Initiated into classical Indian dance education at the age of four, Mala
continues to perfect the art of Odissi and earned her Diploma from The Guru
Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi Dance. Mala has performed professionally in India and the USA for over 25 years. Most
recently, Mala performed for "Deeksha 2008" and "Nritya
Parichaya" in October 2009 at the India
International Center
in New Delhi, followed by a presentation of Abhisarika
Nayika for "Mangala" in November 2009 in Nassau County.
She was privileged in performing for "Yaatra" - an International
Festival celebrating Padmashri Guru Mayadhar Raut's 80th birthday in July 2010
in New Delhi, at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat
Center.
(Photo by Kiron Pasricha)
Mala regularly collaborates with professional artists in the region creating
NEW productions like "Gurutattva" a series that explores the
classicism of Indian dance.
Mala wants to educate students about Odissi- a classical art form to
promote, perpetuate and develop an understanding of and appreciation for Dance,
a universal language. A teacher of Odissi dance since 1995, Mala's classes are
for all age groups with her teachings based on the Mayadhar Raut School of
Odissi Dance syllabus. Mala regularly provides all students opportunities for
participation in performances and productions, does original collaborative
choreography with her students, and creates NEW works in classical and
semi-classical dance techniques. Her teaching is focused on maintaining proper
Odissi technique incorporating dance and movement exercises based in yoga. Mala
strictly adheres to the tradition of Guru-Shishya Parampara committed to carrying forward the Mayadhar Raut stlye of Odissi. She is a
senior disciple of and blessed by Padmashri Guru Mayadhar Raut to be the
founder of and Artistic Director of Mala's School
of Odissi Dance, the first registered school of Odissi
in Nassau, NY.
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