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Moumita Pal

Domain: Indian Classical Dance | Mohiniyattam | Seraikella Chhau | Rabindra Nritya | LIVE Concert Performance

Genre: #IndianClassicalDance #Folk #Mohiniyattam #RabindraNritya #SeraikellaChhau

Location: India

Journey

Fascination towards Dance and Stage Performances in Early Childhood

Moumita Pal was fascinated with dance from early childhood, as she would watch her cousin sister dance, with make-up, ghungroo and costume, in local events. Once it so happened that her sister was dancing on a stage, and Moumita followed her to the stage and started dancing along, while she had to be taken down by her parents. She would also watch the classical dance programmes on National TV, and try to imitate the same. Her father noticed that and informed her mother, when they decided to enroll her in a dance class with Smt. Mita Dutta, who taught Odissi dance, in Kharagpur, West Bengal. Moumita was five years old, and started her basic orientation and simple steps in Dance, Mudras, a few basics of Rabindranritya steps, etc. 

Eventually, her parents recognized her serious intent in learning and practising what she was learning in the dance class for a few years, and enrolled her with a learned Guru of Bharatnatyam, Late Smt. Sandhya Pal, who was a disciple of the great Guru Dr. Smt. Thankamani Kutty. Moumita continued her taalim for about a decade, until the passing away of Smt. Sandhya Pal. During this time, Moumita had also started composing choreography and teach dance presentations to her friends in school, who would perform together. In this manner, Moumita had won several inter school dance competitions, and performed at District-level events.

Conventional Education in Indian Classical Dance

Even though she had learnt from her seniors that she could pursue her higher studies in Dance, and apply for central government jobs based on her credentials in Dance education, she enrolled for her graduation course in Biotechnology, in Bangalore, India, which she continued for two years. However, she had a deep calling towards studying Dance, and so, she researched about available options, and enrolled for a three years Distance education in Bachelors of Fine Arts, in Dance, from Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts (Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli), with specialization in Bharatnatyam. Upon graduation in 2017, Moumita got a job as a Dance teacher at Delhi Public School, Bangalore East, where she worked for six years.

During her distance education programme, Moumita was also invited to perform at niche community events that celebrated the culture of Bengal, during Holi and other festivals. During one such stage performances, she was performing a set in Bharatnatyam dance, and Smt. Sreedevi Unni was invited as Chief Guest at this event. After the performance, Sreedevi Ji met with Moumita, praised her dance performance, and told her that her movements were more feminine and lassya based, which is more prevalent in softer dance forms such as Manipuri, Odissi, or Mohiniyattam. She furthered inspired Moumita to pursue Mohiniyattam, where she would flourish better as a professional dancer, owing to her natural talents and style of movements.

Grace of a Guru is Key to Evolution of a Professional Artist

Truly, only a good Guru has this innate talent to see through a young dancer’s potential, and can spark a light of inspiration in that young soul, to evolve as a better artist.

Moumita was grateful to be discovered by such an eminent Guru and readily agreed to be trained by her, in Mohiniyattam dance. This was the time when Moumita was already enrolled in a graduation course in Bharatnatyam. Now, within a year of her training in Mohiniyattam, Moumita encountered an accident that caused ligament tear in one of her legs, which, eventually made it difficult for her to pursue Bharatnatyam dance. Nevertheless, as Mohiniyattam was more expression-based dance form, she could continue her training without much difficulty in her legs. This is the moment she completely switched to and dedicated herself to pursue Mohiniyattam dance, professionally. She has performed along with her Guru – Karnataka Kalashri Smt. Sreedevi Unni, and has also been performing solo, since 2016-2017.

Currently she is pursuing diploma in Mohiniyattam under guidance of Mohiniyattam exponent Guru Dr. Neena Prasad from Sougandhika Centre for Mohiniyattam. She also learns Seraikella Chhau under guidance of Padmashree Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey.

