13 Facts About Dhaneswar Swain

Dhaneswar Swain is an exponent and Guru of the Odissi Mardala, the traditional percussion instrument of Odissi music.

Dhaneswar Swain founded Vadya Vani Gurukula, an institution for training and research in Odissi Mardala and other traditional Odisha percussion instruments.

Dhaneswar Swain was born in the village of Nahantara in the Puri district of Odisha to Sambhunatha Swain and Kanchana Swain.

Dhaneswar Swain received his initial training in the Mardala from his elder brother, Bhramabara Swain.

Dhaneswar Swain joined the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya in 1970 and trained under Gurus Singhari Shyamsundar Kar and Banamali Maharana.

Dhaneswar Swain has accompanied Odissi music recitals and Odissi dancers since the 1980s, traveling as the primary percussionist and performing all over India and in the United States, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Finland, China, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Jordan, Israel, and Dubai.

Dhaneswar Swain is known for his pioneering efforts to present the Mardala as a solo instrument in its own right.

Dhaneswar Swain has given Mardala recitals at various forums across the country, such as the Rajarani music festival, Konarka Natyamandap, Sankat Mochan Festival, Haridas Sangeet Samaroh, All India Radio Sangeet Sammelan, and Sangeet Sandhya at the India Habitat Centre.

Dhaneswar Swain is known for his rhythm compositions for Odissi dance and has created music for a number of choreographic works such as Panchadeva Stuti, Dasamahavidya, Yuge Yuge Jagannatha, Sristi o Pralaya, Sapta Tala, Mana Madhuri, Gita Govinda, Tala Madhurya, Sabda Nrutya, Abartana Bibartana, Badya Madhuri, Jagyansenu, Varsha Abhisara, Krupanidhana, etc.

Dhaneswar Swain has composed the rhythm for multiple pallavis such as Kamodi, Kedara Kamodi, Mukhari, Debagandhari, Chandrika Kamodi, Anandabhairabi, Sankarabharana, Madhyamadi, Arabhi, Bakulabharana, Hansakalyani, Hansadhwani, Khambaja, Ragesri, Bajrakanti, etc.

Dhaneswar Swain has published research articles and conducted several workshops on the Mardala.

Dhaneswar Swain has been honored for his work with the title Badyashree conferred by the Utkal Sahitya Kala Parishad in 1999.

Dhaneswar Swain is presently authoring a book on Mardala, soon to be published.