoming and inclusive learning environments where everyone can discover the joy of dance, regardless of their experience or ability.

Through TAWAS, Sudakshina's vision is to build healthier, happier, and more inclusive communities by bringing together arts, culture, education, and wellbeing—creating opportunities for everyone to learn, participate, and thrive.

Dr. Geetika Sharma

Chairperson

  Medical Professional & Dance Enthusiast

Geetika is a dedicated medical doctor by profession, and a passionate dancer at heart. Her journey with Tarang Art & Wellbeing Association of Scotland (TAWAS) began fifteen years ago, through a shared love for dance that connected her deeply with founder Sudakshina Kundu.

While medicine can often be a high-pressure world, Geetika found that dance became her true stress-buster—a joyful and grounding force that balances her demanding career. Her involvement with TAWAS is driven by a desire to give back to society, and to support awareness campaigns and community wellbeing programs through the arts.

Through her work with organisations such as Down’s Syndrome Scotland and Capability Scotland, Geetika has witnessed first hand how music and dance can uplift minds, heal emotional wounds, and bring joy to people of all abilities.

She hopes to continue offering her energy and care to the community, using the healing power of dance and wellbeing activities to make a positive impact in people’s lives.