Originally from Bangalore, India, Lata Pada has made Canada her home for the past 35 years. During that time she has brought great cultural enrichment to both Canada and the world as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, lecturer and a pioneer of South Asian dance.
Lata's first home in Canada was in the remote mining township of Thompson, Manitoba. As the only woman of South Asian origin in her community, Lata embraced the opportunity to learn about Canadian lifestyles and traditions by becoming active in numerous community groups. In turn, she gave dance performances and lectures on the culture and performing arts of India. In 1985 the tragic crash of an Air India flight claimed the lives of Lata’s husband and two daughters. Her tremendous inner strength and resilience enabled her cope with this terrible loss and to continue to bring her unique artistic gifts to the world.
For the past 20 years, Lata Pada has showcased the rich cultural heritage of India’s classical dance through her professional dance company - - Sampradaya Dance Creations. The company is recognized not only for their creativity and excellence, but also for their many community outreach activities that include lecture demonstrations and workshops in schools, universities and to other groups. Through Sampradaya Dance Academy, she has nurtured a new generation of dancers and has enhanced the awareness of and appreciation for Indian classical dance.
Over her remarkable dance career, she has performed more than 500 concerts. She danced a command performance for the President of India in 1992 and two extensive solo tours of North America.
She is a founding member of the South Asian Advisory Committee of the Royal Ontario Museum and is assisting in the planning and development of their future South Asian Gallery. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga and currently sits on their Arts and Entertainment Committee.
Lata is currently working on a pilot project with the DareArts Foundation to bring dance and movement expression to inner city schools.
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