-Sonal Mansingh is one of the leading exponent of Odissi, an ancient classical dance form of Orissa. A part from a dancer, she is a known social activist, thinker, researcher, orator, choreographer and teacher.

Her renowned choreographic works based on Indian Mythology as well as contemporary issues include ‘Indradhanush’, Manavatta’, ‘Sabras’, ‘Devi Durga’, ‘Aatmayan’, ‘Mera Bharat’, ‘Draupati’ etc. She has traveled widely and given performances all over India and abroad.

She participates actively in environment related seminars and conduct lectures sharing her perceptions.

Sonal learnt Bharatanatyam from Prof. U S Krishna Rao and Chandrabhaga Devi at Bangalore besides taking lessons from other gurus and teachers belonging to the Pandanallur school.

She performed her arangetram at Mumbai where her grandfather was Governor and took to dance professionally from 1962 onwards.

When prominent artistes recognized her talents, her family realized how serious she was about her dance and Sonal took further training from Jayalakshmi Alva in Mumbai.

At an art festival, she met her first husband Lalit Mansingh, whose family was based in Orissa. His father Dr. Mayadhar Mansingh was a great educationist who took Sonal to Odissi guru Kelucharan Mohapatra in Cuttack and thus started her training in Odissi from 1965.

Her training in Odissi took place when Odissi was being reconstructed and her guru taught her most of the numbers, now in the Odissi repertoire, to her.

She extended the horizons of this form; studying various strands of Oriyan culture and allied performing arts traditions like Chhau from Guru Anant Charansai and Pala Sangeet.

She furthered her education under the late Shri Jiwan Pani. Sonal has also received training in Hindustani classical vocal music from Prof. K. G. Ginge, Bombay and Carnatic classical vocal music from Sri Venkataraman, New Delhi. She has undergone special training in Abhinaya from Late Mylapore Gouriammal and special training in Kuchipudi under Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam in the late 60’s at Madras.

Her School: Centre For Indian Classical Dances

Sonal Mansingh has been on stage since 1961. Her role as a social activist, thinker, researcher, orator, choreographer and teacher combines admirably with her dancing.

In 1977 she founded the Delhi based CENTRE FOR INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCES (CICD) which has produced scores of stage productions and trained many students, some of whom have earned critical acclaim already.

At the peak of her career, she was involved in a serious car accident in 1975 and when the doctors told her she could not dance any more, she did not let that deter her. Her indomitable will brought her to her feet again and with a determined comeback, she continued to set about her goal in using her art as an instrument of social change.

At a time, she has only 12 students who are with her the whole day. She takes them to concerts and generally takes care of them.

A leading exponent of Odissi, the ancient and traditional dance style of Orissa and with a background of decades of training in Bharatanatyam, Chhau (martial dance from Orissa) and Indian music, she has made many original choreographies based on Indian mythology as well as contemporary issues. Her work has embraced both form and content.

Lately her work has veered more and more towards issues concerning women, environment, prison reforms and re-interpretation of ancient myths. Through seminars, round table discussions, writings, teachings, workshops and lectures, she shares her perception and concerns.

Sonal Mansingh’s choreographic forays in both solo and group format have ranged in style from typical dance items for the Bharatanatyam and Odissi repertoire, looking with an individualistic vision on ancient scriptures such as Draupadi, Kalidasa’s poetry, the Puranas as well as writings in various Indian languages.

Sonal Mansingh had received ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 1992, ‘Singar Mani’ from Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, ‘Natya Kala Ratna’ from National Cultural Organisation, ‘Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award’, ‘Indira Priya Darshini Awards’, Medals of Friendship of Vietnam and Cuba State Council etc.

Rewarded with Padma Vibhushan in 2003, Sonal becomes the first Indian woman dancer to receive this high honour.