Aditi Mangaldas

🪔 About

Aditi Mangaldas, born in 1960 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, is a highly acclaimed Kathak dancer and choreographer renowned for her mastery of classical Kathak and her innovative approach to contemporary dance rooted in the Kathak tradition. She was raised in Ahmedabad, where she earned a Bachelor of Science from St. Xavier's College. Mangaldas received extensive training from two legendary gurus of Kathak: Shrimati Kumudini Lakhia at Kadamb Centre for Dance in Ahmedabad and later, under the tutelage of Pandit Birju Maharaj at Kathak Kendra in Delhi, at the behest of her aunt Pupul Jayakar. Throughout her career, Mangaldas has performed in major dance festivals across India and globally, including the Festivals of India in the United Kingdom, United States, and the former Soviet Union. She is celebrated for her artistry, technical brilliance, eloquence, and characteristic energy in every performance. Beyond classical Kathak, she has pioneered a contemporary dance vocabulary, earning international acclaim for her ability to use the classical foundation as a springboard for modern expression. Aditi Mangaldas heads the Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company – The Drishtikon Dance Foundation in Delhi, where she serves as artistic director. The foundation aims to achieve excellence in Kathak while fostering innovation and challenging established norms. Her choreographic works often engage with social and contemporary issues, such as "Within" (2013), a response to a horrific incident in Delhi, and "Forbidden" (2022), which addresses female sexuality. She has collaborated with and choreographed for other notable dancers, including Aakash Odedra. Awards & Honours: Priyadarshani Award (1998), Gujarat Sangeet Natak Academy Award (2007), The Sanjukta Panigrahi Award (2012), National Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2013), National Dance Critics Circle Award (Nomination for Outstanding Performance - Classical) (2017), Mahari Award (2022), UK Theatre Award for 'Achievement in Dance' (for MEHEK, with Aakash Odedra) (22024), National Dance Awards UK (Nomination for 'Outstanding Female Classical Performance' for MEHEK) (2024), National Dance Awards UK (Nomination for 'Best Classical Choreography' for MEHEK, with Aakash Odedra) (2024), Devi Award for extraordinary achievement (2025), Nritya Samrat (2025), Hanumant Award (2025), Kala Margi Award (2025).