Dancer Aruna Mohanty strikes a pose. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 20: One of the leading Odissi dancers, the graceful and articulate Aruna Mohanty will receive the Sangeet Natak Akademi award for Odissi dance this year.

The announcement was made on Wednesday and it brought ripples of joy in the Odissi fraternity of the state and Mohanty herself feels she is humbled. The dancer recalled her 40-year journey in dance on the occasion.

“It was a surprise for me. I had never expected to receive it this soon. I had an idea that such an award comes only when one is at a retiring age,” smiled the danseuse.

Missing her guru, late Gangadhar Pradhan on this occasion, Mohanty said, “The moment the news broke, my first thought was how much Gangabhai would have blessed me hearing the news. He would have been happier than me.”

Mohanty entered the field of dance at 10 years of age when she was groomed by guru Srinath Rout and guru Govind Charan Pal.

Her talent was further polished and nurtured by guru Pradhan.

“He was my guiding light not only confined to dance but in life. His creation, the Orissa Dance Academy has turned into an abode for talented artistes today,” she said. Mohanty has been associated with the academy from its initiation and currently supervises it.

Mohanty has also danced with guru Pankaj Charan Das, guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sanjukta Panigrahi and Sonal Mansingh. “I remember when I was just 10, Sanjuktaapa had told Gangabhai, ‘this girl would turn into a prominent dancer’. That statement had encouraged me deeply,” says Mohanty.

Apart from impressive postures, swift movement and captivating expressions, Mohanty’s forte lies in her mesmerising ‘abhinaya’. She has performed in almost all major dance festivals such as Khajuraho festival, Konark Dance Festival, Puri Beach Festival, Swarna Samaroha of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Chennai and many more all across the country. She has presented recitals abroad at many occasions in countries including Germany, Russia, Berlin, the UK and Canada.

“One of the most memorable performances abroad was that at Kennedy Centre, USA,” said Mohanty, who has also been a visiting faculty at many international institutes.

The danseuse, who has received various state level and national awards for dance including the Mahari Award, says there are many who she dedicates the Sangeet Natak Akademi award. “I’m grateful and humbled by the members of the Odissi fraternity, the gurus, all artistes, my students, dance aficionados and my family members,” said the dancer who is currently in Bangalore, to perform at various national dance festivals.