Soloists sharpen their body-mind complex through praxis.
Monali Nandy-Mazumdar, DNC Coordinator
Monali NandyMazumdar holds a doctorate in Microbiology from the Ohio State University and is continuing her career as a research scientist in the healthcare sector. She has been learning 'Odissi', the eastern Indian classical dance form, under Dr. Kaustavi Sarkar since the past several years. A keen interest in the art form coupled with intense dedication made her develop a strong love for the odissi movement. She has participated in numerous dance festivals in the USA as a solo performer as well as ensemble choreographies including the Odissi International USA edition in 2019 and the Odissi Anima in 2018. During the pandemic, she continued to imbibe a holistic view of the Arts through her desire to learn various theoretical aspects of Indian classical dance. She is interested in the pedagogical principles that govern the dichotomy of the virtual body in sync with the traditional Guru/Shishya parampara that derives through her training and practice of scientific research. Having had the opportunity to undertake professional development courses through her Guru’s academic pursuits, she wishes to supplement her practice by publishing her dance research in academic outlets. She has developed online practice groups as a part of her interest to include the broader community of odissi practitioners in daily ‘sadhana’ and currently mentoring new students in this form.
Smaranika Jena
Smaranika Jena started her Odissi training in 1987 at Bhanja Kala Kendra, Rourkela, Odisha under Guru Sri Drubacharan Biswal and Guru Sri Bishnu Ch. Nayak. She has completed Advance Course and Repertoire Course at the prestigious Odissi Research Centre under the guidance of Padmashree Guru Kumkum Mohanty. She is Nrutya Bisarad certified by Bhanja Kala Kendra, Rourkela, Odisha which is governed by the Pracheen Kala Kendra at Chandigarh. She has also been a part of the research team and the performing team at Sankalp, a premier research institute in New Delhi headed by Kasturi Pattaniak. Currently she is working with Guru Dr Kaustavi Sarkar. She is aiding Sarkar in her dance and community research work by creating online communities of practice.
Invocation Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra
Elaboration Guru Ratikant Mohapatra
Proliferation Guru Kumkum Mohanty
Kavitha Seshgari
Kavitha Seshgari is a multifaceted artist with a deep passion for dance. She boasts a strong academic background, holding a Masters in Performing Arts from Hyderabad Central University and an MBA from ICFAI University. However, her true calling lies in the world of dance. She is a skilled Bharatanatyam dancer with over 20 years of experience and is proficient in Kalakshetra, Tanjore, and Mysuru bani styles.
Her dedication to her craft is evident in her training under renowned gurus like “Sri. Pasumarthi Ramalinga sastry”, “Professor Shri Anuradha Jonnalagadda”, “Sri Arunabhikshu”, and “Sri Parshwanath Upadhay”. Additionally, she honed her abhinaya skills under “Shri Kalakrishna”. Kavitha’s artistic expression extends beyond Bharatanatyam, as she also holds experience in contemporary dance from the renowned Shiamak Davar dance School. Her creativity is further showcased through her published book, "Magic of Mudra in Yoga & Dance" and her impressive choreographies, including Jyothirgamaya, Punchlight. Her exceptional talent and dedication makes her a valuable addition to our artistic community. Nrityalaya Academy? It's my dance institution here in Charlotte."
