Baisali Mohanty

Baisali Mohanty (born 5 August 1994) is an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, author, columnist and analyst of foreign and public policy. She is a regular contributor on foreign policy and strategic affairs to several prestigious international publications including American business magazine Forbes, The Huffington Post, The Diplomat and openDemocracy, London.[1][2][3][4][5] She is the founder of Oxford Odissi Centre that is involved in promotion and training of Odissi dance at University of Oxford and other leading institutions in the United Kingdom.[6][7]

Baisali Mohanty
Mohanty giving a talk on Odissi dance at Oxford University
Born (1994-08-05) 5 August 1994
Puri, Puri district, Odisha
NationalityIndian
Alma materUniversity of Oxford, United Kingdom Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi
OccupationDancer and Choreographer, Columnist, Foreign Policy & Strategic Affairs Analyst, Author
Works
Nuclear Diplomacy

She is an ALC Global Fellow for the year 2015-16 affiliated to University of Oxford.[8]

Early life and education

Baisali Mohanty was born on 5 August 1994 in Puri, Odisha, to renowned feminist, poet and author Manasi Pradhan and Radha Binod Mohanty, an electrical engineer from the Indian Institute of Technology.[9]

She was educated at Blessed Sacrament High School Puri and KIIT International School, Bhubaneswar.[10] She received her bachelor's degree in Politics and International Relations from the Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi.[11]

She earned her Master's Degree from University of Oxford with first division writing her dissertation on Nuclear Diplomacy.[5]

Dancing career
Baisali Mohanty & Troupe performing at 16th International Beach Festival on 24 November 2010.

Baisali Mohanty received her training in Odissi dance from renowned Odissi teacher Padma Shri Guru Gangadhar Pradhan for over a decade until his demise. She received advance training in Choreography from another eminent Odissi teacher and choreographer Padma Shri Guru Ileana Citaristi. she holds a Visharad Degree in Odissi dance with first class distinction.[12]

She has been performing solo and group choreographies with her own dance company "Baisali Mohanty & Troupe" in international and national festivals for over fifteen years.[13][14]

Oxford Odissi Centre

In 2015, she founded the Oxford Odissi Centre at University of Oxford to popularise Indian classical dance at the varsity.[15][16][17] Beside holding regular Odissi dance classes for members of University of Oxford, the centre also conducts Odissi dance workshops at other institutions including University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, University College London (UCL), King's College London, University of Manchester and University of Edinburgh among others.[18][19]

She is also the founder of Oxford Odissi Festival, a first of its kind annual Indian classical dance festival held at the University of Oxford by Oxford Odissi Centre.[20][21][22][23][24]

Awards
Baisali Mohanty giving a recital at 2015 Nirbhaya Samaroh held on 9 April at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

In 2013, she was felicitated by India’s National Commission for Women at New Delhi on occasion of International Women’s Day for her outstanding achievement.[25] In the same year, her dance composition paying tribute to the 2012 Delhi gang rape victim won her the top prize at Delhi University dance contest across all categories.[26]

In 2017, she was conferred with the prestigious Aarya Award for her contribution to Indian classical dance by 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi.[27][28]

See also

References
  1. "Orissa POST E-Paper". Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  2. Flows, Capital. "Has Modi's Mantra Of 'Reform, Perform And Transform' Failed Desperately?". Forbes.
  3. "Can the Nuclear Deal With Japan Get India Into the Nuclear Suppliers Group?". thediplomat.com.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Puri girl Baisali makes it to Oxford Varsity". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  6. "Odissi beats to resonate at Oxford University". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  8. "Oxford India Society - About". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  9. "Odisha: Odia girl Baisali Mohanty in class of Aung San Suu Kyi, Oriya Success Orbit, Odisha Latest Headlines". Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  10. "The Pioneer". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  11. "Odisha: Odia girl Baisali Mohanty in class of Aung San Suu Kyi, Oriya Success Orbit, Odisha Latest Headlines". Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  12. "Odisha girl Baisali selected for Master's Degree at Oxford University, Oriya Success Orbit, Odisha Latest Headlines". Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  13. "A Beautiful Fusion of Classical Dances". Telangana Today. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. "Odishi fest at Oxford Varsity from today". www.dailypioneer.com. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. "citynewsline.co.uk". www.citynewsline.co.uk.
  24. "Odishi at Oxford enthrals foreigners". www.dailypioneer.com. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  25. "Odissi Centre to open at Oxford University from 2016". Archived from the original on 12 May 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  26. "Baisali Mohanty wins DU dance competition". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  27. "12 women achievers get Arya Award". The Pioneer. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  28. "12 women achievers awarded by Kailash Satyarthi". Pragativadi. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
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