Event Details

An online dance outreach program for children aimed at building exposure towards the different dance forms through specially curated sessions covering various topics related to Indian folk and classical dance.

Odissi & Music Online Lecture Demonstration by Arushi Mudgal and Sawani Mudgal
Schools: Vikas High School, Mumbai and Pragati Vidya Mandir, Mumbai

Telecast live on NCPA YouTube Page

Session is supported by Godrej Agrovet

Arushi Mudgal is one of the foremost young talents in the field of Odissi today, known for her technical virtuosity and creative approach to tradition. She has trained under her aunt, Guru Smt. Madhavi Mudgal at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Delhi. Arushi was selected as one of the Top Ten Dancers of 2018 by the New York Times. After watching her performance in New York, Alastair Macaulay, Chief Dance Critic of the New York Times, wrote: “I was amazed by how fully she seemed one of India’s most remarkable dancers.” Arushi was invited by Pina Bausch to perform at the Internationales Tanz Festival in Germany. She has performed at prestigious festivals in France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, UK, USA, Belgium, Spain, Brazil, and others. Her collaborative projects include ‘Orfeo – Crossing the Ganges’: An Indo-European opera, ‘Sama’, a contemporary work with Roland Auzet, a French percussionist, and ‘Haveli’ among others. Empanelled with the ICCR and Doordarshan, she conducts dance workshops worldwide, and performs regularly for SPICMACAY.

Arushi has co-authored a book on the aesthetics of Odissi dance along with senior scholar and aesthetician, Prof. S.K. Saxena, which has been published by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. Arushi has been featured as one of the young ‘Game Changers of India’ by India Today. She has received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the Young Women Achievers’ Award by FICCI, the President’s Bal Shree Award, the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award, the Chitra Kala Sangam Samman, the Sanatan Nritya Puraskar, the Original Mind Award, and the Touring Fellowship from Milapfest, UK

Sawani Mudgal is a young and dynamic vocalist trained in Hindustani Classical music under her father, Pt Madhup Mudgal at the acclaimed Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Delhi, which was started by her grandfather Pt Vinaya Chandra Maudgalya. She is a gold medalist in M.A. Music from Khairagarh University. She has also passed the Alankar Pratham examination of the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal in Hindustani classical vocal music. Sawani has travelled across the world, performing as a soloist as well as collaborating with international artistes from different genres. Her recent performances include the Festival of Music & Dance at the Ravi Shankar Centre, Delhi, ‘Under the Banyan Tree on a Full Moon Night’, Delhi, ‘Uttaradhikar’ Festival by the Raza Foundation, Delhi, ‘A Musical Evening’, Madrid, Spain, Milapfest’s Music Festival in Liverpool, UK, among others. Some of her unique collaborations include the ‘Flamenco-India’ project directed by the famous Spanish film-maker, Carlos Saura in Spain, a project with the Belgian band, ‘Ragini-Trio’, an IndoBrazilian project called ‘Samwaad’ in Brazil, France and Holland, and a special performance with the talented pianist, Anil Srinivasan in UK. She has given workshops and conducted the choir of Milapfest in UK. She has also performed at festivals in France, Belgium, USA, Greece, UK, Fez Festival in Morocco, and others. Her recent performance in Bhutan to celebrate 50 years of Indo-Bhutanese friendship was very well received by the members of the Bhutanese Royal family as well as the the local Bhutanese people. She conducts regular music workshops in India and abroad. Sawani has taught at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi. She is the conductor of the ‘Gandharva Baal Vrind’ – Children’s Choir of the institution. She has worked at the NGO Sanjivani. She has also lent her voice for several audio recordings. As a senior member of the Gandharva Choir, she has given performances in India and abroad, promoting Indian music and culture at various levels. She is also a regular performer for SPICMACAY. Sawani specializes in the devotional aspect of music, having an expansive repertoire that involves texts of saint poets such as Kabir, Tulsi, Meera, Surdas, Rajjab Ali, Nanak (Shabads) and others. She has performed at various important functions of the Govt. of India at Vigyan Bhavan, Rajghat, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Vidhan Sabha, and Vir Bhoomi.

Please note: The video will be available for a week post the live lecture/demonstration.