Tuesday 11 January
DIPTI ROUTRAY (Cuttack): Odissi
R.K. MUKTASANA DEVI (Imphal): Manipuri
SUJATA LAHIRI (Kolkata): Kathak

Wednesday 12January
TANVI SHARMA (Guwahati): Sattriya
RASHMI REKHA DAS (Bhubaneswar): Odissi
VIKRAM IYENGAR (Kolkata): Kathak

Thursday 13 January
LUCKY PRAJNA PRATISTHITA MOHANTY (Cuttack): Odissi
SUJATA BHATTACHARYA (Patna): Kathak
RAJRUPA MUKHERJEE (Kolkata); Bharatanatyam

Friday 14January
NILANJANA BANERJEE (Kolkata): Manipuri
PABITRA KUMAR PRADHAN (Bhubaneswar): Odissi
SAYANEE BANERJEE (Kolkata): Kathak

Saturday 15 January
KAUSTAVI SARKAR (Kolkata): Odissi
SOUVIK CHAKRABORTY (Kolkata): Kathak
MALABIKA SEN (Kolkata): Bharatanatyam

Chhau Dance Performances 11.00 a.m.

Friday 14January, 2005
JOHARLAL MOHANTA (Bhubaneswar)
DHANANJAY MOHAPATRA (Bhubaneswar)
RAMAKANT SEN (Baripada)
SRUSTIDHAR MOHANTA (Bhubaneswar)

DIPTI ROUTRAY

Born in 1977, Dipti Routray received her training in Odissi dance from an early age under the tutelage of Shri Durga Charan Ranbir. She has completed her Sangeet Visharad from Akhila Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, rune and Nritya Bhaskar from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh. Dipti received the national scholarship from the Department of Culture, Government of India to specialize in Odissi dance.

Dipti has performed in major dance festivals within the country including Konark, Nishagandhi, Haridas, Puri Beach, Khajuraho, and Swarnotsav, organized by the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi at (Ahmedabad). She has performed in Kazakhistan on India's 50th Independence Day organized by ICCR, and also in Venezuela, Colombia and Germany.

RAJKUMARI MUKTASANA DEVI

Born in 1976, Rajkumari Muktasana Devi was initiated in to Manipuri dance by her family in her childhood. She had her formal dance training at Sri Sri Govindaji Nartanalaya Government Dance College, Imphal from where she completed Diploma / the Acharya Course. Muktasana is presently receiving special training at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal under the guidance of Shri P. Dhanajit Singh.

She has performed extensively within the country in several dance festivals including NAFRA at Arunachal Pradesh organized by NEZCC, Dimapur and Directorate of Art & Culture, Arunachal Pradesh, Kanchenjunga Festival organized by EZCC, Kolkata and Department of Culture, Sikkim, Salangai Natham at Thanjavur organized by SZCC, Thanjavur, Island Tourism Festival in Andaman & Nicobar Island, Daya- Vars organized by Brahma Kumari, The Classical Dance Festival at Imphal organized by Dept. of Art & Culture, Manipur, Swarna Nritya Pratibha at Kolkata organized by the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi. She has also widely performed as a member of Performing Artistes Centre (PAC), Imphal. At present, she is an active performer of Tapasya - A Centre for Performing Arts, Imphal.

SUJATA PAKRASHI LAHIRI

Sujata Lahiri had her initial training in Kathak dance under Smt. Kanan Sen in Kolkata. Later, she joined the Kathak Kendra, New Delhi and learnt under Shri Jaikishan Maharaj. She also received scholarship from the Government of India. Sujata has had her special training under Pt. Birju Maharaj and Smt. Uma Sharma.

She has performed in several prestigious festivals in India including Konark Festival, Orissa, Hyderabad Crafts Festival, Hyderabad, Budha Mahotsav, Sanchi, Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai, Jaipur Kathak Mahotsava, Jaipur, Jodhpur Festival, Jodhpur, Desert Festival, Jaisalmer, Vasantotsav and Kathak Mahotsav, New Delhi, Bhatkhande Festival, Lucknow, Ganga Mahotsav, Varanasi, National Geeta Festival, Kanpur, Swami Haridas Sammelan, Vrindavan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Festival, Mumbai. As an artiste of the Production Unit of Kathak Kendra she performed in Mexico on sponsorship of ICCR. Sujata has given several solo recitals abroad including prestigious venues of South Korea. Presently she is imparting training to young Kathak dancers at Kolkata.

