NCPA Umang: Presenting Promising Artistes

An NCPA Presentation
Supported by HSBC India

Samyog – A Celebration of Rhythmic Union
Odissi & Manipuri Pungcholom
By Krishnendu Saha & Thingom Brojen Kumar Singha

Sahachaari
Odissi Duet
By Archana Basu & Monaswini Mohanty

Archana Basu, is a senior disciple of Guru. Smt Debi Basu. Being trained over the last two decades under her Guru’s watchful eye, she has established herself as a soloist and also an integral part of her Guru’s dance ensemble, SANYUKTAM. With a Visharad in Odissi she takes deep interest in the history and evolution of Odissi, its distinct music, its rich folk traditions and also its food. Her passion for her art drives her to share her art further through teaching. She is also a strong proponent of cross interactions between different Indian classical dance traditions with an interest in augmenting appreciation and understanding of its myriad forms. Having performed at various prestigious venues in India she recently had the fortune of presenting Odissi in different cities of Vietnam under the aegis of Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Monaswini Mohanty Sahu is a dedicated Odissi dancer from Mumbai with over 25 years of training. A disciple of Guru Smt. Debi Basu in the Kelucharan Mohapatra style, she has also trained under Gurus Aruna Mohanty and Madhusmita Mohanty. She holds a Visharad in Odissi and is pursuing her Master’s degree in Dance.

Founder of Pratha Academy of Performing Arts, Monaswini has performed at prestigious festivals such as Konark, Khajuraho, Kala Ghoda, and Shanmukhananda, and has represented India abroad in Australia, Thailand, and Vietnam under ICCR. She is a recipient of the Senior Scholarship (2007) and Junior Fellowship (2019) in Odissi dance.

Krishnendu Saha is a promising Odissi dancer and senior disciple of SNA awardee Guru Sharmila Biswas. A graded artist of Doordarshan and recipient of the Nalanda Nritya Nipuna Award, he is also an empanelled Spicmacay artist, presenting lecture-demonstrations across India.

He has performed at prestigious platforms such as Konark Dance Festival, Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav, Nakshatra (NCPA Mumbai), Kalakshetra Foundation, Isha Foundation, NMACC, Doverlane Music Festival, and many more, including presentations before dignitaries like Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. His choreography was featured at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2016 before President Pranab Mukherjee.

Founder of Nrityormi School of Odissi in Udaipur and visiting faculty at CCRT, he continues to train, perform, and share the rich tradition of Odissi with dedication.

Thingom Brojen Kumar Singha was introduced to Pung (Manipuri percussion) at a young age, inspired by his grandfather, the renowned drummer Late Guru Lalababu Singha. He received training under Guru Meino Singh of Manipur and later worked with stalwarts such as Prof. K. Jatindra Singh, Guru Smt. Kalavati Devi, and Padmashree Darshana Jhaveri.

He has performed widely across India and abroad, accompanying eminent Manipuri dancers, and is the first Manipuri drummer from Assam to serve at Banasthali Vidyapith University, Rajasthan. He also founded his own Institute of Fine Arts in Assam, with his troupe performing nationally and internationally. Honored with the title Taal Mani by Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai, he is regularly invited by Sadhona (Bangladesh) to teach Nata Sankirtan. He has conducted workshops and lecture-demonstrations in Spain, Venezuela, the USA, Bangladesh, and various cities in India.

For more information, contact: 8879114939 / 8879313834
Email: mdsouza@ncpamumbai.com | ashetty@ncpamumbai.com