Where Art Meets Healing

Sanved was founded on the belief that all individuals in society have the right to live with dignity and self-respect. This basic sense of empowerment and integrity can be achieved through Dance Movement Therapy (DMT).

  • Sohini Chakraborty, a Sociology postgraduate, envisioned merging dance and sociology
  • Inspired by a haunting poster at the Kolkata Book Fair, she embarked on a transformative journey
  • Guided by the principle of “Dance Changes Lives,” she volunteered at the NGO Sanlaap
  • She began to experiment with new techniques of dance for rehabilitation of trafficking survivors
  • Rangeen Sapney (Colorful Dreams) was launched
  • Sohini’s pilot project
  • Developed in 1999-2000
  • Supported by the government
  • Self expression through, group interaction, role play, art and dance
  • Worked with over 120 disadvantaged children in Kolkata
  • Since early 2002, Sohini has run a school program
  • Interaction between mainstream school students and child survivors of sexual violence
  • Aims to bridge the gap and foster understanding between the children
  • Currently being run in 5 schools
  • Sohini started Sanved, as a semi-autonomous program
  • Training of trainer programme introduced to develop healers and practitioners from survivors
  • January-Sohini represented the state at the Asian Social Forum
  • Thousands of participants appreciated Sanved's work
  • Sohini awarded the Ashoka Fellowship for leading dance therapy in India for social change
  • April 29th, 2004, Kolkata Sanved (KS), was founded-by Sohini and 5 survivors
  • A non-profit focusing on rehabilitating young women survivors of trafficking and sexual violence
  • In the same year KS was invited to the UK by Christian AID and to USA by the US State Department to showcase KS’s work
  • KS started working with 5 partners Anjali, ABWU, Don Bosco Ashalayem, Nirman and Pathabhavaban
  • KS received its first grant from UNIFEM
  • KS formed a salaried team
  • KS received the Beyond Sport Award for the Best Project for Health
  • Kolkata Sanved featured in the Time Magazine article “Power of One”
  • Collaboration started with Department of Women and Child Development, Govt. of West Bengal
  • Collaboration started with GAATW for South East Asia
  • Piloted its 100 hours certificate DMT programme in Kolkata and Mumbai
  • Started conducting workshops outside West Bengal in–Odisha , Bihar and Maharastra
  • Organized 2 South Asia regional workshops on DMT with 100 participants - 1 in Nepal and 1 in Kolkata
  • Sohini selected as Ford Fellow at Colombia University
  • Started its employee wellbeing and personal growth programme
  • Received the DVF Award for transforming the lives of women in India
  • Our collaborations increased from 5 to 20
  • Touched the lives of 5,000 survivors of gender based violence
  • Launched its formal 2 years Training of Trainers programme for the community
  • Published its first research publication Dance and Recovery on DMT and Mental Health
  • U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Kolkata Sanved
  • Sohini Chakraborty and Sanved received the Newsmaker 2012 award from 24 Ghanta, the leading news channel of West Bengal, for Outstanding Achievement and Inspiration
  • Transforming Steps- Kolkata Sanved’s production was staged in London in an India-UK collaboration
  • Collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai and launch of the country’s first academic programme on DMT
  • Sohini awarded the ARARAJITA (unbeatable) Award in 2013
  • KS completed its first impact evaluation
  • Research-based trauma recovery intervention for survivors of human trafficking and sexual violence launched in West Bengal and Maharashtra
  • Completion of 10 years
  • KS received Global Fund for Children’s –Global Catalyst Award
  • Capacitated 100 grassroot youth as change leaders
  • Design Summit conceptualized as part of KS’s academic programme
  • Directly impacted 7000 survivors and touched the lives of 50,000 individuals
  • Partnered with 30 national and international organizations
  • Kolkata Sanved’s annual international campaign, Dance for Revolution launched, with Tabla Maestro Pandit Tanmay Bose
  • KS member Samita Bhattacharya awarded as prestigious IVLP Fellow
  • Breaking Barriers- Kolkata Sanved and Jeevika Development Society jointly hosted a campaign at Commission on the Status of Women at the UN in NYC
  • Kolkata Sanved started its growth and strategic plan for the next decade
  • Sohini Chakraborty received True Legend Award
  • Kolkata Sanved selected to be part of the documentary film Little Stones
  • Collaboration started with empowerment Institute USA and Namrata Kanuga awarded fellowship for the training
  • Sohini Chakraborty felicitated by Department of Women and Child Development Govt. of West Bengal
