Aloka Kanungo

🪔 About

Aloka Kanungo, born on November 26, 1955, in Cuttack, Odisha, India, is a renowned Indian classical Odissi dancer, choreographer, teacher, and scholar. She received her initial training in Odissi dance under Guru Raghunath Dutta and later underwent intensive training under the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She also trained under Guru Mayadhar Raut at Kala Vikash Kendra. Kanungo chose to settle in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), where she established herself as a leading exponent of Odissi. Throughout her career, Aloka Kanungo has performed extensively at prestigious festivals across India, including Khajuraho, Konark, Soorya, Uday Shankar, and Modhera. Her international performances have taken her to countries such as the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan, the UK, Germany, Egypt, Australia, UAE, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Turkey, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bangladesh. She is known for her innovative choreographic works, which include "Sthapatya Satya," "Gatagat," "Mahavidya," "Tara Pallavi," "Basant Pallavi," "Vande Mataram," "Ganga," "Dasamahavidya," and "Avataras." Kanungo has also undertaken pioneering research in forms like Bandha Nritya and Sabda Nritya, presenting papers on these subjects at various seminars. She was a recipient of both Junior and Senior Fellowships for her research work on dance from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. As a child artist, she also acted in Mrinal Sen's Oriya film 'Matir Manisha'. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2015), Citation from Viswa Bharati, Santiniketan, Udayshankar Award (1985), Sringarmoni (Shiromoni Award) (1986), Outstanding Young Person Award from Indian Junior Chambers, Talented Ladies Award from Bharat Nirman, Mahari Award (2001), National Scholarship from Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India, Junior Fellowship from Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India, Senior Fellowship from Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2005), Tagore Scholarship, Nritya Shree from Kala Vikash Kendra, Cuttack, Nritya Visharad from Kala Vikash Kendra, Cuttack, Nritya Praveen from Kala Vikash Kendra, Cuttack.