TANVI SHARMA

Tanvi Sharma was initiated into dance under the tutelage of Smt. Indira P.P. Bora. She started learning Bharatanatyam and later specialized in Sattriya dance under her guru.

She has performed in various festivals within and outside the state of Assam as a soloist and in group presentation. Some of the major events in which she has participated are Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai, Bharata Kalachar, Chennai, Swarnotsav, New Delhi. , She has also acted in Assamese television serials.

RASHMI REKHA DAS

Rashmi Rekha Das started training in Odissi dance under the tutelage of late guru Kelucharan Mohapatra at his institution 'Srjan' in Bhubaneswar. Here she continued her training under Smt. Sujata Mohapatra and Shri Ratikant Mohapatra. Rashmi completed her Nrutya Shastri Puma recognized by Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi and Visharad Puma from Akhila Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. She has also received scholarship from the Department of Culture, Government of India.

She has performed in several dance festivals within the state of Orissa such as Konark, Puri Beach, Barabati, Pratibha and Guru Kelucharan Dance Festival. Her performances outside the state are Goa Beach at Goa, Sankat Mochan at Benaras, Hussain Sagar at Hyderabad and World Dance Day Celebration at Bangalore. She has travelled to Italy for performance under the aegis of ICCR.

VIKRAM IYENGAR

Vikram Iyengar was initiated into Kathak dance by Smt. Rani Karnaa at a very young age. He completed the senior diploma in Kathak dance from Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad. For specialization in Kathak dance under his guru, he received the national scholarship from Department of Culture, Government of India. He is among the few to receive the Inlaks scholarship for the performing arts.

He has performed at major dance festivals of the country such as Konark, Natyanjali, Puri Beach, Thyagaraja, Kathak Mahotsava, Jaipur, Bharat Bhavan Festival, Bhopal and dance festival organized by Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. Vikram has performed in several countries abroad including USA, UK, Hongkong & Moscow. During his stay in UK, he has worked with various theatre directors and conducted dance workshop on Kathak at different institutions. He also received the Junior fellowship from the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi for his research work on Kathak dance.

Vikram has been assisting his guru Smt. Rani Karnaa at her dance academy Samskritiki Shreyaskar at Kolkata. His choreographic works have been presented in the festival organized by Kathak Kendra and the Probaho Festival in Doha co¬sponsored by the Indian Embassy, Qatar. He has also choreographed dance sequences in a Berlin feature film, 'Shadow of Times'. Presently, he is working in his Kolkata based dance company, Ranan.

LUCKY PRAJNA PRATISTHITA MOHANTY

Born in 1986, Lucky Prajna Pratisthita Mohanty started his training in Odissi dance at an early age. He completed Alankar Poorna in Odissi dance from Akhila Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal Miraj, Maharashtra.

Lucky Prajna Pratisthita Mohanty has performed in various festivals within the state and outside including Konark Dance Festival, Shilparamam Dance Festival at Hyderabad, Kala Vikas Kendra presentation at Chennai. He has also performed in the television production 'Tear of Konark' by Central Production Centre, New Delhi. At present, he is associated as a performing artiste in the Kala Vikas Kendra, Cuttack.

SUJATA BHATTACHARYA

Born in 1975, Sujata Bhattacharya has been trained in Kathak dance under the tutelage of Shri Shivjee Mishra at Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir, Patna. She has completed her postgraduation in Kathak from Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad.

Sujata has performed in several dance events and festivals in and outside the state such as Festival of Island Tourism in Andaman & Nicobar organized by EZCC, Bodh Mahotsav organized by Japanese Buddhist Group at Gaya, at Trade Fair organized by EZCC in Kolkata, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. She has performed in a festival organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi along with her guru. At present, she is teaching dance in St. Josephs Convent High School, Patna.

RAJRUPA MUKHERJEE

Rajrupa Mukherjee had her initial training in dance from Smt. Puspa Chatterjee, a senior disciple of Shri Khagendra Nath Barman. She later specialized in Bharatanatyam directly under the guidance of Shri Khagendra Nath Barman at Natanam Kalakshetra in Kolkata. Rajrupa has attended workshops on Bharatanatyam organized by the West Bengal State Music Academy and conducted by Smt. Chitra Visweswaran from Chennai and Smt. Leela Samson from Delhi.

