Apart from her role as a Lead Food Safety Auditor, Allsama is also a Kathak Artist. She has founded an academy to teach and promote Kathak, and  balances her corporate career with a deep commitment to Indian classical arts, writing, and cultural education.

Allsama Basar Khan is a multifaceted professional based in Pennsylvania, USA.

Allsama wears multiple hats. First and foremost, she is a Lead Food Safety Auditor, a role that requires her to travel extensively across the United States.

Beyond her work in food safety, she is also the founder of Samarpan Kathak Dance Academy (SKDA), a platform deeply rooted in preserving and teaching the Indian classical dance form Kathak. Allsama shares that her academy is more than just a space for artistic expression—it also serves as a medium for imparting life lessons through art, something she holds close to her heart.

In addition to her professional pursuits, Allsama is a co-author of internationally published books. She also writes artist columns, where she reflects on creativity, art, and life. As she puts it, these various paths are part of her continuous exploration of passion and purpose.

When asked about her work in the realm of art, she elaborates that she is both a performing artist and a teacher. She began her dance career at the tender age of three and has never stopped learning since. As she passionately states, "Learning never ends, no matter what age you are." Over the past ten years, she has been teaching Kathak while continuing to perform solo or alongside her students.

Her first stage appearance was as a child-graded artist on Doordarshan, India’s regional broadcast television, and she remained in that capacity for six years, laying the foundation for her future in the performing arts.

Kathak Artist Allsama explains that she currently teaches students both in person and online, through her academy Samarpan Kathak Dance Academy (SKDA), which is based in Pennsylvania but open to students across the world. The academy focuses exclusively on Kathak, and her students range in age from five years old to adults, with no upper age limit. She has been running the academy in the U.S. for seven years, while also having conducted classes earlier in India. Her goal is to bridge the cultural gap, especially for children and teenagers born abroad, by instilling in them a connection to Indian culture through classical dance.

The SKDA offers both online and offline classes to accommodate students from various locations. For those located far away in different states, online sessions are provided, while regular in-person classes take place in Pennsylvania. The academy is certified to conduct Kathak certification exams from India, and students are assessed both theoretically and practically. Allsama emphasizes that the learning experience is holistic, integrating physical movement with cultural understanding and discipline.

When asked about what inspired her to turn this art form into a full-fledged career, Allsama opens up about the unexpected path her life took. Initially, she was pursuing engineering, never imagining she would become a teacher. She describes her experience in two phases—the first as a student, and the second as an educator. What shifted her path was a realization of purpose. Quoting her own philosophy, she says,

"You are the gift, and you can give the gift to others, which you have received from God."

For her, Kathak is not just an art form—it’s a spiritual offering, a gift that she now feels responsible to pass on to others. She believes that passion and purpose are divine blessings meant to be shared.

Kathak, she says, is far more than a dance—it is an immersive discipline of the mind, body, and soul. It teaches not only rhythm and movement but also resilience, patience, and inner strength. For her students, the academy becomes a place of not just dance instruction but personal transformation, a place where they learn how to face life's challenges with grace and determination.

Born in Kolkata, West Bengal, and raised across various regions of Punjab, Allsama Basar Khan is currently based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Her academic journey is as diverse as her talents—she holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, a Master’s degree, and is professionally rooted in Food Science and Technology. Despite a demanding career as a Lead Food Safety Auditor, she has simultaneously pursued her passion for classical dance, undergoing higher studies in Kathak and eventually founding her own academy as its Artistic Director and Founder.

When asked about her role models, Food Safety Auditor Allsama admits it’s difficult to name just one. She draws strength and inspiration from many but names Rabindranath Tagore as her childhood role model, admiring his versatility across disciplines. Her lifelong inspiration, however, is her mother, who introduced her to the world of Kathak and made countless sacrifices to ensure her exposure to the classical arts. Only in adulthood did Allsama truly understand the depth of her mother’s contribution, realizing that she had transformed from a receiver of wisdom into a giver—and that is the true essence of living.

A quote from her mother continues to guide her:Je Randhe Se Chul o Bandhe —a Bengali proverb that translates to, “The one who cooks, also ties her hair.”

Its deeper meaning, Allsama explains, is that a human being is not meant to do just one thing—we are capable of balancing multiple roles and responsibilities. She lives by this idea, managing her roles as an auditor, author, artist, and teacher with grace. But she emphasizes that multitasking should never be about performance or showmanship, rather it should be driven by genuine joy and service to others.

On the subject of achievements, Allsama acknowledges her milestones with humility. She sees value in being a teacher and a performer on esteemed stages, not just in India but across the USA. She takes pride in being an elite auditor, and her work has been featured in numerous magazines and newspapers. Yet, she makes it clear that while she is proud of where she stands today, she doesn’t consider her endeavour complete. She shares,

“If you are satisfied with your achievements today, then you are no good for the world tomorrow.”

For Allsama, learning must never stop, and neither should the hunger to evolve and contribute.

As the founder of Samarpan Kathak Dance Academy (SKDA) in Philadelphia, she explains that her teaching extends beyond technical training. Her unique curriculum goes beyond dance—it fosters mental, emotional, and spiritual balance. At SKDA, she introduces the “Three Ls” philosophy:

Listen, Learn, and Love.

If a student listens well, they can learn; if they learn, they will naturally begin to love the art form. This mantra, she explains, doesn’t just apply to dance, but to life as well—mutual understanding, respect, and emotional intelligence begin with listening.

SKDA Founder Allsama also reflects on her personal hardships, particularly a phase when she was emotionally and physically drained. She faced an immense personal loss—the death of both her parents at the same time. This loss halted her teaching, her dance practice, and even her inner motivation. She was deeply affected, struggling with emotional blockages. Kathak, which she had once considered her blessing, became too painful to continue. Yet, with time, her inner resilience and spiritual strength brought her back.

“I reminded myself that life doesn’t stop, and neither can I,” she says.

Her ability to rise again, to restart her classes and resume her mission, is a testament to her strength and self-motivation.

When asked to offer advice to others, especially the youth, she speaks with clarity and compassion:

“Today’s life is fast and full of distractions. Even adults are overwhelmed. That’s why it’s so important to pause and practice patience.”

She explains that patience on a scale of 0 to 50 builds positive energy and ambition, but beyond that, if unregulated, it turns into restlessness and frustration. She urges young people to recognize their worth, to express themselves, and to make thoughtful choices.

“Make mistakes, but learn from them. You are important, and your thoughts matter. Just be mindful of the direction you take.”

Her story is not just about success or art—it's about resilience, culture, purpose, and selfless giving. And as she continues to dance, teach, audit, write, and inspire, she proves that one life can be many things—all meaningful, all powerful.