Home > Arts & Culture > Indian Dances > Alokananda Roy
Alokananda Roy
Alokananda Roy is a danseuse from Kolkata whose involvement and contribution to dance has been parallel to her work amidst the social marginalized.

Share this Article:

Alokananda Roy, Indian Dancer Alokananda Roy is a danseuse from the city Kolkata a rapturous river of rhythm who has not only left an indelible mark on the canvas of dance but even on the social works that she has so uniquely taken care of. For fifty years she has fashioned form, with feet of grace, a person who has given dance a splendid, beauteous face, sculpted, chiselled, planned, configured, amazing form and feel performing with an inner fire with total zeal and zest.

Early Life of Alokananda Roy
Alokananda Roy born in the year 1951 started her part in life`s stage as a dancer at the tender age of four, at the Children`s Little Theatre (CLT). She has the experience of travelling and performing all over India with CLT. From the age of eleven she has been a professional performer. Life flowed on like a river for her accumulating debris all the way. With her journeys she not only she had enriched herself but even her environment around.

Career of Alokananda Roy
Her formal training in dance started under Manjulika Das in 1963 who had been her siksha guru. A long spell of training for five years started learning BharatNatyam with Maruthappa Pillai from 1965 to 1969 to 1997; she was the disciple of Sanjukta Panigrahi. It was with Sanjukta Panigrahi`s inspiration that Alokananda Roy started her own dance school `Chandanaloke", where certificate course in Odissi Dance is personally taught to a select group of students.

Alokananda Roy was awarded a Diploma in Rabindra Sangeet by Dakshinee, Calcutta, in 1968; and a Diploma in Pianoforte by Trinity College, London, in 1967. Alokananda has been a one time winning candidate for the Miss India title.

Alokananda Roy, Indian DancerAlokananda Roy has performed in numerous shows each time hogging the limelight towards her for her earnest dedication to dance. She has performed all over India she has toured extensively and repeatedly all over the UK, Europe, USA, Japan, Singapore and other countries. She has been a member of the cultural delegation to the United Kingdom for the Sanskriti Festival and the 125th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. She has performed at the Edinburgh Festival in 1985, the Asian Festival in Japan in 1986, and the India Festival, again in Japan in 1988, the Sanskritic Festival at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, in 1985 and the Banga Sanskriti Festival in USA in 1987. She has conducted workshops and lecture demonstrations in different institutions in UK in 1991, 1992, 1996 and 1997. Television has added a further dimension to her audience. She has appeared in countless programs on prime-time National Television.

Achievement of Alokananda Roy
Alokananda has a dance School of her own `CHANDANALOKE` in which she takes personal care and from which school and Inspiration Foundation are drawn member of her troupe. She is closely associated with numerous school and colleges and enjoys the assignment of directing the school dance productions.

She is presently working with convicts of Presidency Correctional Home, Kolkata and other Correctional Homes of West Bengal in `Dance Therapy`. The inmates will also perform even outside the boundaries of the prison wall. This is to bring back their self respect and bring out the best in their personality to give them a better life within them. Through all her successes over the years, Alokananda Roy has remained an assiduous learner - an artiste who continuously hones and enriches her skills and understanding of her art form.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Dances


Folk Dances of Haryana
The Folk Dances of Haryana are influenced by the culture of its neighbouring states and express the deeper spiritual nature of the dance form.
Kathakali Dancers
Kathakali dancers of India embody grace, passion, and storytelling prowess. Through their vibrant costumes, expressive movements, and intricate makeup, they bring ancient tales to life on stage.
Folk Dances of Sikkim
The cultural tradition of Sikkim is conveyed in its conventional folk dances. The Folk dances are an essential part of Sikkim’s culture and tradition that are really vibrant at times. The three ethnic communities, Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepalis constitute the folk dances and songs in this state.
Santhali Dance
Santhali dance is performed by Santhal tribes on special occasions like festivals and merrymakings.
Folk Dances of Maharashtra
Folk dances of Maharashtra reflect the state's rich cultural heritage and traditions. Prominent forms include Lavani, Tamasha, Lezim, and Gondhal, each associated with specific communities and occasions. These dances combine music, rhythm, and storytelling, often performed during festivals, rituals, and social gatherings, preserving regional identity across generations.
Folk Dances of Mizoram
Folk dances of Mizoram are performed during the time of festivals. These dances are done in a group form.
Dhamal Dance
A folk dance form of Haryana, the Dhamal Dance has its roots in the days of the Mahabharata. This dance form is primarily performed by men in the outdoors and is famous in the Gurugram area of the state.
Koli Dance
A unisex folk dance form of Maharashtra, the Koli dance is a known dance form of the Koli fisher folk.
Costumes of Manipuri Dance
Costumes of Manipuri Dance are quite unique from other Indian classical dance forms.
Hasta Mudras In Kathakali
Hasta Mudras are an integral part of Kathakali dance performance. The Hasta Mudras of this particular dance form are very symbolic in nature.
North Indian Dances
North Indian Dances portray various aspects of Hindu and Muslim culture that have influenced the region for a long time.
Folk Dance of Uttar Pradesh
Folk dance of Uttar Pradesh shows zest of life. It includes dances like Raslila, Ramlila, Khyal, Nautanki,Naqaal,Swang, Dadra and Charkula dance.
Mangalacharan Odissi Dance
Mangalachran is that part of Odissi with which the dance begins and it contributes to the invocatory part of Odissi.
Lathi Dance
Lathi dance is a dance form of West Bengal performed on the occasion of Muharram.
Giddha Dance
Giddha Dance of Punjab, performed only by the women, is a very popular folk art form in India. During Lohri, the Punjabi women reveal their joy through the performance of Giddha.
Folk Dances of Manipur
Manipuri folk dances include the Pung Cholom, Raslila, Maibi dance, Khamba Thaibi, Lal Haraoba and the Nupa dance.
Folk Dance of Nagaland
Folk Dance of Nagaland reflects the naga tradition and culture of the local habitants. In most of the cases, naga dances are monopoly of men with some exception but almost ever dance is associated with some kind of naga festival or tradition.
Bidesia Dance
Bidesia dance is the most popular folk dance of Bihar. The themes of the dance are social issues, contradictory topics and conflict between the traditional and the modern, the urban and rural, and the rich and the poor.
Types of Indian Dances
Types of Indian Dances reflect its cultural richness. Whilst the Classical dances form the very base of Indian dances, it is near impossible to overlook the tribal and folk elements that stand out as separate types of Indian dances.
Rabha Dance
Rabha Dance is performed by the Rabha Tribes of Meghalaya in the Garo Hills.