She has performed in several dance events within India and outside including Uday Shankar Shatabdi Samaroh and Bengal Society in Toronto, Zurich, and London. Presently, she continues her training under her guru at Kolkata.

CHHAU DANCE PERFORMANCES:

JOHARLAL MOHANTA

Joharlal Mohanta has received training in Chhau dance under the tutelage of Shri Bhawani Charan Biswal at Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Bhubaneswar. He has received the Government of India scholarship for learning Mayurbhanj Chhau.

Joharlal Mohanta has performed Chhau dance in various dance festivals organized within the state of Orissa and outside. At present he continues his specialization in Chhau dance at Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya.

DHANANJAY MOHAPATRA

Born in 1986, Dhananjaya Mohapatra received Chhau training since his childhood. He has received his training in Odissi dance under Shri Nabakishore Mishra and learnt Mayurbhanj Chhau from Shri Subrata Kumar Pattnaik at their institution Abartta in Bhubaneswar.

Dhananjaya has performed in several dance festival organized within the state of Orissa and outside. Presently, he is performing as an artiste of the Abartta group.

RAMAKANT SEN

Born in the family of traditional Chhau dancers of Mayurbhanj, Ramakant Sen was initiated into Chhau dance under the guidance of his grand father and an eminent Chhau guru late Srikant Sen. He later received training under the Akademi's project of support to Mayurbhanj Chhau at Baripada from Shri Ajay Baitha and Shri Srihari Nayak.

Ramakant Sen has performed in several dance festivals as an artiste of the project under the Sangeet Natak Akademi including Natyanjali, Konark Festival, Khajuraho, Ghungaru Festival, dance festivals at Goa and Sagar, Swam Samaroh organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi and SAARC Festival organized by ICCR. Ramakant Sen has also performed in a special dance production of Smt. Sonal Mansingh presented in Delhi.

SRUSTIDHAR MOHANTA

Born in 1975, Srustidhar Mohanta had his initial training in dance under Shri Ramani Ranjan Mohanta, Sumanta Kumar Mohanta, Dhirendranath Mohanta, Chhacina Bagh, Sunil Mohanta, Bhabani Ch. Biswal and later from Shri Achintya Kumar Behera in Mayur Art Centre. He has received national scholarship from the Department of Culture, Government of India.

Srustidhar Mohanta has performed in various festivals within and outside the state including Onam Thiruvananthapuram organized by SZCC & Kerala Tourism, Jiwan Pani Memorial Festival at New Delhi Mahabharat at Kurukshetra by EZCC, Kharavela at Bhubaneswar, Arts & Crafts of Orissa at New Delhi, Srijan Mahotsav at Santiniketan by EZCC. He has also performed in the Swam Nritya Pratibha at Trivandrum organized by Central Sangeet Natak Akademi and New Choreography show at Delhi organized by Department of Sports & Culture, New Delhi.

NILANJANA BANERJEE

Born in 1975, Nilanjana Banerjee was initiated into Manipuri dance by Shri Bipin Singh. Later she specialized in Manipuri dance under Smt. Kalavati Devi and Darshana Jhaveri at Manipuri Nartanalaya, Kolkata. She received the Nartanalankar from this institution.

Nilanjana has performed in several prestigious dance festivals in and outside Kolkata such as Uday Shankar Festival, Damaru Utsav, Viswa Banga Sammelan, Konark Festival in Orissa, Nishagandhi in Kerala and Khajuraho Festival in Madhya Pradesh. She has also participated in the 7th International Dance Festival and Conference in Canada organized by Kalnidhi Fine Arts of Canada.

