Vishwanath Mangaraj

🪔 About

Vishwanath Mangaraj is a distinguished Indian classical Odissi dancer, performer, and teacher, recognized for his sensitive and immaculate technique. Born around 1997, he hails from a family deeply connected to Odissi, with male members traditionally involved as singers or percussionists. Mangaraj received his extensive training in Odissi dance for over ten years from the American-born dancer and teacher Sharon Lowen, a prominent disciple of the legendary Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Through this tutelage, Mangaraj represents the esteemed Odissi lineage of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, considered the architect of the art form in the 20th century. Beyond dance, Vishwanath Mangaraj is also proficient in Odissi Mardala, the traditional percussion instrument for Odissi. He received his Mardala training from his father, Prafulla Mangaraj, a renowned mardal player, and the great Guru Banamali Maharana of Bhubaneswar. This dual expertise enhances his command over the dance form. As a professional performing artist, Mangaraj is celebrated for his graceful Odissi, characterized by a supple torso and neatly profiled chauka and tribhanga postures. Critics have lauded him as "certainly the most sensitive of male dancers in Odissi today" and an "artist of great promise". His performances demonstrate not only technical perfection but also a relaxed ease on stage and a deep feel for mood and abhinaya (expressive dance). Vishwanath Mangaraj is also a dedicated educator. He has been actively teaching Odissi for approximately ten years at Manasa Art without Frontiers, an institution inaugurated by Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar in 1995, which aims to foster understanding of India's rich cultural heritage. At Manasa, he serves as an instructor for Odissi classes and has collaborated with other dancers, such as Nitisha Nanda, to rearrange solo choreographies for group presentations. He also assists Guru Sharon Lowen in conducting Odissi workshops. His contributions to the art form have been recognized through his empanelment as an artist for the Indian Council for Cultural Research (ICCR), his grading as an artist by Doordarshan (India's national TV channel), and a Senior scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. He is based in New Delhi, India. Awards & Honours: Senior Scholarship Holder.