Highlights of her awards, accolades & leadership endeavours are mentioned below:

  • Organized “Chhau Dance Festival 2023” in memory of my guru Padma Shri Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey, as founder member (Secretary) of Shreshtha Heritage Foundation, Bangalore (udayavani)
  • Winner of Vande Bharatam Nritya Utsav 2023 organized by the Ministry of Culture (NCZCC Social)
  • Awarded ‘Vysakhi Yuva Naatyasri Award’ in Vysakhi Nrithyotsav, 2022 organized by Nataraj Music & Dance Academy
  • Awarded Bharat Gaurav Samman 2021 by Sanskriti Bharat, Patna
  • Awarded National ‘NRITYA – MANI’ in Cuttack Mahotsav, 2016 organised by Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangh
  • Performed Rabindra Nritya in a Malayalam tv channel named Kappa TV and the program name is “footloose”
  • Won Third place in National dance competition at Brahama Sadhana organised by Brahmnaad Academy, Mumbai, in Mohiniyattam

LIVE performer, Festival Organizer, Workshop Conductor

Her versatile repertoire in Rabindra Nritya, Seraikella Chhau and Mohiniyattam are evident from her performances at prestigious platforms, as mentioned below:

Rabindra Nritya

  • Performed Rabindra Nritya in Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, Bangalore (GOPIO)
  • Performed Rabindra Nritya in IISc, Bharat Nritta Sanje, international conference of surface engineering
  • Performed Rabindra Nritya and portrayed on of the main character of famous Rabindra dance drama production named “Chandalika” produced by Ananda Samagame Bangalore.

Seraikella Chhau

  • Performed Seraikella Chhau with Guru Pandit Tapan Kumar Pattanayak at Chhau Dance Festival, Apr 2023 organized by Shreshtha Heritage Foundation, Bangalore
  • Performed Seraikella Chhau in Kolkata Science Conference in Nov 2019 along with Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey
  • Performed in Seraikella Chhau in ICCR, Hyderabad in 2019 along with Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey
  • Performed Seraikella Chhau in Vijaywada Festival in 2018 along with Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey

Mohiniyattam

  • Conducted lecture demonstration as Guest Speaker on Mohiniyattam at BGS National Public School, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru on Jun 2023
  • Performed Mohiniyattam at Chhau Mahotsav (Chaitra Parva), May 2023 organized by Tourism, Art Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Saraikela, Jharkhand
  • Performed Mohiniyattam at Karthvya Path during Republic Day parade, 2023 organized by the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Defence (Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata, @ezcckolkata)
  • Performed Mohiniyattam on DD Port Blair Kerala Foundation Day programme, Nov 2022 (Doordarshan Kendra Port Blair)
  • Conducted Mohiniyattam workshop at Andaman & Nicobar Islands organized by EZCC in Sep 2022 (Andaman Chronicle, Andaman Sheekha, @ANICultureDept)
  • Conducted 5 days long Mohiniyattam workshop organized by Bolpur Chaturanga in Jul 2022 (doordarshan santiniketan)
  • Performed Mohiniyattam Every Sunday Entertainment Program organized by Shilparamam, Vizag in May 2022
  • Performed Mohiniyattam in Online National Cultural Festival organized by Avantika Academy of Cultural and Social Welfare, Bhubaneshwar in
  • Nov 2020
  • Performed Mohiniyattam in Online Live Performance organized by IPAF, Delhi in Oct 2020 (IPAF Official)
  • Performed Mohiniyattam in Online Live Performance organized by IIDF, Bangalore in 2020
  • Performed Mohiniyattam in Sabha (A Platform for Performing Arts) at Kuwait in Oct 2019
  • Performed a solo recital on Mohiniyattam in an event organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Bangalore on 23rd August 2019
  • Performed a solo recital on Mohiniyattam at Pavitrangana Shimoga program organised by Dr.K. S. Pavithra 2018
  • Completed “Ranga Prabesham” in Mohiniyattam in April 2019 under guidance of Karnataka Kalashri Guru Smt. Sreedevi Unni
  • Performed Mohiniyattam in DANCE JATHRE 2018, Bangalore
  • Performed Mohiniyattam Parinithi National dance festival, Shivamogga
  • Performed Mohiniyattam in Bhathukamma and Dasara festival, Shilparamam
  • Performed Mohiniyattam in Cuttack Mahotsav, Cuttack
  • Performed Mohiniyattam and portrayed one important character in “Mandodari Sita” produced by Guru. Smt. Sreedevi Unni ‘s Production
  • Performed Mohiniyattam in “Apoorva Bharata” a dance production by Guru Rathna Supriya Sridharan and Guru Dr. Madhura Sanjaya

Moumita Pal has been a sought-after LIVE performer in Mohiniyattam, being invited from prestigious institutions from all parts of India, and from Sri Lanka, recently, in 2025. She is also celebrated for her workshops that are widely popular among students of Indian classical dance.

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