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{{Short description|Indian Odissi dancer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2025}}

'''Madhulita Mohapatra''' (born 1978)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Samudra Arts International - Madhulita Mohapatra- Profile |url=http://www.samudraartsinternational.com/profile.php?artist_id=73 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=www.samudraartsinternational.com}}</ref> is a dancer from India. She is an exponent of [[Indian classical dance]], [[Odissi]]. She is also a Sambalpuri folk dancer for more than 20 years. She has been performing and teaching Odissi and Sambalpuri folk dance since the last 15 years. She started an Odissi school at [[Bengaluru]] in June 2008. She is also a performer, choreographer and trainer.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Nataraj, DHNS |first=Poornima |title=Odissi dance school reaches milestone |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/odissi-dance-school-reaches-milestone-753250.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-07-21 |title=Shrinika, wonder kid of Odissi |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Shrinika-wonder-kid-of-Odissi/article14500865.ece |access-date=2023-12-30 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Mohapatra is born in Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi district, [[Odisha]].<ref name=":3" /> She did her post-graduation in Commerce and Business Administration.<ref name=":7" /> She learnt her basics from Guru Krushna Chandra Sahoo at Kalahandi Kala Kendra, Bhawanipatna before receiving her Nrutya Acharya from Odisha Dance Academy under the guidance of [[Padma Shri]] Guru [[Gangadhar Pradhan]], Padma Shri Guru [[Aruna Mohanty]]<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=2023-02-18 |title=Odissi recital by Madhulita Mohapatra and team adds colour to Sivaratri celebrations |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/odissi-recital-by-madhulita-mohapatra-and-team-adds-colour-to-sivaratri-celebrations/article66525953.ece |access-date=2023-12-30 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and Guru Pabitra Kumar Pradhan.<ref name=":3" /> She married Imaraan, an IT engineer.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=2014-08-14 |title=The rhythm of her life |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/the-rhythm-of-her-life/article6316952.ece |access-date=2023-12-30 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-22 |title=10th edition of Nrityantar’s Naman Dance Festival - ClassicalClaps |url=https://classicalclaps.com/10th-edition-of-nrityantars-naman-dance-festival/ |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=Classical Claps |language=en-US}}</ref> After marriage, with the support of her husband, she quit her job and moved to Bengaluru in 2008 and later started a dance school, [[Nrityantar|Nrityantar Academy of Performing Arts]],<ref name=":6" /> to spread the Odissi dance culture in South India.<ref name=":1" /> She is a qualified cost accountant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=7th edition of Nrityantar's Naman Odissi Dance Festival - Footloose and fancy free with Dr.Sunil Kothari |url=https://narthaki.com/info/gtsk/gtsk114.html |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=narthaki.com}}</ref>

== Performances ==
She choreographed 'Colours of Krishna', the 12th edition of 'Naman', held at ADA Rangmandira in Bengaluru in September 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bal |first=Harish |date=2023-09-05 |title=An Odissi festival that showcased the changes the dance form is undergoing |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/an-odissi-festival-that-showcased-the-changes-the-dance-form-is-undergoing/article67269797.ece |access-date=2023-12-30 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In March 2021, she performed at Jagriti Theatre in Bengaluru.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2021-03-19 |title=Spend an evening with Odissi dancer Madhulita Mohapatra at Jagriti Theatre |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/bangalore/spend-an-evening-with-odissi-dancer-madhulita-mohapatra-at-jagriti-theatre/articleshow/81591726.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-12-30 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> In April 2020, she performed along with her students at the International Dance Day celebrations at Bhubaneshwar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-30 |title=Odissi exponents celebrate International Dance Day online |url=https://www.orissapost.com/odissi-exponents-celebrate-international-dance-day-online/ |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST |language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2019, [[SPIC MACAY|SPIC Macay]], North Kerala Chapter, featured her Odissi show at the Amritavidyalaya Institute campus.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ganapathy |first=T. K. |date=2019-09-26 |title=Madhulita Mohapatra's performance high on lyrical beauty |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/high-on-lyrical-beauty/article29518897.ece |access-date=2023-12-30 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She regularly conducts SPIC-Macay classes in schools and colleges. In 2018, she performed in London along with her ward Gairika Mathur.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2018-11-08 |title=Samarpan – Surrender to the Divine |url=https://www.nehrucentre.org.uk/events/samarpan-surrender-to-the-divine/ |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Nehru Centre London |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2017, she performed Harirabhisarati on ashtapadi, '''Madhave ma kuru manini manam aye''' from Geeta Govinda at the sixth Kelucharan Guna Keertanam at Gyan Manch in Kolkata.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-13 |title=Best of both worlds |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/marquee/best-of-both-worlds-2-1484333626.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=The Statesman |language=en}}</ref> For the sixth anniversary of Nrityantar, an annual dance festival, Naman was organised at the ADA Rangamandira, Bengaluru on 2 August 2016.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Naman tribute to Odissi |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/odisha/naman-tribute-to-odissi/cid/1469794 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2010, Odisha Dance Academy founder Guru Gangadhar Pradhan inaugurated Naman and since then it is being organised every year.<ref name=":1" /> One of her first shows was at the 1st Odissi International on 21 December 2010, where she was felicitated Guru Daksha Mushruwala from Mumbai.<ref name=":1" /> For the first time, she performed in [[Kerala]] in 2012 at the famous [[Guruvayur Temple|Guruvayoor Temple]] and now she regularly visits the southern state not only for shows but teaches in schools.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |date=2018-11-14 |title=All for Odissi |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/all-for-odissi/articleshow/66591179.cms |access-date=2023-12-30 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

