Dhaneswar Swain (Odia: ଧନେଶ୍ୱର ସ୍ୱାଇଁ, romanized: Dhaneswara Swāin; born May 18, 1953) is an exponent and Guru of the Odissi Mardala, the traditional percussion instrument of Odissi music. He is known for his rhythmic compositions and fingering techniques, as well as his efforts to promote solo Mardala recitals and group presentations combining traditional percussive instruments from Odisha.[1][2] He founded Vadya Vani Gurukula, an institution for training and research in Odissi Mardala, and other traditional Odisha percussion instruments.[3][4]
Born in the village of Nahantara in the Puri district of Odisha to Sambhunatha Swain and Kanchana Swain, he received his initial training in the Mardala from his elder brother Bhramabara Swain. He joined the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya in 1970 and trained under renowned Gurus Singhari Shyamsundar Kar and Banamali Maharana. He also learned from Guru Mahadev Rout.[5] After working with the renowned Odissi danseuse Sonal Mansingh for a year, in 1979, he joined the Mahavidyalaya as a Mardala teacher and worked there for over three decades.[3] After retirement, he is engaged in teaching students at the Ramhari Das Odissi Gurukula, Biragobindapur, Puri district.[2] Through SPIC MACAY, Guru Swain has taken Odissi Mardala to many educational institutions across the country.
Swain is known for his pioneering efforts in order to present the Mardala as a solo instrument in its own right.[6] He has given Mardala recitals at various prestigious 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.[1] He is an A-grade artist for Doordarshan and All India Radio.
He 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. He 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.[1] Apart from this, a CD of his rhythmic compositions titled Vadya Vani, comprising three traditional instruments of Odisha namely Mardala, Mrudanga and Khanjani, has received appreciation from connoisseurs of tala. He has published research articles and conducted several workshops on the Mardala.[1][3][7]
He has been honored for his work with the title Badyashree conferred by the Utkal Sahitya Kala Parishad in 1999.[citation needed]
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