About Us

Dr. Manisha Manaswini, born to a family where generations were known for academic excellence, Manisha was the first kid of my kind, to be born with the Gandharva Vidya. Her parents put Manisha into dancing, as they were advised it could heal my frequent attack of chronic tonsillitis and common cold. Since then, dance has been an integral part of her life. Manisha’s first formal training was initiated under the guidance of Lt. Kanduri Charan Behera and Lt. Prasanna Sahoo. She was later admitted at Odisha Dance Academy, one of the premier institutions in the field of Odissi dance founded by Lt. Padmashree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan. Since then, she has come a long way to establish herself as a young dancer in the rich cultural state of Odisha as well as in India. The guiding light of her actual dance training started with the blessings and good will of Lt, Padmashree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan at Orissa Dance Academy under the guidance of Guru Dinabandhu Dalai. Now the little light left by them has been sparkled by the igniting spirit of Guru Bijay Kumar Dash and continuing to keep it bright. At present she is under the energetic and enthusiastic guidance of Guru Smt. Rojalin Mohapatra.

 She has won several awards and accolades. She is the recipient of Junior Fellowship for research in the field of Protection for Traditional Cultural Expressions and National Scholarship from Ministry of Culture, Government of India and Centre for Cultural Resources and Training. She is also an empanelled artist of Doordarshan Channel and Indian Council for Cultural Relations. She has also been awarded Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award as Popular Odissi Dancer of the year 2009, Dr. Harekrishna Mahatab Jayantee Committee Sanman 2011, Bijoyini Award in memory of Lt. Prof Mrs Bijoyini Mohanty for Excellence in Odissi Dance 2017 and NALCO Kharavela Award 2017.She has also performed widely both nationally and internationally.

 Apart from being an Odissi dancer, Manisha is a student of law. After completing from Post Graduation from Gujarat National Law University with Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights, I am currently working as Assistant Professor in KIIT Law School and has completed Ph.D in the legal protection of Traditional Cultural Expressions of India. She is also imparting training in Odissi at her own institution AATMAAN FOUNDATION since 2014. Dr. Manaswini has also organized the ABHYUDAY dance festival for young and emerging artists, which she has been hosting since 2022.