Ranjabati Sircar

🪔 About

Ranjabati Sircar (1963-1999) was a prominent Indian dancer and choreographer, celebrated for her pioneering contributions to experimental and contemporary Indian dance forms, particularly "Nava Nritya" (New Dance). Born on March 29, 1963, in Nsukka, Nigeria, she spent her formative years in upstate New York before pursuing higher education at Jadavpur University in Calcutta (now Kolkata), where she earned two degrees with academic honors. Despite her academic potential, Sircar chose to dedicate her life to dance, following the innovative artistic path of her mother, Manjusri Chaki-Sircar, a leading figure in Indian classical and experimental dance. Together with her mother, Ranjabati Sircar co-founded the Dancers' Guild in Calcutta, an institution committed to the development and promotion of Nava Nritya. This contemporary Indian dance form is characterized by its unique blend of classical and folk movements with modern influences, incorporating elements of yoga and martial arts. Sircar's choreographic work was deeply thematic, exploring subjects such as spirituality, environmentalism, and female identity. Her training encompassed classical Indian dance forms including Bharatanatyam (Kalakshetra bani), Manipuri, and Kathakali, and she reconfigured elements from these, as well as Chhau, into her distinctive style. Nava Nritya, the style she co-developed, also drew inspiration from Kathak, Odissi, Kalaripayattu, and Thang-Ta. Sircar was a compelling performer and a strong soloist, known for her lyrical physicality and introspective approach. She traveled extensively, engaging in international collaborations and presenting her work globally. In 1983, she received a British Council scholarship to study in Great Britain, and later served as the first artistic director of Yuva, Britain's national South Asian youth dance company. Her choreography "Thirsting Earth" earned her the prestigious Time Out/Dance Umbrella Award. Ranjabati Sircar was also a prolific writer, contributing to newspapers, journals, and books, and was in the process of completing a book titled "Navanrity: towards contemporary Indian dance" at the time of her death. She passed away tragically on October 23, 1999, in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, at the age of 36. Her legacy continues through the Dancers' Guild and the ongoing practice of Navanritya. Awards & Honours: Time Out/Dance Umbrella Award.