Meghna Das

🪔 About

Meghna Das is a prominent Indian classical Odissi dancer, choreographer, writer, and producer based in Bengaluru, India. Born into a family steeped in dance and music, she made her first public stage appearance at the age of three, portraying baby Siddhartha in a Kuchipudi production. Her formal training in Odissi began at age four or five under the tutelage of her mother, Sahana Das, in Singapore. Sahana Das, herself an experienced Odissi dancer and choreographer, was trained for 25 years and was a student of Guru Mayadhar Rout. After relocating to Bengaluru, India, Meghna Das further honed her skills at the Nrityagram city classes for four years, which significantly enhanced her technical finesse. She continues her training, drawing inspiration from various Odissi schools, including the complex footwork of Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra (through Devjani Sen), the graceful expressional compositions of Guru Mayadhar Rout (through Sahana Das), and the creative innovations of Guru Gangadhar Pradhan (through Madhulita Mohapatra). In 2011 or 2012, after 16 years of Odissi training, she joined the Nrityantar Academy of Fine Arts and its Odissi Dance Ensemble, under the guidance of Guru and artistic director Smt. Madhulita Mohapatra, whom she credits for her professional leap into dance. Meghna Das made her professional debut (Rangapravesh) in Bangalore in 2012. As a soloist and a member of the Nrityantar Odissi Dance Ensemble, she has performed extensively across India and internationally in countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, the US, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Italy, the UK, and France. She is a graded Doordarshan artiste and a faculty member at the Nrityantar Academy for Performing Arts. Das is also the founder and creative director of Akar Productions, through which she has conceptualized, scripted, directed, and produced three independent productions: “Anamika,” “Neelachal,” and “Ayam.” She actively engages in collaborations with artists from various dance forms, including Kathak, Bharatanatyam, ballet, contemporary, tap, and jazz, as well as theatre practitioners and Western musicians, aiming to take Odissi to new audiences and contexts. Awards & Honours: Chinta-O-Chetana Award (2013), Odissi Pratibha.