Anwesa mahanta

🪔 About

Dr. Anwesa Mahanta is a prominent figure and leading exponent of Sattriya Dance, an ancient dance tradition deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of Assam, India. Born and raised in a Vaisnava monastery (Sattra) in Assam, she began her formal training in Sattriya from early childhood. She honed her skills over three decades under the tutelage of the renowned maestro and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Bayanacharya Ghanakanta Bora (Padmashri). Anwesa Mahanta has been an active performer since 2001, presenting Sattriya in its solo form and captivating audiences worldwide with her mesmerizing performances and innovative interpretations. Her extensive performance career includes appearances across India and internationally in countries such as Sri Lanka, the UK, Hong Kong, China, New Zealand, Malaysia, and the USA. She is recognized as an 'A' grade artist by Prasar Bharati and is an empanelled artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the India International Rural Cultural Centre (IRCEN). As a dancer-scholar, Dr. Mahanta holds a Ph.D. in Performing Arts and Oral Tradition from the University of Delhi and undertook post-doctoral research at Queen's University in Belfast, United Kingdom. She has served as a visiting artist in residence at IIT Guwahati and contributes scholarly articles and research papers. Her choreographic creations, such as "Shoonya: Aakar to Nirakar" and "Leela: Mirrors of Reflection," explore themes of existentialism, spirituality, and divine play, pushing traditional boundaries while maintaining the art form's essence. Dr. Mahanta is the Artistic Director of Kalpa, a society dedicated to the promotion of literature, art, culture, and social harmony, and she coordinates the Pragjyoti International Dance Festival in Guwahati, fostering new generations of artists. She also teaches Sattriya dance, conducting both online and offline classes and mentoring students. Awards & Honours: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of Sangeet Natak Akademi (2013), Bharat Kala Ratna Award (2018), Charles Wallace Fellowship (2015), A' grade artist by Prasar Bharati, Kalajeeva Puraskar, Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Award (2022), Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Samman, FICCI YFLO Women Achievers Award, Arirang Master from Culture Masters.