Leena Mohanty

🪔 About

Leena Mohanty is a leading exponent of Odissi dance, born on April 19, 1972, in Cuttack, Odisha, India, and raised in Bhubaneswar. She was introduced to Odissi at the tender age of four, initially receiving training under Guru Deba Prasad Das, one of the four first-generation gurus of Odissi. Following his demise, she continued her dance education under Guru Durga Charan Ranbir. Mohanty holds a Bachelor's degree in Physics and a Master's in Business Administration from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. Throughout her illustrious career, Leena Mohanty has established herself as a versatile performer, dedicated teacher, and innovative choreographer, with extensive performances both nationally and internationally. She serves as the artistic director of Bansi Bilas, an institution in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, committed to training young dancers in the distinctive style of Guru Deba Prasad Das's school of Odissi. Her international presence includes heading the Odissi Department of Kalpana Dance Theatre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and serving as the artistic director of Trinayan Dance Centre (also known as Trinayan Dance Theater) in New York, USA. Mohanty has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions for her profound contributions to Odissi dance. She received the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar in 2006 from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, and was also awarded the Mahari Award in the same year. Other significant accolades include the Sanjukta Panigrahi Award from Patitapawan Kala Niketan, New Delhi, a Junior Fellowship in dance, and a Senior National Scholarship in Odissi dance from the Government of India. She has also been bestowed with the title "Singarmani" by Sursingar Samsad, Mumbai, and is an empanelled artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Her artistic endeavors extend to film, where she played the lead role of Lalita in the 1984 Odiya movie "Basanta Raasa," an award-winning Odissi-based film. She has also curated and served as artistic director for significant cultural events, such as the Odissi Dance Festival Anjali in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2009. Awards & Honours: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2006), Mahari Award (2006), Sanjukta Panigrahi Award, Junior Fellowship in dance, Senior National Scholarship in Odissi dance, Singarmani, Overall Artistic Excellence Award (2010).