PABITRA KUMAR PRADHAN

Born in 1982, Pabitra Kumar Pradhan initially learned Gotipua dance from Shri Mahadev Rout and then he trained in Odissi dance at Nrityagram in Bangalore. He also trained under Shri Bichitrananda Swain and later from Shri Gangadhar Pradhan at the Orissa Dance Academy, Bhubaneswar. He is a recipient of National Scholarship from the Department of Culture, Government of India. Pabitra Kumar Pradhan has performed widely all over India in numerous festivals like Konark Dance & Music, Puri Beach, Karwar and Dhauli Festival in the state of Orissa. Some of the other festivals are Vaikuntha Ekadashi at Tiruchirapalli, Third Jeevan Pani Memorial at New Delhi, Natyanjali at Chidambaram, Sarat Vaibhava at Bangalore, Odissi Nrityotsava at Bhubaneswar, Odissi Sandhya at New Delhi, Cultural Trade Fair, Gwalior, Swarnotsav at Delhi, Purush Ang Seminar at Bhubaneswar, Mamallapuram Dance Festival at Tamil Nadu, Sri Sai Foundation, Uijain. His performances abroad include International Spring Festival, North Korea, 33rd Annual Convention of Orissa Society of America, Washington D.C., and 2nd International Odissi Festival, Washington D.C.

SAYANEE BANERJEE

Born in 1982, Sayanee Banerjee has received her training in Kathak dance under the guidance of Pt. Vijai Shankar at Padatik and also from Smt. Luna Pan. She has received Government of India scholarship for training in Kathak dance.

She has performed in several dance festivals such as Kathak Vasant Utsav organized at Delhi, Uday Shankar Dance Festival at Kolkata, Nriti Kathak Kendra at Rabindra Bhawan, Behrampur. She has also performed in All India Music Festival at Kolkata. Ustad Bahadur Khan Music Circle. Presently, she is assisting her Guru in teaching Kathak dance to young dancers.

KAUSTAVI SARKAR

Born in 1985, Kaustavi Sarkar was initiated into dance at an early age by Smt. Amala Shankar. While she was at Uday Shankar India Culture Centre she had the opportunity to see and learn various dances such as Kathak, Kathakali, Odissi and Creative. Kaustavi later focused herself in learning Odissi dance under Smt. Poushali Mukherjee. She received the Government of India scholarship to specialize in Odissi dance.

She has performed widely as a member of Smt. Amala Shankar's Troupe within the country and has also travelled to Bangladesh. Kaustavi has performed in dance events such as Sadhana Dance Festival organized by Kalashram, New Delhi and Uday Shankar Nrityotsav 2002. She has appeared as an anchor for a television serial on dance. She has participated in Odissi dance workshops conducted by various eminent Odissi artistes including a special workshop for young Odissi dances conducted under the guidance of Smt. Sonal Mansingh in Kolkata.

SOUVIK CHAKRABORIT

Souvik Chakraborty received training in Kathak dance at Padatik under the tutelage of Shri Vijai Shankar and Smt. Chetna Jalan. Subsequently, he trained under Shri Santosh Chatterjee and Smt. Madhumita Roy. He received the national scholarship from the Department of Culture, Government of India. He has participated in workshops conducted by several eminent Kathak gurus and teachers including Shri Birju Maharaj, Smt. Saswati Sen, Shri Ram Mohan Mishra and Shri Rajendra Gangani. He has also performed lead roles as a member of the Padatik Dance Centre and in choreographies of Shri Birju Maharaj and Smt. Rani Karnaa.

His performances in major dance festivals include the Doverlane Music conference, Konark Festival, Banga Sanskriti Sammelan, Uday Shankar, Jhansi Mahotsava, Bindadin Kathak Mahotsava organized by Kathak Kendra, New Delhi and festivals organized by the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi in Imphal and Lucknow. His performances abroad include recital at Kalnidhi International Dance Festival & Conference in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and different cities of Ontario. He has performed in Kazakhistan, Tazakhistan, Kyrgyzstan and in the opening ceremony of International Festival of Theatre of Central Asia, Navruz.

MALABIKA SEN

Malabika Sen received her initial training in Bharatanatyam dance under guru Smt. Sumita Ghosh. Subsequently, she has been under the tutelege of guru Smt. Thankamani Kutty for higher training. She also trained in Kuchipudi under Madhuri Majumder and Sreemoyee Venkat

Malabika Sen has toured all over India and abroad for performances in various festivals including Puri Beach Festival, Konark Dance & Music Festival, Golden Jubilee Celebration of Rasika Ranjana Sabha, Dover Lane Music & Dance Festival, Kolkata, Uday Shankar Dance Festival, Parab Festival, Orissa, Kalaghoda Festival at Mumbai, Tamil Kala Sangam programme in New Delhi, Kaldarpanam Festival, Kerala and her performance abroad include those at Kuwait, Doha and Du khan.