One of the leading classical dancers of India, Madhavi Mudgal is a highly renowned exponent of the Odissi style. Madhavi was born into a family devoted to classical Indian music. Her father, Pandit Vinaya Chandra Maudgalya was the founder of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi in 1939. Initially studying Bharatanatyam and Kathak under eminent gurus, she finally chose Odissi as her medium of expression. A prime disciple of legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, she is credited with bringing a greatly refined sensibility to her art form.
She has received repeated acclaim in the major cities and dance festivals that have featured her throughout the world: like the Edinburgh International Festival, U.K.; Festival of India in USA; the Cervantino Festival, Mexico; Vienna Dance Festival, Austria; Festival of Indian Dance, South Africa; Festival of Indian Culture, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Days of Indian Culture, Hungary; Festival of Indian Arts, London; the Avignon Festival, France; Pina Bausch's Festival, Wuppertal and Berlin Festpiele, Germany; and festivals in Italy, Spain, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan and the Indian subcontinent. She has been associated with the making of several films and audio-visuals on Odissi as well as with the organization of some of the most widely appreciated specialized dance festivals in India.
Apart from establishing a niche in the international dance scene as a soloist, she has received critical acclaim for her choreographic works: her extensive training under renowned gurus from childhood, and her family's musical background having provided her with a rare insight into the art of choreography. Her commitment to the continuation and augmentation of her chosen art form has seen her as one of the foremost teachers in her generation, initiating beginners as well as senior students into the finer nuances of Odissi at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi. She has also conducted workshops in the dance form all over the world.
Numerous awards and honours have come her way, including the Sanskriti Award, 1984 and the President of India's award of Padma Shri, 1990.
In my opinion she is perhaps the most accomplished and experienced Odissi dancer of India.
Enjoy the pictures.
Shankar Adisesh
Category:Lifestyle and Recreation
Subcategory:Dancing
Subcategory Detail:
Keywords:Indianclassicaldance, Konarakdancefestival, Madhavimudgal, Odissi, Odissidance