  • Fellowship initiated with Darpana Performing Arts Academy and Mehraj Khatoon
  • UNICEF Mumbai recognized and documented Kolkata Sanved’s programme- Sampoornata: Healing Survivors through Dance Movement Therapy- as one of the best practices for the Western Region under Strengthening Restoration and Rehabilitation of Children
  • KS partnered with 40 organizations ranging from universities, government agencies, hospitals, schools, civil society networks and rights groups
  • Research based roundtable in collaboration with World Dance Alliance, Asia Pacific and JNU Embodied Empowerment was conducted
  • Kolkata Sanved’s National Biennial DMT for Change Summit launched in collaboration with TISS at Delhi, India Habitat Centre
  • Impacting policy – West Bengal Government’s Department of Social Welfare started using Dance Movement Therapy as a form of psychosocial intervention. Kolkata Sanved started associating with government-run mental hospitals to incorporate DMT into their psychotherapy interventions
  • In collaboration with the DWCD and Praxis, a care giver’s needs assessment completed
  • Kolkata Sanved’s Institutional Impact Evaluation initiated
  • We published 2 research publications-Scripting Lives and Working Guideline for Using DMT and Creative Arts for CCIs
  • Randomized Control Trial based research to measure the impact of DMT was initiated
  • Launched trauma informed care-based Trauma Recovery Module
  • Kolkata Sanved formed a 9 member Senior Leadership Team
  • Training of Trainer programme restructured and changed to Dance Movement Therapy Leadership Development Academy for individuals emerging from marginalized communities
  • Sreeja Debnath of KS received two prestigious awards
  • Sabita Debnath of KS independently initiated Bloom- a project for women living in two red-light areas, with American Centre Support
  • Jhulan Mondal and Durga Madhar of KS received the Courageous Leadership Award at Women Economic Forum in Perth, Australia
  • Mehraj Khatun of KS graduated under Dr. Mallika Sarabhai
  • Awarded the Ladies Study Group Charitable Trust Award, on 11th December, 2019, presented by former President of India, Dr. Pranab Mukherjee
  • Started to develop sector leaders-130+ such individuals have become DMT practitioners and change-makers. 10+ of them have been individually recognized at national and international levels
  • Initiated a large- scale research in collaboration with West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights to assess the mental health status of children living in child care institutes
  • Launched DMT based prevention programme Sampoornata Wellbeing Club in the community
  • Created a virtual programme on DMT
  • Sohini Chakraborty recognised as 100 women Global Leaders by Vital Voices Global Leadership
  • Launch of Kolata Sanved’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival- FEAL-Festival of Empowerment and Art for Life
  • Global Biennial Summit on Dance Movement Therapy for Change was conducted virtually with 9 countries participating
  • During the COVID and Amphan crises, KS provided relief material to 7000 families in West Bengal
  • KS provided psychosocial support Pan India during the pandemic to 1000+ individuals
  • Publication of 6 papers and various articles in national and international journals and books
  • KS Publication Good Practices in Funding Partnership commissioned with support from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation
  • Kolkata Sanved graduated practitioners started to build their own DMT practices
  • Kolkata Sanved featured and founder Sohini Chakraborty interviewed on Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), October 2021
  • 200+graduated practitioners available PAN India
  • Post Graduate Diploma DMT program launched in collaboration with TISS
  • Kolkata Sanved model Sampoornata received Academic Credibility and introduced in Global DMT Landscape
  • Namrata Kanuga became International Empowerment Coach for empowerment training
  • Jingle all the way- A journey document on the pedagogy building of Kolkata Sanved’s therapeutic movement facilitator’s course published
  • Revised curriculum documents published with 10 Dance Movement Therapy guidelines
  • Completion of 20 years
  • Kolkata Sanved Dream Centre work initiated
  • Dr. Sohini Chakraborty’s book on the Sanved model Sampoornata published
  • KS’s flagship programmes DMT for Empowerment, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Training of Trainer expanded to 7 states in India- collaborated with 60+ organizations and government departments across South Asia and connected with 200,000+ from civil society
  • Kolkata Sanved’s Sampoornata curriculum introduced in 8 national and international universities
Our Guiding Principles

