On Wednesday, June 20, 2012 , the Samprdaya Dance Centre officially opened its doors to a receptive crowd of well-wishers who were in attendance to celebrate this significant milestone for Sampradaya Dance Creations. After months of construction, led by project contractor Rocco Urlando of Urlando Management, the vision to make the dance centre a community hub for South Asian arts came to life with a packed house of Company supporters on hand to get a first look at the newly expanded space. This project has been generously supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Department of Canadian Heritage, as well as a number of private sector donors.

The multi-purpose studio and theatre space with retractable seating for 100 showed itself as a warm and intimate setting, as the day’s event began with a symbolic lamp lighting ceremony followed by a few heartfelt speeches by notable guest speakers. Among those in attendance to show their support and share a few words of congratulations were The Honourable Harinder Takhar, Minister of Government Services, Government of Ontario, Ms. Preeti Saran, Consul General of India, Toronto, Dr. Dev Sainani, Board Member for the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Mr. Peter Caldwell, President & CEO of the Ontario Arts Council.

The space then transformed, providing a captivating sensory experience as invited guests were treated to a high energy performance by Sampradaya Dance Creations’ dancers ,highlighting the professional quality of the thoughtfully designed lighting and sound infrastructure this new space proudly boasts, thanks to the efforts of Peter Latini, President of 3L Sound and Lighting Productions Limited.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone – old and new friends alike to our dance centre. We want this to be a place for the community to gather and witness the wealth of local and international talent”,
expresses Lata Pada, CM, Artistic Director for Sampradaya. The Company is already filling its calendar with exciting performances and is planning the launch of their own programming series, the Horizon Series, showcasing performances by local emerging South Asian dance artists, in September of 2012. The Company will also explore the possibility of rental opportunities of its space.

Under Lata Pada’s visionary leadership as Founder and Artistic Director, SAMPRADAYA Dance Creations, Canada’s Award-Winning Indian Dance Company, has established itself as an internationally acclaimed dance company recognized for innovation and excellence in its repertoire. The Company brings a contemporary worldview to award-winning inter-cultural and interdisciplinary creations, a large number of which have been created in collaboration with leading Canadian and international choreographers, composers, designers, playwrights and musicians. In June of 2011, the Company premièred its biggest project to date, a stunning dance-theatre production titled TAJ, at the Luminato Festival.

The Sampradaya Dance Centre will be part of The 9th Annual Doors Open Mississauga event on September 29, 2012 from 10am -4pm were the public is invited to visit the space and take a guided tour of the facility. Sampradaya Dance Centre is located at Unit #5- 3250 Ridgeway Drive in Mississauga, Ontario. For more information, please visit the Doors Open Ontario website: http://www.doorsopenontario.on.ca/Events/Mississauga.

SAMPRADAYA Dance Creations is a Canadian, Mississauga-based professional dance company specializing in the creation and production of classical and contemporary dance works based in the tradition of bharatanatyam, a South Asian dance form. Founded in 1990 by Lata Pada, C.M. renowned dancer, choreographer and recipient of the Order of Canada, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Company continues to inspire audiences with annual productions produced locally and internationally, while continuing to nurture the talents of emerging young dancers. sampradaya.ca

Photos Above:

1. Ribbon Cutting (L –R): Dr. Dev Sainani, Board Member, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ms. Lata Pada, CM, Artistic Director, Sampradaya Dance Creations, Mr. Andrew Shaver, Arts & Heritage Consultant, The Department of Canadian Heritage. Photo Credit: Divine Method Photography

2. Lata Pada (left) and The Honourable Harinder S. Takhar, Minister of Government Services, Government of Ontario (right). Photo Credit: Divine Method Photography

3. Sampradaya Dance Creations dancers. Photo Credit: Divine Method Photography

Company Contact Information For Media Only:
Claudia Di Pietro, Administrator
Tel: 905-607-8434 Email: claudia@sampradaya.ca