Labonee Mohanta, disciple of the late Kathak maestro Pandit Chitresh Das,  began her training at the early age of 8. She is now a prominent solo artist, regularly performing Kathak concerts to great acclaim throughout the United States, Canada, India, and Europe. Labonee is renowned for dynamism in her dance, fiery footwork, subtlety and grace in movement, and performing some of the fastest pirouettes in the field of Indian dance today.  She also employs the technique “Kathak Yoga” where she simultaneously sings the rhythmic cycle, dances complex mathematical patterns, and plays an instrument at the same time.

Labonee has been presented at major festivals such as the Chetla Murari Sangeet Sammelan in Kolkata, North American Bengali Conference in San Francisco and Toronto, and the New York Kathak Festival in New York City.  She also collaborates with musicians around the world, including most recently with Oliver Rajamani’s ‘Flamenco India’ presented at Austin City Limits and ‘For the Love of Tabla’ presented at Harbourfront Centre Theatre, Toronto.  Previously, Labonee toured extensively with Chitresh Das Dance Company and served as center director and senior teacher at her Guru’s institution for many years.   Labonee also teaches workshops internationally, including in India, USA, France, and Ireland.

Labonee is the Artistic Director of Lavanya Academy of Indian Arts in California, where she trains her dance company and teaches 60 students in 3 locations in the Bay Area.  She has also performed and choreographed for Toronto Tabla Ensemble (TTE) in North America numerous times with her dance and choreography featured in music videos and short films.  She choreographed for and was featured in award-winning music videos such as “Faceoff” and “Prayer for the Mother”, which have gained international recognition as best short film as well as best song in World Music, and more recently choreographed for and stars in the dance drama short film “Sare Saath: A Kathak Tale of Courage.” 

As a second generation Indian based in America, she plays a significant role in preserving the cultural heritage of India in the East and spreading these values in the West.  Through her work she continues the mission of promoting, educating, and thus preserving the rich heritage of Kathak.