Geeta Govind Masterclass by Dr Sonal Mansingh@NCPA
An iconic cultural personality, Dr. Sonal Mansingh has mastered multiple Indian classical dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Chhau. She is a renowned scholar and seasoned art administrator who has performed, given lectures and conducted workshops in 90 countries around the world. As the Founder-President of the Centre for Indian Classical Dances (1977), she has trained several talented performers who are carrying forward the message of Indian culture all over the world. She is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan (1992) and Padma Vibhushan (2003).

Dr. Mansingh has also been honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna (Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi). She has been Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and has served as the Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. She is serving her second term as trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts

Geeta Govind
Jayadeva wrote this unusual love-poem dedicated to Radha and Krishna in 12th century Orissa. Racing through a gamut of passionate love in its prismatic glory, the plot revolves around the longing, separations, misunderstanding, pleadings and triumph of love in an unparalleled combination of imagery lyricality and spirituality. The poem has become synonymous with the magic of Krishna where his beloved Radha is the presiding Deity and it is she who wields and holds the power of life and love.

The workshop will weave a garland of selected verses from some of the 24 Cantos in an evocative and bold display of love as the ruling Power in the world. This will also be an exercise to understand the gravitas of the Prabandha-peom which should ideally be approached with deep respect, mature sensitivity and a reposeful mind.