Training in Dance and Movement
Ronita Mookerji began her training in Bharatanatyam at the age of five in Kolkata. She completed her Arangetram in 2007 and continues to train in the form. She also trained in Odissi for two years under Guru Alokananda Roy.
Ronita Mookerji performs “Amorphous” in 2017.
After more than 18 years of training in Bharatanatyam, Ronita moved from Kolkata to Bengaluru in 2008 to pursue contemporary dance. In 2009, she graduated with Honours from Attakkalari’s Diploma in Movement Arts and Mixed Media. The programme included intensive training in Kalarippayattu, Bharatanatyam, Classical Ballet, Contact Improvisation and Contemporary Dance.
She has also explored Jazz, Pilates, Kathak and Light Design through shorter-term modules.
In 2009, Ronita joined the Attakkalari Repertory, where she continued her training and professional development through workshops and modules with visiting international artists. These included Hip Hop with Storm (Germany), floor work with Kama Jezierska (Poland/Iceland), Flying Low Technique with Vangelis Legakis (Greece/UK), contemporary dance with Richard Siegal (USA/Germany/France), and contemporary techniques with James Mac-Gillivray and Kayleigh Ann Crook from London.
As a member of the Attakkalari Repertory, Ronita worked as a senior dancer, instructor and choreographer, performing across India in productions, cultural events, corporate launches and large-scale gatherings, including events for Robert Bosch, the All-India Science Meeting, State Bank of India Annual Day and Global Health Meetings.
Ronita continues to work as an independent choreographer, performer, movement educator and interdisciplinary artist, developing projects that bring together embodied research, cultural exchange and contemporary performance.
Yoga Practice
Ronita’s journey with Yoga began at the age of four in Kolkata, running parallel to her Bharatanatyam training throughout her childhood and youth. When she began dancing professionally in 2009, her long-standing yoga practice became an important foundation for understanding the relationship between breath, movement, strength, release and muscular control.
Ronita regularly offers 1-on-1 yoga sessions for personalised attention and detailed instruction. She also offers workshops.
Yoga continues to be an integral part of her physical and artistic practice. She furthered her studies by completing a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Programme at A1000 Yoga Institute, Bengaluru, in 2016, with certification from Yoga Alliance.
Her understanding of yoga has also informed her approach to contemporary dance, particularly her exploration of breath, dynamic movement, stillness, alignment and the relationship between subtle and powerful physical expression.
In 2018, Ronita conducted a workshop titled “Yoga in Contemporary Dance” as part of The Yoga Affair (Summer Edition) at Swabhumi Heritage, Kolkata. The event was sponsored by The Telegraph and T2 Kolkata and brought together more than 150 participants.
She is also a Level 1 Certified Animal Flow Instructor, further expanding her practice in functional movement, mobility and body conditioning. She offers Animal Flow in short workshop modules, and incorporates it into her contemporary dance classes.