Making healing through movement
accessible to all

Our Philosophy

We believe everyone has the right to live with dignity and self-respect—empowerment and integrity nurtured through Dance Movement Therapy (DMT).

Our Purpose

To awaken creative wellbeing and restore dignity by empowering under-served individuals to heal, dream, and transform their lives through DMT and the arts.

Our Vision

A healthy, violence-free, gender-equal, creative society of empowered individuals.

Our Mission

To cultivate DMT practitioners, leaders, and change-makers—especially from vulnerable communities—by establishing a Centre of Excellence for creative wellbeing and social change.

Inner Growth to Global Goals

Change Within, Change Beyond

Lasting social change begins with inner growth. By nurturing self-awareness, dignity, and creativity, individuals become catalysts for a healthier, kinder, and more equal society. Our work aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and draws inspiration from the Inner Development Goals (IDGs)—bridging personal transformation with global action.

SDG Image
SDG 3

Good Health & Well-Being

Through Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), we promote mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, especially among marginalized communities.

SDG 3
SDG 4

Quality Education

We train individuals in DMT and the arts, opening pathways to education, skills, and lifelong learning.

SDG 4
SDG 5

Gender Equality

Our programs empower women and girls to reclaim voice, dignity, and agency, challenging cycles of violence and inequality.

SDG 5
SDG 10

Reduced Inequalities

By working with under-served communities, we create opportunities for inclusion, equity, and social justice.

SDG 10
SDG 17

Partnerships for the Goals

We collaborate with global and local partners to amplify impact, scale change, and build a compassionate world.

SDG 17
DMT is aligned with all the IDGs and we find ourselves closely facilitating the essence of all of them.

01. Being

Cultivating our Inner Life

02. Thinking

Understanding our Complex World

03. Relating

Caring for Others and the World

04. Collaborating

Building Trust and Working Together

05. Acting

Leading and Enabling Change

OUR PEOPLE

The Heartbeat of Kolkata Sanved

Expert team of therapists, artists, trainers and leaders.

