Monaswini Mohanty Sahu

🪔 About

Monaswini Mohanty Sahu is an accomplished Indian classical Odissi dancer, teacher, and choreographer with over 29 years of experience in training and performance. She is dedicated to preserving the beauty and tradition of classical Odissi, focusing on strong fundamentals, discipline, and the rich cultural heritage of the dance form in her teaching. Her aim is to inspire students through quality training while upholding the essence of classical Odissi. Mohanty Sahu is actively involved in promoting Odissi and its related folk traditions. In 2019, she choreographed a Sambalpuri folk dance, which was performed by a group of young dancers including Sharanya, Mukti, Sansita, Utsa, Swati, and Hasini, as part of the "Sanyuktam" program at the Odisha fest in Navi Mumbai. She has also conducted insightful lecture demonstrations, such as one at VBN Model High School in Grant Road. During this session, she introduced students to the mandatory "bhumi pranamam" at the beginning and closing of an Odissi recital, explained the evolution of Odissi classical dance, and detailed basic stances like chowka, tribhanga, abhanga, and the seven different types of bhramari or spins. Furthermore, she elucidated the close relationship between folk dance and Odissi classical dance, providing a brief introduction to the different tempos, instruments, rhythmic systems, and mudras used in Odissi. As a performer, Monaswini Mohanty Sahu has graced various stages. In 2025, she performed alongside Archana Basu in 'Sahachaari – Together in Rhythm', an event that evoked the spiritual intimacy of Jagannath by exploring Odia literature, Jananas, and verses from the Geeta Govindam with grace and precision. She has also participated in Odissi workshops in Mumbai, sharing creative moments with other artists and students. Monaswini Mohanty Sahu is a mentor at Pratha Academy in Mumbai. Her dedication to nurturing young talent is evident through her student Advaitaa, who, under her mentorship at Pratha Academy, won the prestigious Odissi Prativa Award 2024 in the under-10 category. Through her teaching, choreography, and performances, Mohanty Sahu continues to inspire students and contribute significantly to the propagation of Odissi dance.