In October 2023, under her tutelage Nrityantar Dance Ensemble performed a free show title Eternal Enchantment... timeless charm of Odissi dance. The new show was performed at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, Chennai.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Odissi Chronicles: Ahead of her show in Chennai, Odissi dancer Madhulita Mohapatra shares what will mesmerize the audiece |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/dance/2023/oct/20/odissi-chronicles-ahead-of-her-show-in-chennaiodissi-dancer-madhulita-mohapatra-shares-insights-54350.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=www.indulgexpress.com |language=en}}</ref>

In December 2023, she choreographed and performed as part of the Nrityantar Dance Ensemble at the concluding day of the 11-day Swaralaya Soorya dance and music festival in Bengaluru.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Naha |first=Abdul Latheef |date=2023-12-31 |title=Colours of Krishna leaves audience spellbound |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/colours-of-krishna-leaves-audience-spellbound/article67693292.ece |access-date=2024-03-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

She is an empanelled artiste of [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]] (ICCR) and she is also a graded performer on [[Doordarshan]].<ref name=":2" />

== Fusion of Odissi and Manipuri dance forms ==
Mohapatra started performances featuring a fusion of Odissi and [[Manipuri dance]] forms after collaborating with popular Manipuri artiste Bimbavati Devi from [[Kolkata]] titled Odissi-Manipuri Jugalbandi in November 2023.<ref name=":5" />

== Awards ==

* In July 2019, she was awarded the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi|Sangeet Natak Academi's]] [[Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar]] for 2018 for Odissi dance.<ref name=":0" />
* [[Kempegowda Award]] by Karnataka Government.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />
* She is the recipient of the IIDF 2017.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Maqsood |first=Zofeen |title=BWW Interview: Madhulita Mohapatra of ODISSI DANCER On Odissi Sandhya |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/india/article/BWW-Interview-Madhulita-Mohapatra-of-ODISSI-DANCER-On-Odissi-Sandhya-20180425 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref>
* She also received BCKA Yuva Kala Pratibha awards.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title='My art is all I have to give to the almighty' |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/feb/21/my-art-is-all-i-have-to-give-to-the-almighty-1573233.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
* The GTF Women's Excellence award.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-11-12 |title=Lyrical moves cast a spell |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/lyrical-moves-cast-a-spell/article25479544.ece |access-date=2023-12-30 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mohapatra, Madhulita}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Odissi dancers]]
[[Category:Teachers of Indian classical dance]]
[[Category:Dancers from Odisha]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women educators]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women artists]]
[[Category:Educators from Odisha]]
[[Category:Women artists from Odisha]]
[[Category:Women educators from Odisha]]
[[Category:Indian female classical dancers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian classical choreographers]]
[[Category:Indian women choreographers]]

Madhulita Mohapatra - Revision history

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