Alokananda Roy, a celebrated Indian classical dancer, choreographer, trainer, social reformer, dance educationist and therapist, began her journey as an uninhibited and ambition-less dancer, who did not accept remunerated stage performances until she started her social initiatives in 2000.
Formally trained in Bharat Natyam and Odissi, she is best known for her innovative dancing styles and creative stage productions. Her formal training also included A Diploma in Rabindra Sangeet from Dakshinee, A Diploma in pianoforte from Trinity College London, and intensive training in Classical Ballet, Russian Style from Calcutta School of Music
A gold medalist from Sikshayatan College, she bagged the title of Miss Calcutta, and finally became Femina Miss India first runner up in 1969. She has also been ‘A’ category artist of Doordarshan since 1976.
Designing, Choreography & Presentation of mega dance-drama productions and dance recitals in Indian classical, neo classical and folk dance forms, Ms. Roy still finds time to train boys and girls at her institution ‘Chandanaloke’.
Amidst all her work she remained conscious of her social responsibilities and always aspired to give every individual a fair chance in life. That made her initiate Inspiration Foundation, an initiative that trained under-privileged children in dance, music, recitations and art.
Ms. Roy has been associated in social reforms through dance therapy in West Bengal Correctional Homes; an initiative to reform, realign and rehabilitate convicts in the state correctional homes, since 2007. For the same purpose in 2010 she conceptualized and formed ‘Touch World’, a non-profit seeking organization for reform and rehabilitation of prisoners and their families. The organization is also providing care and education to the children of the inmates of the Alipore Women’s Correctional Home. Recently she has started training juvenile offenders in dance therapy for realigning of their lives.
She has extended her ability to unwind with the help of music and dance to the keepers of peace and law and order as well. She has choreographed for the Kolkata Police a few times since 2013. Also she has choreographed a unique dance presentation with the BSF Jawans and the BGB Jawans of Bangladesh, which was performed at the Indo-Bangladesh border.
She is also using dance as a therapy for specially-abled children and for Parkinson’s disease patients and it is showing a marked effect.
She has started two new initiatives in 2019, dance therapy for the transgender community and for the Acid Attack Survivors of West Bengal.
Ms. Roy has been the Brand Ambassador of Parkinson’s Diseases Patients’ Welfare Society, Dignity Foundation, Unmeesh – a center for specially-abled children, Save The Children and Mother and Child Project – Kolkata chapter. She has traveled to Japan with under-privileged children five times from 2002-07. She has been the speaker for Ted X, Josh Talks, IIM, IIT, JNU, Jadavpur University, Rabindra Bharati University, Viswa Bharati, Shantiniketan, Shakespeare in Prison Conference, USA, and other renowned institutions. She has held dance workshop with the prisoners at Walden House, Los Angeles.
As a performing artist and social reformer, Ms. Roy has received a wide number of prestigious awards. She received the highest State Award, ‘Bongo Bibhushan’ in 2014. Among the numerous others are, West Bengal ‘State Acdemy Award’, ‘Bharat Nirman’, ‘True Legend’ by The Telegraph and ‘Devi Award’ and ‘SHE Award’. She is an Honorary citizen of New York City and Clarksville, U.S.A. She was awarded Honorary D.Litt from Diamond Harbor Women’s University, West Bengal.
She has been honored by the Indian Postal Service, as they released, in 2019, Collector’s Edition ‘Alakananda Roy Personal Postage Stamp’ and a Special Cover, featuring Tagore’s ‘Balmiki Pratibha’ performed by the inmates, in honor of ‘Love Therapy’, the Correctional Home project.
An award winning (Golden Gate, San Fransisco 2009, Strasbourgh International Documentary Festival 2009 and International Short Film Festival Of India 2010) documentary named ‘Jail’ ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFn_X2bRB_g ) was made on the unique work of Ms. Roy, by renowned documentary film maker Mr. Abhijit Dasgupta.
On 25th March 2021, on Ms. Roy’s birthday, a book was published on herself and her work, written by Mr. Sujit Bhar, executive editor, Leagal Journal, named ‘In Search Of A Valmiki : The story of India’s overcrowded Jails and a Movement called Alokananda Roy’.
The reward she treasures most however is the unconditional love of the millions that she has received and is still receiving. Her sole expectation from the society is understanding, compassion, forgiveness and empathy for the less fortunate.
Link to video about her work with Indian prisoners:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OspzzO7gAiw&t=30s
Link to her website: https://alokanandaroy.com
