Our Village

Setu Bandhana Presentations (SBP) is a visionary initiative founded by passionate first-generation, woman of colour immigrant dance artist, Founder and Executive - Artistic Director, Samyuktha Punthambekar. With the invaluable support of our Arts & Curatorial consultant Paromita Kar and our outgoing Administrative Producer, Christina Volpini. Our team is dedicated to celebrating and preserving diverse movement traditions from South Asian and silk route dance and arts forms. Through artistic excellence, equitable practices, and vibrant collaborations, we create a global stage that bridges cultures, fosters inclusivity, and breaks down barriers for first generation South Asian and Middle Eastern immigrant artists, enriching our cultural tapestry.

Founder & Executive - Artistic Director

Samyuktha Punthambekar (she/her)

Samyuktha Punthambekar, Founder and Executive Director of Setu Bandhana Presentations (SBP), is a multifaceted arts professional based in Ottawa. With over 20 years as a Bharatanatyam dancer who has graduated from the acclaimed Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, she has showcased her talent internationally. Backed by her Economics degree from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, Samyuktha's diverse skill set includes arts administration, strategic consultancy, and advocacy for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Most recently, she gained a Developing Effective Government Relations and Advocacy Strategies for Canadian Arts Organizations micro credential from OCAD University. Her tenure as a Project Analyst for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives at the City of Kingston reflects her dedication to policy reform and leadership development. Samyuktha's invaluable contributions to cultural awareness are evident through her arts administration company, Infinite Arts Projects (IAP), and her transformative work with Kalasadhana Dance Company (KDC). She continues to champion equity, fostering the growth of underrepresented artists and leaders.

Connector & Curatorial Consultant

Paromita Kar (she/her)

Paromita Kar, a Toronto-based dance artist and trailblazer, holds the distinction of being the first to earn a PhD in Dance Studies in Canada from York University, Toronto. Her dance journey spans classical Indian Odissi, enriched by Guru Durgacharan Ranbir's guidance in the Debaprasad Das style. Paromita's repertoire extends to Central Asian dance styles, including Afghan, Tajik, and Iranian traditions, showcased in live performances, concerts, and international music videos. She's the choreographer and lead dancer of Ensemble Topaz, a Toronto-based integrated dance-music ensemble. Her accolades include grants from Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, and a commitment to dance research, with presentations at esteemed conferences and publications in international dance journals..

Organizational & Equity Consultant

Kevin A. Ormsby (he/him)

Artistic Director of KasheDance, Kevin A. Ormsby works as a dancer/choreographer and Arts Strategies Consultant. He is the Program Manager for Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO), Professor of Dance Performance at Centennial College and an Adjunct Artist with Dance Exchange in Washington, D.C. Mr. Ormsby is a 2016 Ontario Arts Council Chalmers Fellowship recipient, OAC KM Hunter Dance Award 2016 nominee, Toronto Arts Council’s Cultural Leaders Lab Fellow, and the 2014 Canada Council for the Arts’ Victor Martyn Lynch — Staunton Award recipient in Dance. With a career that spans over 30 years, Mr. Ormsby has performed with various companies and projects in Canada, the Caribbean and the U.S. He currently sits on the Board of Nia Centre for the Arts, Dance Collection Danse and Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts.