TIDF 2016 - PERFORMERS

Enakshi Sinha

Dance, Strength, Grace & Passion

'Mastery over Laykari and sensitive abhinaya are two facets of this talented dancer. Enakshi’s body movements, use of her mudras and her facial expression are beyond comparison.” - Hindustan Times says. ( www.enakshi.org/)

In her short span of her arrival in Canada from India she has already made her mark by giving performances in the major festivals of Canada. Enakshi has established herself as one of the top rankers in the country. Enakshi cultivated a lifelong devotion to Indian Classical dance starting with Bharatnatyam from the tender age of five under the guidance of Guru Thankamuni Kutty. She then passionately fell in love with the Odissi dance and learnt this subtle form from Smt. Sharmila Biswas. Her distinctive style came from her direct training from Padmavibhusan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra & Guru Ratikanta Mohapatra in Srjan, Bhubaneshwar. Her active performance career spans for the last 17 years that includes performing in major festivals in India, Europe & North America. At present Enakshi is the Founder Chairperson and Artistic Director of her dance institution 'Mrudanga Dance Academy’. Since three years Mrudanga had hosted two day dance festival “Umang – Light of Hopes” in Windsor inviting renowned artistes from India & North America. One critical contribution of Mrudanga has been to promote Indian art & culture merging with other cultures and present it for the audience in Canada. Enakshi had the honor to perform for Indian PM Mr. Narendra Modi during his visit to Toronto in April 2015 at Rico Coliseum Centre, Toronto.

Achievements

• Recipient of International Nritya Shiromoni Award from Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangha, Cuttack, India for propagating and preserving Indian Classical Dance in Canada.

• Recipient of Shingar Mani title from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai, India.

• Recipient of several grants from Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.

• Selected as a Jury member for Ontario Arts Council, 2011 & 2014.

• Empaneled artiste of India Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Sangeet Natak Academy (SNA) and East Zone Cultural Centre (EZCC).

Dance Productions & Tours

• “A Garden Waits for Rain” (2016) collaboration show with Waterloo Chamber Players, Symphony Orchestra with 30 live musicians.

• “Woman – Search” (2015) explores the question as to how a woman is defined. Is it by the accidents of her birth or the compulsions of her inner self? These questions were explored through stories of two women.

• “DEVI – THE DIVINE CORE” (2014) A unique creative collaboration between Manipuri, Odissi, Manipuri classical and ethnic music, Hindustani music, chants from Vedas and Puranas.

• “STRITVA SAMPRATTI” – Legacy of Womanhood (2013), presenting issues on Woman. This is a dance-theatre a mere monologue or to think of it, it could even be calibrated as a dialogue between a woman and her inner self. Silent, deep, unfathomable, treasured within the folds of one's senses.

• ‘YATHAGAMANAM- Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, the legacy continues” (2011) as a solo and duo performance with Guru Ratikant Mohapatra. This was presented in West coast of Canada.

• SAMYUKTA (2010) showing a unique blending of three dance forms Bharatnatyam, Kathak and Odissi. This was presented in different places of Canada along with the invited artistes from India

• CROSSROADS (2009). CROSSROADS has equally benefited by the expertise of Kathak interpretation by Montreal based dancer along with Odissi interpretation by Enakshi. www.enakshi.org/www.mrudanga.com