Sabina Sweta Sen-Podstawska

Sabina Sweta Sen-Podstawska is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Culture Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. She holds a PhD in Theatre from the University of Exeter (2016) and has a strong interdisciplinary background in dance studies, somatic practices, and cultural anthropology.

• Doctorate (2016): When Our Senses Dance: Sensory-Somatic Awareness in Contemporary Approaches to Odissi Dance in India, University of Exeter, Department of Theatre
• Master's Degree (2011): Travelling Dance: Embodiments of Odissi Dance in the Diaspora and Beyond, University of Roehampton
• Master's Degree (2010): Identities in Motion: Dance Performance as an Embodiment of the Culture and Social Organization of the Tsimshian Nation, University of Silesia, Faculty of Philology

Her research focuses on somatic studies, body-mind relationships, multiculturalism, transculturalism, and the performing arts of minority, diasporic, and indigenous cultures—particularly in Canada and India. She explores the sensory and psychophysical dimensions of Indian classical dance, especially Odissi, and the cultural and historical transformations shaping its practice. Her work bridges ethnographic inquiry with personal experience as a dancer.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on sensory-somatic paradigms in Odissi dance, the evolution of the 'Odissi body,' cultural transfer in Indian classical dance, and the embodiment of identity in indigenous performance. Themes of agency, embodiment, and cross-cultural dialogue recur across her work, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach that integrates dance anthropology, phenomenology, and performance theory.

Scientific Engagement and Outreach:

• Organizer of the “Discover Canada” Contest for High School Students in Poland (2016–2021)
• Artistic and research collaboration with Miyawata Culture Inc. and international festivals in Saskatchewan, Canada (2018–2021)
• Presenter of “Indian classical dance: How to watch and why is it worth practicing” at the Mahatma Gandhi 150th birth anniversary event (2019)

She has advised on cultural programming and contributed to public understanding of indigenous and Indian performing arts. While no formal grants or student supervision are mentioned, her outreach activities indicate strong community and academic engagement. She has collaborated with international arts organizations and contributed to interdisciplinary dialogues on performance, healing, and cultural identity.

Labs and Teams: While no specific research lab is mentioned, she is affiliated with the Institute of Culture Studies at the University of Silesia and has collaborated with Miyawata Culture Inc. and indigenous theatre initiatives in Canada, suggesting participation in interdisciplinary and cross-cultural performance research networks.