THE TOUCH

Alokananda Roy Evolution of a Dancer

Alokananda Roy is today a cultural icon in Bengal and everywhere across the globe where the Bengal has made a niche. This journey she has transverse in the course of her 50 years on the professional stage where she made a debut at the tender age of four.

Her formal training stared under Manjulika Das followed by a 5-years stint in Bharat Natyam under Maruthappa Pillai from 1965 to 1969. Thereafter she was a direst disciple of Sanjukta Panigrahi in Odissi and this was a guru-Shishya bond that transcended the bond of just learning. Along the way, Alokananda has collected

A diploma in Rabindra sangeet from Dakshinee, A political science Honors degree from Calcutta University, A certificate of excellence in vocal Music from Dakshinee, A diploma in pianoforte from Trinity College London, Training in classical Ballet, Russian Style from Calcutta School of Music, Miss Calcutta Title in 1969, Miss India first runner up in 1969, The Michel Madhusudan Award in 1969, The sanskrit Parishad Award, The gold Medal of Shri Shikshayatan College, Honorary Citizenship of the city of Clarksville, USA. She has been granted an "A" category artist of Doordarshan since 1976. Her Tagore dance drama such as 'SHYAMA' 'CHITRANGADA', 'CHANDILIKA', are legends as are her classical dance items and innovative choreographic creations on classical style, such as 'VANDEMATARAM', 'MEGHDOOT', 'VASAVDATTA', 'SAVITRI', 'DHARITRI', 'RAAGASRAYEE', 'SUPERNATURAL', 'SHRINGAR' and finally her own magnum opus 'AMRAPALI'.

She has performed all over the country and the world to full houses and in prestigious events and auditoria like at Sanskriti Festival touring England Wales and Scotland with a grand finale at the Royal Albert Hall, the Edinburgh Festival, The festival of Bengal at Singapore, The Asian festival at Japan, the festival of India in Japan, the Asian Festival in Glasgow at Town Hall, London, The North American Bengali conference at San Francisco and there after at Atlanta and Atlantic City and a memorial performance for 9/11 victims at Boston center for performing Arts, to name a few.

Over the Years Alaknanda has enriched the heritage of Dance Drama by juxtaposing pure classical Dance forms with contemporary style, by converting classical Abhinaya to less stylistic and more realistic expression, by introducing classical dance techniques into the dance drama and incorporating innovations in customs, choreography and make up. She is a deeply spiritual person with an unshakable faith in Divine and a life long devotee of Shri Aurobindo and the mother. Her overriding humanity had in recent years drawn her increasingly into the cause of unprivileged children and she is associated with several organization dealing with them such as, Calcutta Social Project, Calcutta Samaritans, Women's Interlinked and Anandan.

She is presently working with convicts of Presidency Correctional Home, Kolkata and other Correctional Homes of West Bengal in 'Dance Therapy'. The inmates will also perform even outside the boundaries of the prison wall. This is to bring back their self respect and bring out the best in their personality to give them a better life within them.

She has meanwhile founded her own organization INSPIRATION FOUNDATION which searches out talent amongst the poorest of children and nurtures and hones that talent be in painting, dance, song, drama or recitation with the help of the best of the representative team of guides and teachers. Alokananda seeks to use the goodwill that she has earned over the last five decades for the deprived yet deserving children's of the society

Alokananda has a dance School of her own 'CHANDANALOKE' in which she takes personal care and from which school and Inspiration Foundation are drawn member of her troupe. She is closely associated with numerous school and colleges and enjoys the assignment of directing the school dance productions.

Born in 1951 she is pushing 56 but looking a decade younger, two grand children notwithstanding. Her glamorous poise and innate sense of style have own her a large core of admirers among whom are the media who feature her regularly and Indian foremost fashion designer.

She has come a long way from the principal performer in Children's Little Theater or CLT to Classical dancer to Dance Educationist, Choreographer and a social worker.

Somewhere down the years she has become the cultural icon, one that continues to evolve.