Nandanik Academy

Creativity to the power of N

Thang-Ta by Nandanik

Nandanik Manipuri Dance Academy, now Nandanik Movement Arts, was set up in 1996 to teach, promote and propagate the noble art of Manipuri Dancing. It was founded by Smt Poushali Chatterjee, disciple of the legendary Guru Bipin Singh and an established dancer in the field of Manipuri Dance.

Nandanik aims to impart training in all aspects of Manipuri Dancing 'Jagoi' or dance of the Rasleelas, 'Cholom', dance of Nat Sankirtan, Thang-ta or Manipuri Martial Arts and Pung, or playing of the Manipuri mridang. Students are admitted at the age of 4, and they follow the 8-year Visharad course of Manipuri Nartanalaya as well as the course for Manipuri Dance compiled by the Chandigarh University. They appear for the theoretical and practical exams of the University once they are 12 years of age and receive certificates and diplomas from the University. Nandanik places a lot of significance on a healthy balance between practical and theoretical learning students are taught the intricacies of talas as well as accompanying music as they learn the dance items.

Flames spreading all over

Nandanik has already trained a number of students who have performed with great success at professional forums and prestigious festivals. These include Uday Shankar Dance Festival, Soorya Festival, Celebration for 50^th year of Independence, Trivandrum, Indian Food Festival and many performances all around the country. Nandanik's dance drama 'Krishnaleela' has been appreciated by both press and public. Recently the Nandanik performing troupe presented a major fusion production with Odissi, 'Sama The Harmony of Life' which has received wide accolade from critics and connoisseurs. As one critic says "...sheer poetry is written when sensuous ease doubles with lithe steps to stage an act..Sama - The Harmony of Life, a production that fuses the best of two Indian classical dance traditions"

Nandanik's has also produced a short choreography called Agni: The Life Force explores the various moods of fire and its role as the nourisher, destroyer and purifier in human life.

Nandanik's latest production is 'Icche - Shei to Bhangche, Shei to Gorche'. It is a modern choreography based on Rabindranath Tagore's short story 'Suoranir Saadh', which shows how a person is never content with what he gets and always yearns for what is beyond his reach. Using poems and songs of Tagore, as well as narration from the original story, this production uses all the aspects of Manipuri dance - Lai Haraoba, Rasleela, Cholom and Thang-ta, to deliver a powerful message on the modern culture of discontentment. Premiered at the celebration of Tagore's birthday in May 2004 in Kolkata, the production received wide acclaim.

Debanjana & Krishnakali in Agni: The Life Force

Besides Poushali Chatterjee, the Nandanik team has a number of accomplished dancers.

Debanjali Biswas has received training in Manipuri dance, Mridang Vadan and Thang-ta under the tutelage of Smt. Poushali Chatterjee in late Guru Bipin Singh’s style over the 19 years. She is an active member of Nandanik Manipuri Dance Academy, Kolkata since its foundation in 1996. She has received Nritya Visharad from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh; a Diploma in classical and contemporary dance from Children’s Little Theatre, Kolkata and the title ‘Nritya Jyoti’ for her performance at the Naveen Kalakar Festival, Bhubaneswar.

She holds a post-graduation in Social Anthropology from SOAS, London, a post-graduation in Arts and Aesthetics and M.Phil in Theatre and Performance Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Her research interests and dance projects has taken her to Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Germany, US of A and United Kingdom. Her choreographic works, ‘Bound’ was showcased at Gati Summer Dance Residency, New Delhi (2012) and ‘Wintering’,at the International Young Choreographer’s Project in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2009). She has co-choreographed projects which include Dorpon (2010), Mayar Khela (2010), The Lotus Path (2008), Raas Sankirtan (2008), But… on the box (2007), Ramayana (2007), Âme (2006).

Debanjana Roy A student of Poushali Chatterjee and Dr Sruti Banerjee, Debanjana has also received special training under the legendary Guru Bipin Singh. She has a Diploma in dance from the Children's Little Theatre. She has also undergone specialised training in Kathakali under the renowned Guru Govindan Kutty, and has received the National Scholarship from CCRT in 1996. With a natural talent for tala, music and learning steps, Debanjana has matured into a fine dancer adept at all aspects of Manipuri Dance tandav, lasya, and the art of playing the mridang. At present she is also undergoing training in Thang-Ta, the Manipuri Martial Arts under Smt Poushali Chatterjee and Sri Ranjeet Chingtham, renowned Thang-Ta exponent of Manipur. She has participated in many prestigious festivals in Calcutta and other parts of India. She has passed the Sangeet Visharad Pratham Khand from Pracheen Kala Kendra with 1^st division marks. In 2004, Debanjana has received the prestigious Shringarmoni title from the Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai

Krishnakali Dasgupta After finishing her course in Children's Little Theatre, Krishnakali Dasgupta underwent specialised training in Manipuri Dance under Smt Poushali Chatterjee and then from the Late Guru Bipin Singh and Smt Kalavati Devi. Krishnakali was chosen by Nehru Children's Museum to represent India in solo Manipuri Dance performances all over Germany in 1997. She has performed at various prestigious festivals in Calcutta and other parts of India. She has matured into a fine dancer adept at all aspects of Manipuri Dance tandav, lasya, and the art of playing the mridang. At present she is also undergoing training in Thang-Ta, the Manipuri Martial Arts, under Smt Poushali Chatterjee and Sri Ranjeet Chingtham, renowned Thang-Ta exponent of Manipur. She has received the Senior Scholarship for Manipuri Dance from the Department of Culture, Govt. of India.In 2004, Krishnakali has received the prestigious Shringarmoni title from the Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai.

Debanjali & Malabi in Hridayanandan

Malabi Choudhury is a young and talented dancer with a combination of grace, intelligence and perseverance. She has trained extensively under Smt. Poushali Chatterjee and Padmasree Guru Darshana Jhaveri. She has been taking training in all aspects of Manipuri Dance, including Tandava, Lasya, Thang-ta and playing the pung. She has undergone training in Thang-ta or Manipuri martial arts under Ojha Ranjeet Chingtham and Smt. Poushali Chatterjee. She performs regularly all over India and abroad in group and as a soloist. She has received many accolades includeing Nritya Bhushan from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Nrithya Mani from Cuttack Mahotsav, recognitions in the West Bengal Student State Youth Festival and the Senior Scholarship from the Department of Culture, Government of India.