Reshmi Chetram
HERITAGE WORKS
Reshmi Chetram Heritage Works honors tradition while inspiring innovation in Indian dance, arts, and culture, through performance, production, ritual & connection.
Reshmi Chetram
Reshmi Chetram is an award-winning Indian classical Kathak dancer, educator, and choreographer. A Canadian of Indo-Guyanese descent, she is the disciple of her mother, the late Deviekha Chetram (founder of Tarana Dance), and the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj. Reshmi’s work bridges classical traditions and contemporary practice, creating immersive experiences that honor ancestral lineages while engaging present-day audiences.
Reshmi is the recipient of awards including the Indo-Shastri Scholarship, Chalmers Fellowship, and Desjardins Good Spark Award for her contributions to arts, culture, and natural health. Over many years, she has performed locally and globally while passing on the teachings of her gurus and mentors such as Late Pt Birju Maharaj, Vidushi Saswati Sen, Smt Sandhya Desai, Alok Parna Guha, Pratap Pawar, Maulik Shah, Deepti Gupta, Mahua Shankar, and others.
Her artistic journey reflects a deep integration of technical mastery, lived experience, and emotional depth. Reshmi’s work embodies her ancestral roots, diasporic identity, and authentic, vulnerable self. Life experiences have transformed her internal world, giving rise to a new dimension in her art rooted in human connection, healing, and spirit.
Through her performances, workshops, and collaborative projects, Reshmi expresses ancient classical forms in modern light — not only as physical technique but as living, breathing, full-bodied offerings of her innermost self. Each movement flows from the guidance of her gurus above and the call of her soul within, inviting audiences to witness heritage in motion, ritual, and reflection.
Disciplines: Dance • Choreography • Heritage • Ceremony • Story
Body of Work
From stage to community—our projects, performances, and impact.
Featured Performances & Projects
Reshmi Chetram has been featured in a range of distinguished productions, festivals, and collaborations, including:
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Sampradaya’s Shunya | Taj
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Ravi Singh’s Reflections
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Janak Khendry’s Ganga and Kaal
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Bageshree Vaze’s Tarana Album Launch
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Nova Dance’s Discover Dance Artist Spotlight
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Rina Singha’s Circle of Bricks, Kathak Mahotsav
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Deepti Gupta’s Static
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Natya Arts’ Precious Gems Production
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Parul Gupta’s ZAKHA
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Kalashram Troupe, New Delhi, India (Kamani Auditorium, India Habitat Centre)
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Choreographers Spotlight, Arzoo Theatre
Media & Recognition
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Featured in Toronto Star: Dance With Reshmi Edition
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Markham Economist & Sun
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Rogers Television
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Badhaai Ho
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Omni News
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Times of India, newspaper feature
Community & Research Initiatives
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Spearheaded the arts-for-healing program for March of Dimes’ Caregiver Program
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Authored Love on Loop, reflecting her experience caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s
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Recipient of a $20K Desjardins Grant for research on ancient modalities and movement for body restoration
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UNHCR partner for movement programs
Methodology
Reshmi Chetram's methodology is rooted in Kathak heritage, Indo-Caribbean culture and comes from a lineage of gurus that spans centuries. As a principal performing artist, dance educator & holisitic health practitioner with 20 years of experience, Reshmi brings with her a breadth of knowledge, history and a strong ability to root dancers while helping them expand to reach their individual potential in dance.
Reshmi is the disciple of her late mother & Kathak artist, Deviekha Chetram as well as the late Padmavibushan, Sri Pandit Birju Maharaj and has mentored with gurus in Toronto & India such as late Smt Sandhya Desai, Smt Saswati Sen, Kumudini Lakhia & Durga Arya.
Reshmi's Method is one that approaches creating & learning from the root up. Founded on the principles of planting roots and blossoming. Reshmi's process is rooted in preserving traditions and inspiring innovation in Indian Dance. Through a holistic approach to traditional dance education, performance and presentation, Reshmi blends restorative movement, natural health modalities, structured learning environments and self devotion techniques to bring a complete mind, body + spirit connection to the learning experience.
Inquire about mentorship
Testimonials
"Reshmi's teaching style, preparedness, and encouragement of the youth ensured that each participant had a fantastic time and felt more confident in their abilities."
- Youth Arts Movement Org
Private Lessons Client