Bhaswati Ghosh

President

Sohini Chakraborty

Secretary and Founder Director

Anuradha Mukherjee

Treasurer

Urmimala Sarkar

Executive Member
Sreeja Debnath

Sreeja Debnath

Executive Member

Sohini Bhattacharya

Executive Member

Dr. Bipasha Roy

Exectutive Member
Anwari Begum

Anwari Begum

Senior DMT Practitioner

Bithika Roy

Bithika Roy

Audio Visual Trainer

Dipali Das

Dipali Das

Care Provider, DMT Training Center

Durga Madhar

Durga Madhar

Senior Lead, DMT Practitioner & Choreography Assistant

Jharna Naskar

Jharna Naskar

DMT Practitioner

Jhulan Mondal

Jhulan Mondal

Head of Training and Skill Development

Jhuma Das

Jhuma Das

Senior DMT Practitioner

Mehraj Khatun

Mehraj Khatun

Senior DMT Practitioner & Dance Faculty

Mou Ghosh

Mou Ghosh

Project Lead - Psychosocial Intervention

Moumita Bhattacharjee

Moumita Bhattacharjee

Finance and Administrative Manager

Namrata K. Kanuga

Namrata K. Kanuga

Empowerment Coach & Creative Lead

Neha Sarkar

Neha Sarkar

Project Associate

Prarthana Banerjee

Prarthana Banerjee

Assistant Administration and Accountant

Rinki Somani

Rinki Somani

Human Resources and Admin Officer

Sabia Mufty

Sabia Mufty

DMT Practitioner

Sabita Debnath

Sabita Debnath

Senior Lead, DMT Training & Psycho-Social Support

Samita Bhattacharya

Samita Bhattacharya

Head of Programmes

Sandhya Das

Sandhya Das

DMT Practitioner

Sandhya Karmakar

Sandhya Karmakar

DMT Practitioner

Sobha Pahari

Sobha Pahari

Project Lead, Sampoornata Well-Being Club

Sreeja Debnath

Sreeja Debnath

DMT Training Expert, Trauma Recovery & Well-Being

Sukanya Paramanik

Sukanya Paramanik

DMT Practitioner

Suktara Khatun

Suktara Khatun

DMT Practitioner

Surajit Mukherjee

Surajit Mukherjee

Project Lead - Psychosocial Intervention

Swapan Sardar

Swapan Sardar

Social Worker Psychosocial Support & Emergency Response

Tilottama Chowdhury

Tilottama Chowdhury

Senior Lead, DMT Training & Choreography

Suvra Chakraborty

Suvra Chakraborty

Assistant - Accounts and Admin

Ranamita Manna Bairagi

Ranamita Manna Bairagi

Project Associate- Sampoornata Well Being Club

Jolen Munda

Jolen Munda

Project Associate- Empowering Youths in North Bengal

Project Associate - DMTLDA

Bidisha Mitra

Project Associate - DMTLDA

Alisha Pinto

Alisha Pinto

Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Angira Chakravorty Dasgupta

Angira Chakravorty Dasgupta

Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Bhavisha Jagdish Dedhia

Bhavisha Jagdish Dedhia

Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Keisha Lobo

Keisha Lobo

Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Krupa shah

Krupa shah

Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Maya Sen

Maya Sen

Mental Health Social Worker & Narrative Therapist

Paulomi Pal

Paulomi Pal

Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Rashi Bothra

Rashi Bothra

Consultant, Social Media

Renelle Andrea Snelleskz

Renelle Andrea Snelleskz

Senior Dance Movement Therapist

Rumela Mukherjee

Rumela Mukherjee

Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Salsabil Islam

Salsabil Islam

Documenter and Research Associate

Sejal Bhatt Paleja

Sejal Bhatt Paleja

Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Shalaka Sisodia

Shalaka Sisodia

Senior Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Shuhbham Shrivastav

Shubham Srivastav

Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Srabasti Ghosh

Srabasti Ghosh

Documentation Associate, Consultant

Tanvi Bajaj

Tanvi Bajaj

Laban Movement Analyst

Zankhana Joshi

Zankhana Joshi

Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Dr. Aditi Bandopadhya

Dr. Aditi Bandopadhya

Consultant Physician & Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner

Dr. Arna Seal

Dr. Arna Seal

Training & Education Specialist

Professor Bonnie Bernstein

Professor Bonnie Bernstein

Dance Movement Therapist, USA

Dr. Chandrani Dasgupta

Dr. Chandrani Dasgupta

Consultant Psychologist & Researcher

Prof. (Dr.) Lata Narayan

Prof. (Dr.) Lata Narayan

Retired Professor (1984-2017) , Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

Dr. rer. medic. Marianne Eberhard-Kaechele

Dr. rer. medic. Marianne Eberhard-Kaechele

Dance Therapist, Germany

Martina Piff

Martina Piff

Dance Therapist, Germany

Dr. SabihaVasi

Dr. SabihaVasi

Assistant Professor(Senior Grade), Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

Dr. Samrat Sengupta

Dr. Samrat Sengupta

Psychiatrist

DONORS & PARTNERS

Supporters at every step

Sanved’s journey would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our donors, sponsors and partners who believe in the power of change through movement.

DONORS

  • Azim Premji Foundation
  • AWO
  • Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives Pvt Ltd
  • We Trust
  • Centre for Lifelong Learning
  • TISS
  • Blossomy Project, U.S.A.
  • Trisys
  • Human Capability Foundation
  • Learning Mate
  • Swiss Philanthropy Foundation
  • Empower
  • Hopewell Fund
  • Bright Fund

PARTNERS

  • American Center, Kolkata
  • Arthshila, Santiniketan
  • Antaranga, Birbhum
  • Azad Foundation, Delhi and Kolkata
  • Block Development Office, Mandirbazar
  • Centre for Lifelong Learning, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
  • Centre of Contemporary Dance, Pune
  • Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Maharashtra
  • Department of Women and Child Development, Government of West Bengal
  • Directorate of Child Rights and Trafficking, West Bengal
  • Evidence for Change – Swasti
  • Faith Foundation, Shillong
  • Global Alliance Against Traffick in Women (GAATW) – Asia
  • Gramin Siksha Kendra, Rajasthan
  • Iswar Sankalpa - Kolkata
  • Jeevika Development Society – South 24 Parganas
  • Karm Marg, Faridabad
  • Kshamata, Thane
  • Mahima Umang and Mahima Umeed, Mahima India & Child Welfare ‘Committee
  • Children’s AID’s Society, Children and Observation Home, Umerkhadi, Dongri, Maharashtra
  • Maitree Network - Kolkata
  • Nari O Sishu Kalyan Kendra, Howrah
  • One Billion Rising, India
  • Khula Aasman - Mumbai
  • Jagori Rural Charitable Trust - India
  • Patang, Odisha
  • Samikshani - Kolkata
  • Samya Development Resources Pvt. Ltd - Kolkata
  • Sewa Bharat - Kolkata
  • Sunderban Social Development Centre (SSDC), South 24 Parganas
  • Suprava Panchashila Mahila Uddyog Samity (SPMUS), Murshidabad
  • Swayam - Kolkata
  • Vishakha - Rajasthan
  • West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) – West Bengal
  • World Dance Alliance, Asia Pacific
  • Breakthrough – Delhi

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