The Artist

Dr Malabika Mitra is one of the foremost Kathak exponents of India with outstanding brilliance. From the tender age of 3 years, Dance has become a part of her life. An artist of rare individuality she has extensive knowledge of the two important Gharanas of kathak : Jaipur Gharana and Lucknow Gharana.

With long years of intensive training and sheer dedication towards the art form Kathak, Malabika has developed complete command over the idioms of Kathak : whether rhythmic compositions expressional items. or

She has flawless technique with scintillating footwork, crisp and incisive bols, impressive padhant, pleasant personality and a pair of large eloquent eyes which she employs with artistic effect. Through the years, with her own creative temperament, she has evolved a strong individual style combining the technical brilliance of Jaipur Gharana with the delicate grace of Lucknow gharana.

Acacemically she was a brilliant student achieving National Scholarship in Higher Secondary examination and became a Medical Graduate in 1979.

Gold medallist in M.Mus examination of Prayag Sangit samity, Allahabad, acquiring “Nritya Praveen” title, Dr Malabika Mitra has been bestowed with several awards and honours for her contribution. She has been awarded with “Shiromani” by Asian Paints; “Singar Mani” by Sur Singar samsad, Bombay; “Abhinav Kala Samman” by Abhinav Kala Parishad, Bhopal: “Mahakaal Sangit Ratna” by Madhukali, Ujjain and many others. She has been chosen Best Dancer of India in 1989 by Sunday Mail, Delhi and Best Dancer of 2004 by Govt of West Bengal.

A “TOP” grade performer of Doordarshan, Malabika has not only performed at national level but also has directed and choreographed Kathak Ballet for Doordarshan. Besides she is a dedicated teacher also. “KATHAK” is the mission of her life.

Inaugural Dancer of the Millenium Celebration of Khajuraho, Malabika has performed in most of the major festivals of India including Kathak Mahotsav, Khajuraho dance festival, Konarak dance festival and many others. Her tours abroad has covered many festivals like Sanskritik Festival, Edinborough Festival, Bath Festival, Womad Festivals in U.K.; Festival of India in U.S.S.R.; Indian Republic Day celebration in Nepal Granada Festival of Granada & Festival ASIA of Bercelona in Spain, Festival of Cité de la musique at Paris in France, Diwali Festival of Indo Polish Cultural Committee at Krakao in Poland and many other programmes in Germany Bangladesh. &

Selected for Senior Fellowship in the field of Kathak in 1997 by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India, for her research work on Old Kathavachan Shaily and its modification.

Received Sangeet Natak Akademy Award for the year 2010 from our respected Vice President of India on 22July 2011. Performance was on 27th July 2011.

Some of the performances in last few years are in next page…

Performance at …

• Foundation Day of Indian Museum a. Ko kala

• Hazarduary Festival at Murshidabad

• Bishnupur Festival (Ballet) at Bishnupur

• Spirit of Spring Festival al Kolkata

• Kathak Mahotsava (Ballet) at Delhi

• Kolkata Sangeet Mela at Kolkata

• National Programme of Dance (Doordarshan)

• Nrityanirajanam at Tirumala Tirupati Sree Venkateshwara Temple

• 53rd year Annual Music Conference of Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra, WB

Kathak Yatra – festival of Kathak Delhi Kathak Kendra at Agartala, Tripura

• Khajuraho Dance Festival at Khajuraho, MP

• Kathak Mahotsava in memory of Rohini Bhate at Delhi

World Dance day Celebration

Golden Jubilee of Burdwan University al Burdwam, WB

Performance at …

• Clssical Music Conference at Gaya

• Udayshankar Festival (Ballet) at Kolkala

• Convocation of Pracheen Kala Kendra al Kolkata

• Suraj Kund Festival at Surajkund, Hariana

•Maihar Festival at Maihar, Madhya Pradesh

Kathak Mahotsava at Pune

• Music Conference at Tulsi Ghat, Varanasi

Naman – Shraddhanjali for Late Pandit Lachchu Maharaj at Lucknow

Lec-Dem tour of SPICMACAY in different places of india

• Sandipani Mahotsava at Sandipani Ashram at Porbandar, Gujrat

• 24th Anniversary Celebration of Bharat Bhawan of Bhopal

• Golden Jubilee Celebration of Khairagarh University at Khairagarh, Chattisgarh