Dancer Anannya Mahanta brings Sattriya Dance to the Jesus College, University of Oxford, for the first time

The historic halls of Jesus College, University of Oxford, resonated with the rhythm, grace, and spiritual profundity of Sattriya — one of India’s eight classical dance traditions — during a mesmerising lecture-cum-dance demonstration titled “Echoes from the Monasteries: The World of Sattriya Dance.” The evening marked a momentous occasion, as it was the first-ever presentation of Sattriya Dance within the precincts of Jesus College under the University of Oxford.

The session was led by Anannya Mahanta, a 29-year-old professional Sattriya dancer and movement artist presently based in London, United Kingdom. With an illustrious career spanning over twenty-five years, Mahanta has dedicated her life to the study, performance, and preservation of this centuries-old monastic art form, which originated in the Vaishnavite monasteries (Sattras) of Assam under the visionary saint-scholar Srimanta Sankardeva. Through a seamless blend of erudite commentary and expressive movement, Mahanta guided the audience — comprising students, scholars, and art connoisseurs — into the intricate world of Sattriya’s vocabulary and philosophy.

The session unfolded with a detailed exploration of the dance’s foundational grammar, including Mati Akhora (ground exercises symbolising discipline and physical control), Nava Rasas (the nine emotional states central to Indian aesthetics), Bhoriman (leg movements conveying rhythm and precision), and Hastas (codified hand gestures used in storytelling). Mahanta’s lucid explanations were interspersed with illustrative demonstrations, transforming the academic lecture into a living dialogue between tradition and contemporary understanding. 

The presentation culminated in three evocative performance pieces, each revealing a distinct facet of the Sattriya idiom — from its devotional fervour and narrative depth to its refined aesthetic vocabulary. Every movement, gesture, and expression carried within it the resonance of a spiritual heritage that continues to inspire devotion and introspection even in modern times. 

The event was jointly organised by the Oxford Hindu Society and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and graciously hosted by Jesus College at the Habakkuk Room. The audience was left spellbound by Mahanta’s artistry, which seamlessly merged the sacred and the scholarly.

The evening concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Abhiraj Singh, President of the Oxford Hindu Society, who remarked, “It was a beautiful experience to witness Sattriya Dance for the first time here. Anannya carried the entire hour-long session with such grace, passion, and devotion. I wish her all the best in her future endeavours.”

Mahanta’s performance and insightful exposition earned resounding appreciation for illuminating the spiritual and cultural essence of Sattriya within an academic setting. Her initiative served as a cultural bridge between India’s monastic dance traditions and global audiences, reaffirming the relevance of classical arts in contemporary discourse.

An accomplished artist, Mahanta holds double diplomas in Sattriya Dance, is a certified artist under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and an artistic member of One Dance UK, the national body for dance in the United Kingdom.

Her ongoing work seeks to reinterpret traditional forms through a global lens while remaining deeply rooted in the spiritual ethos of her heritage. The evening at Oxford thus stood not merely as a performance, but as an act of cultural dialogue — a celebration of art, scholarship, and spirituality converging within one of the world’s most esteemed academic institutions.