Ratikant Mohapatra is a dancer, percussionist, Guru, and Choreographer and archivist of Odissi. Under the direction and choreography of Ratikant Mohapatra, 555 Odissi dancers, a large number of them belonging to foreign countries, performed in unison at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar to enter their names in the Guinness Book of World Records. Odissi Dance entered into Indo-Chinese Movie The Desire under the choreography of Guru Ratikant Mohapatra. thumb
Early life
He was born to Guru Padma VibhushanKelucharan Mohapatra and Mrs. Laxmipriya Mohapatra on 24 December 1965. He improvised on his own natural talents and inclination towards dance and music at an early age. Trained by the Maestro in the art of Odissi and Mardala, Ratikant did not spare any efforts to emerge as a leading male dancer and distinguished choreographer by the time he was in his early twenties. Guru Ratikant Mohapatra is married to Sujata Mohapatra who is a dancer and Odissi exponent. He has a daughter, Preetisha Mohapatra with her.
Invited by the ministry of Human Resource Development, Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India as an expert committee member to select the candidates under the scheme of "Scholarship to young artists in different cultural forms."
Barabati Nrutyotsav, Cuttack, awarded "Honour of Adore" for the best performance in Dashanana ballet in 2003.
Honoured by Indian Performing Arts Promotion Inc., Washington Dc, USA for the valued contribution in Odissi dance in 2003.
Honoured with the National Award "Pride of India" by Chinta-O-Chetna, Bhubaneswar 2004.
Honoured with "Sanjukta Panigrahi Samman" by Sanjukta Panigrahi Memorial Trust, Bhubaneswar, 2005.
Honoured with "Nrutya Bhushan" by International Dance & Theatre Festival 2005 at Cuttack.
Honoured with "Nritya Shiromani" by Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangh at Cuttack, 2010.
Honoured with "Nrutya Bharati Samman 2010" by Sangeet Sudhakar Smruti Sansad at Bhubaneswar, 2011.
Created with his choreography the Gunnies Book of World Records with 555 Odissi Dancers, a large number of them belonging to foreign countries, performed in unison at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar during the International Odissi dance Festival 2011, Jointly organized by IPAP, USA, Dept. of Culture & Tourism, Govt. of Odisha.
Honoured with "Ka Sanskruti Samman 2011" by Shraddha Suman Creative Arts, New Delhi.
Honoured with "Vysakhi Excellence Award 2012" by Natraj Music Dance Academy, Visakhapatnam.
Honored with "IDC Award of Excellence-2012" by International Dance Congress, Bhubaneswar.
Honored with "Manana Award 2013 for his long standing contribution to Odissi Dance as a Choreographer, Teacher, Performer and a Mardala player" by Manana Natya Sanstha, Bhubaneswar
Honored with “SKGS Diamond Jubilee Nritya Choodamani 2014” by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai.
Honored with prestigious "Sangeet Natak Akademi Award" for Odissi Dance for the year 2016
Performances
Some major performances staged by Ratikant Mohapatra are: France- Festival of India and International Mime Festival; Germany- Festival of India and Autumn Festival; Japan - Festival of India; Russia- Festival of India; United Kingdom- Festival of India, Sanskritik Festival; Canada- Society of Fine Arts & Dance Academy of Ms Meneka Thakkar; Hong Kong- Vrundavan Dance & Music Academy of Pdt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia; Dubai- Sponsored Programmes; USA- 70th International Birth Anniversary Celebration of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra in 1996, India Festival, Sponsored programs; Australia- ICCR Cultural Delegate & Sponsored programmes.
