Odissi is a Indian classical dance form, which emerged in the eastern state of Orissa. It is a dance form which is about 2000 years old. Modern Odissi dance is a modification of the traditional form of the dance, as it was on the verge of extinction during the colonial period. Three categorical schools of Odissi are popular, they include: Gotipua Style(popularized by the women dancers who served the deities in the temples Mahari Style(popularized [...]
Shrimati Kumkum Mohanty is a world famous Odissi dancer. She has received training under Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra at Kala Vikash Kendra. Her contribution to the field of Odissi dance has been vast and praiseworthy. Kumkum Mohanty has been honoured with the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1994. As a child, Kumkum Mohanty was an exceptional dancer. A serious student of Kelucharan Mohapatra, Kumkum Mohanty grew up as an outstanding dancer, dedicated to the dance form [...]
The doyen of Odissi, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra was born on January 8, 1926 in Raghurajpur, Orissa. Kelucharan was a precocious child, he learnt to paint, sculpt and play the Khol drum at a very early age. He joined Gotipua troupes and folk theater groups when he was just nine. He was totally immersed in Odissi. He resurrected odissi when it was at the verge of extinction. In 1994 he set up an organisation, ‘Srjan’ to [...]
‘Dance for the Lord’ is Odissi’s tradition. Sanjukta Panigrahi, the legendary Odissi dancer maintained this custom all through her life. The dedicated dancer played a pivotal role in reviving the Odissi dance form in India and popularizing it in abroad. She was given the title Padmashri by the Government of India in recognition of her priceless contribution to Indian dance. She was also awarded the Sangeet Kala Academy Award. Sanjukta Panigrahi was born on 24.08.44 [...]
Sonal Mansingh is one of the leading exponents of Odissi and is a well known social activist, thinker researcher, orator, choreographer and teacher. Besides Odissi, she is also the master of Bharatnatyam. Born into an open minded family, Sonal took to dance professionally from 1962 onwards. She took training in Bharatnatyam under Prof. U.S. Krishna Rao and Chandrabhaga Devi. She learnt Odissi from various renowned gurus. This world known dancer is also a trained Hindustani [...]
