Rabindra Sangeet – Smt. Kamalpriya Roy

Kamalpriya Roy (kamroy292@gmail.com) Born and grown up in the open, natural and cultural environment of Santiniketan, Smt. Kamalpriya Roy earned her Masters degree in Sanskrit from the University of Visva-Bharati at Santiniketan. She learned Rabindra Sangeet under the tutelage of one of the most authentic and renowned teachers of Rabindra Sangeet, the late Prof. Nilima Sen. Ever since, Rabindra Sangeet and Rabindranath’s dance-dramas and literature became her passion.

Experience

Regularly offering Rabindra Sangeet lessons for adults at the HDBS Kala Bhavan since August 2011 with strict adherence to Swarabitan to maintain the authenticity of the songs
Taught Rabindra Sangeet and Rabindra dances in the Rampurhat Girls’ High School and Panchshua High School (near Santiniketan), Birbhum during 1984 – 1986
Directed, choreographed and performed Rabindra Sangeet and dance-dramas, e.g. Chandalika, Shyama and Chitrangada from 1980 to 1987 in different cities of India
Instructed the students of the old Bangla Pathshala of Houston for songs and dances during 2001-2003.

Accompishments

One of the most celebrated and authentic Rabindra Sangeet singers, and teachers in the Houston area – more than 25 years of teaching experience in Rabindra Sangeet

Rendered the overall music direction and taught Rabindra Sangeet for a group of 35 participants for the program “Bandhan Bhangar Sadhaney Rabi” for the 2012 Durga Pujo which was highly acclaimed by the audiences

Orchestrated the overall music direction and taught the songs from dance-drama Chitrangada for the participants on Tagore’s sesquicentennial birth anniversary celebrated by the Tagore Society of Houston (TSH) in 2011

Undertook the lead role for the Rabindra Sangeet segment of Saptasura at the HDBS Durga Pujo 2010

Undertook the lead role for the Tagore Musical soire for the Kali Pujo night (2010) at Durgabari where the celebrities Partha and Gouri Ghosh participated in recitation

Extensively performed songs and dances in many cities of India , UK and US, e.g. Santiniketan, Kolkata (Rabindra Sadan, Academy of Fine Arts and Belvedere Gardens), Durgapur, Asansole, New Delhi (Kamani Auditorium), Peterborough (UK), Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, South Jersey and Houston

Directed and choreographed the “Shapmochon”, one of the finest dance-dramas of Tagore in Houston in 1996. This dance-drama had a participation of more than thirty (30) singers, dancers and musicians from within the community

While instructed for the old Bangla Pathshala of Houston for songs and dances during 2001-2003, the school received the best award for performance among the 27 groups of competitors for the Indian Independence Day Celebration in 2002.

Education

Master of Arts with 1st class in Sanskrit from Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, India in 1981.
Trained in Rabindra Sangeet under tutelage of the late renowned Prof. Nilima Sen in Santiniketan – placed 1st in her class of Rabindra Sangeet in 1978
Trained by Prof. Sankarnarayanji in Bharat Natyam and Kathakoli in Visva-Bharati during 1980 – 1982
Trained by Prof. Madhab Mukherjee in Monipuri dance in Visva-Bharati during 1980 – 1982
Placed 1st in Kathakali and Monipuri categories of dance

Personal

Lively, self-motivated, strong sense of responsibility, energetic, highly enthusiastic and equally sociable with children and adults
Effective leadership role, proactive attitude and good teamwork
Believe in the philosophy of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore