Vishnu Tattva Das

Vishnu Tattva Das is a dedicated artist who has devoted himself to perfecting the art of Odissi. Vishnu began his training in dance with Smt. Jhelum Paranjape, director of Smitalay Dance Company in Mumbai, India. He then traveled to Orissa for intensive studies with Padmavibhusan Kelecharan Mohapatra at the Odissi Research Center in Bhubaneshwar.

Vishnu is recongnized as one of India's prominent male Odissi dancers and choreographer, and has received acclaim for his performances throughout Inda, Italy, Canada, and the U.S. He has presented hundred of solo performances, lecture-demonstrations, and master classes. He has also collaborated, choreographed and performed with many dance artists in India and the U.S.


Vishnu brings to his chosen art form a vision of beauty, refinement, grace and spirituality, imbued with a divine inspiration, which permeates each step of his dance.


Vishnu Tattva Das is the founder-director of Odissi Vilas; Sacred Dance of India, formally known as Sri-Krishnasraya, and is founding member of Kala Sri Sangha, a group of professional Odissi dancers in the San Francisco Bay Area whose interest is to collectively promote Odissi Dance.

Odissi Vilas
Knights of Columbus Hall 167 Tunstead
San Anselmo, CA USA Phone - (707) 537-7652

It is the mission of Odissi Vilas to preserve the cultural heritage, to cultivate respect for, to promote and educate the public on Odissi performing, visual and literary arts.


As part of this vision, Odissi Vilas provides an instructional center for the performing arts in the Odissi style of Indian classical dance, as well as offering high caliber dance events. Annually Odissi Vilas brings artists from India to join them in their effort to promote and perfect this art form. They offer an inspiring, educational and instructive website which includes a gallery of bhakti devotional art created by their soloist and artistic director, Vishnu Tattva Das. In the future Odissi Vilas plans to collaborate on Bhakti publications and to offer an online store which will include books, instructional dvds, Odissi music and more.

It is their dream to share this sacred dance form with the community and the world; to build cultural bridges between diverse groups of people, to keep the art form alive for future generations, and to nourish the human spirit.


Odissi Vilas strives to enrich artists and spectators alike with a taste of Rasa, the inherent essence of all the arts of India.

Vishnu Tattva Das may be reached at vtdas@hotmail.com

Suprava Ravinarayan Mishra

Smt. Suprava Ravinarayan Mishra is a dancer, guru, choreographer & writer and Sr. Sub-Divisional Engineer, with an MBA who hails from Gujarat, India. Suprava started learning Odissi Classical Dance at the age of 6. She completed the Visharad in Odissi Classical Dance in 1987 and then the Alankar in year 2004.

As a performer she has performed her dance all over India and is a graded artist of Door-darshan Kendra Cuttack, Bhubaneshwar, Ahemdabad. She has given a number of dance performances in DDK and other orivate TV channels. She is the founder and Director of AUM ARTS DANCE ACADEMY as well as the author of " Bharatiya Nritya".

Aum Arts Dance Academy was established in 1995 and has conducted dance shows like `Glimpses of Indian Classical Dances' in 1995, 'Shiv Shakti Upasana' in 1996,' 'A Journey Through Indian Classical Dances' in 1997, `Shri Geet Govinda' in 1999,' 'Odissi An Introduction' in 2000, and 'Nrityanjali'. Aum also held a charity show for the earth quake victims of Gujarat in 2001 and raised and donated Rs.25000 to earthquack victims. Aum organized a programme on 29th April 2002 to observe `World Dance Day' and invited Guru Shri Ravindra Attibudhi (Mumbai) for a program and a 15 day Summer workshop. Aum Arts Dance academy also conducted a 7 day Odissi dance summer workshop by the renowned Guru Shri Gangadhar Pradhan in 2003, giving a stage show named " Guru Shishya Parampara."

Qualification in Dance :-ALANKAR in ODISSI DANCE

from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya

Mandal,Mumbai.

B. Advance Training in Dance

-Padma Vibhusana Shri

=Kelucharan Mohapatra.
-Guru Shri Gangadhar Pradhan
-Guru Pandit Shri Rabindra Attibudhi

6. Faculty of Dance:- Odissi Classical Dance.

7. Any Award by state Academy/Kendriya Academy :

1. Special Jury award at All India Telecom Cultural Meet -1992 at Hyderabad.

2. "Sangeet Alankar" award by Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal,

Miraj in 2003.

3. Felicited by Pujyabhaishree Ramesh bhai Oza on the occasion of Navratri Anusthan at Porbandar in 2002.

4. Felicitated by Pujya Morari Bapu on the occasion of Lokarpan of the "Bharatiya

Nritya" book written by Suprava Mishra on 19^th March 2005.

5. Felicitated by "Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parisad ,Rajkot Chapter" for the Book

"Bharatiya Nritya".

8. Activity during Year 2006-2007

(1)Performed at 3^rd International Odissi Festival at Bhubaneswar on28-12-2006.

(2)Manch Pravesh of Kum. Hirna Trivedi & Kum Puja trivedi held on 4-2-06 at

Hemugadhvi hall Rajkot.They are students of Aum Arts Dance Academy.

(3)Smt. Suprava Mishra and Student of AUM ARTS DANCE ACADEMY perform at

"Virani bahera & Munga School" Rajkot on 26-4-07, a part of celebration of

World Dance Day.

(4)Student of AUM ARTS DANCE ACADEMY, Kum Chhaya Vaid completed her

Alankar in Odissi dance in first division..

(5)Student of AUM ARTS DANCE ACADEMY, Kum Hirna Trivedi was selected for

Rastriya Yuva Utsav Which Held at Patna.

(6) Currently more than 30 Student are learning Odissi Dance under Suprava Mishra

and 2 student Kum. Dhairvi Anjariya & Kum. Shraddha Bhatt has completed

Alankar Pratham in Odissi Dance.

(7) Aum arts celebrate the monsoon by giving a performance on the theme Rainy

season on 17-7-2007.

(8) Students of Aum arts Dance Academy give Lecture demonstration at the famous Rajkumar college on 2-3-2007.

(9) 10 days Odissi dance workshop is conducted in collaboration with Pooja hubby center Rajkot from 20-4-07 to 29-4-07 where 15 girls & 10 boys are participated.

(11)More than 15 Lecture & demonstrations of Odissi dance were given in School & colleges of Rajkot for creating awareness of our culture.

(12)Smt. Suprava Mishra and Student of AUM ARTS DANCE ACADEMY perform at

`Nrutya Sandya' for 3 Day classical dance Festival which held at S.N.Kansagra

School Rajkot from 23-1-07 to 25-1-07.

International performance :–

Performed at 3^rd International Odissi Festval at Bhubaneswar , Orissa,India Organised by IPAP U.S.A. from 26-30 December.

National performance :-

1.Performance of Smt. Suprava Mishra at 4^th Barabati Nrutyotsaba ( National

Classical & FolkDance Festival) at Katak on 21^st Dec 2004.

2 .Represent Gujarat & Orissa in All India Telecom Cultural meet at

Hyderabad in 1992, Delhi in 1992, Calcutta in 1995, Madras in 1996 and

got First & Second Prizes.

3. Performed in Natya Mahotsava Ahmedabad conducted by Gujarat Sangeet

Natak Academy in 1996.

4. Performed in Acharya Brihaspati Sammelan conducted by Sur singar

Samsad Mumbai in1999.

5.Performed in All India Music Teacher's Conference at cuttack in 1980.

State performance :

1. At Darpana Academy of performing Arts, Ahmedabad both solo & group performances in 1998 &1999.

2. Performed in the Silver Jublee Celebration at Punitachari Ashram

Junagarh in 2000.

3. Give lec-demo at Faculty of performing arts, M.S University Varoda

on 3^rd march-2004.

4. Performed at Sri Dwarkadhis mandir, Dwaraka on 21^st jun-04.

5. Performed in `Mele Sur Mera Tumhara' organised by Rajkot Municipal

corporation in 1992.

PEFORMANCE

1. Performed in Door-darshan Kendra cuttack as a child artist in 1979.

2. Get the Best Dancer Award from her School in 1983.

3. Get the first prize in Odissi Dance competition from the Maitri Sarani

in collaboration with U.S.S.R. in 1983.

4. Performed in Orissa Day Celebration at cuttack organised by Orissa

Government in the year 1984,1985,1987,1989,1990,1991.

5. Perfomed in Orissa Day Celebration at F.C.I. Talcher in 1986.

6. Performed in All India Music Teacher's Conference at cuttack in 1980.

7. Graded Artist of Door-darshan Kendra Cuttack&Ahmedabad. Performed

Dance Drama –Shri Krishna Rasalila in 1996, Shri Geet Govinda in

1999 ,'Nrityanjali'in 2001 at DDK Rajkot.Performed Solo performances at

DDK Ahmedabad,Cuttack,Rajkot& Bhubaneswar.

8. Rendered service as a member in judges panel at Rastriya Yuva Utsav

held at Gujarat(Ahmedabad) in 2000.

9 .Represent Gujarat & Orissa in All India Telecom Cultural meet at

Hyderabad in 1992, Delhi in 1992, Calcutta in 1995, Madras in 1996 and

got First & Second Prizes.

10. Performed in Natya Mahotsava Ahmedabad conducted by Gujarat Sangeet

Natak Academy in 1996,in Acharya Brihaspati Sammelan conducted by Sur

Singar Samsad,Mumbai in 1999,at Darpana Academy of performing Arts

Both solo & group performances in 1998 &1999.

11. Performed in the Silver Jublee Celebration at Punitachari Ashram

Junagarh in 2000.

12. Performed in `Mele Sur Mera Tumhara' organised by Rajkot Municipal

corporation in 1992.

13. Dance drama `Tatra Ramyashu Nayika' based on leturature of great poet

Kalidas is presented at Adwet Foundation, Ahemdabad on 31^st Dec 2000.

In this Dance drama six nayika is taken from Meghdutamm, Raghuvansam,

Kumarshabhavam, Mallvika-Aganimitram, Vikram-Urvasham, Shakuntalam

14. Give Lecture Demonstration at Dholakia College of Music, Sihor in Dec-

2001 and at Kalakhetra – Bhavnagar in Oct-2002.

15. Performed at Sandipani Ashram of Porbander on the occasion of Navaratri

Anusthan organiged by Bhaishri Ramesh Bhai Oza on 10-10-2002.

16. Give lecture demonstration at Central School Rajkot at the All India central

school teacher's conference on 15^th Jun-2003.

17. Give lecture demonstration at the famous Rajkumar college,Rajkot on 16^th

July-03.

18. Performed in 150 year celebration of Ramkrishna Ashram at S.N. K.

school in 24,25 & 26 jan-2004.

19. Give lecture demonstration at Kadhvibhai Virani kanya Vidyalaya

on 2^nd feb-2004.

20. Give lec-demo at Faculty of performing arts, M.S University Varada

on 3^rd march-2004.

21. Performed at Sri Dwarkadhis mandir, Dwaraka on 21^st jun-04.

22. Recognized examiner of the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Mandal,

Mumbai.

23.Performance of Smt. Suprava Mishra at 4^th Barabati Nrutyotsaba ( National

Classical & FolkDance Festival) at Katak on 21^st Dec 2004.

Aum Arts Dance Academy

1. Established in 1995 Aum Arts Conducted dance shows like `Glimpses of

Indian Classical Dances' in 1995,'Shiv Shakti Upasana' in 1996,'A

Journey Through Indian Classical Dances' in 1997, Dance Drama `Shri

Geet Govinda' in 1999,'Odissi An Introduction' in 2000, 'Nrityanjali' A

Charity show for the Earth quake victims of Gujarat in 2001 and donated

Rs.25000/- to earthquack victims.Organised Programme on 29^th April 2002 to

observed `World Dance Day' and invited Guru Shri Ravindra Attibudhi

(Mumbai) for programme and for Summer workshop of 15 Days from 28^th April

to 12^th May 2002.

2. Aum arts dance academy conduct odissi dance summer workshop by the

renowned Guru Shri Gangadhar Pradhan for 7 days from 28^th may 2003

to 3^rd Jun-03 and also a give a stage show named " Guru Shishya Parampara."

3. Aum Arts conduct Summer Workshops in May/Jun and Winter Workshop in Nov/dec every Year Since 1995. Residential accommodation is provided on first come first Basis.

4.Aum Arts also conduct regular batches from Prarambhik to Vishrad and the .

students will got the degree from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mandal, Mumbai.

5.Aum Arts conducted more than 100 Seminars, Lecture & Demonstrations in

schools and colleges for development of classical dance and enrich knowledge of

students about Indian heritage and culture. Aum Arts also organised Stage

Performances and Theme based dance Ballets for charity purpose for earthquake

victims of Bhuj, Gujarat in 2001.

6.Documentary was prepared on shortage of water and saving of water in

collaboration with Saurastra Lok Munch Trust for creating awareness in rural are

of India. Documentary was shown in southern and eastern part of India and widely

appreciated by people of rural India in 1997.

7.Special report about Aum Arts Dance Academy is taken by `attendance' in their

year book 2001 regarding Charity Show organized on 2^nd march 2002.

8.Ms. Dhairavi Anjariya student of AUM ARTS Dance Academy got the first prize

in state youth competetion held at Rajkot and selected to represent Gujarat state

in Rastriya Yuva Utsav which is organized from 12^th Jan 2002 to 16^th Jan 2002 at

Hisar of Hariyana and also represent Gujarat in Rastriya Yuva Utsav 2003 at

Trivendrum.

9.Giving Lecture Demonstration for teacher and students conducted by C.C.R.T.

New Delhi.

10.Ms Aparna Chandarana student of this Academy become the first odissi dancer

To get the Kal ke Kalakar Award in 2004 organised by Gujarat sangget Natak

Academy and she also represent Gujarat in Rastriya yuva Mahotsav-2004 at

Jamsedpur.

11.Performed at Balashram Pobandar in the Diamond jubilee celebration. In Oct-

2003.

Articles

1. 'The role of Indian Classical Dances in Education' published in Web-site

Art India.Net in 2001.

2. Role of art in human life in 1996.

3. Articles published about Nrutya and Lok sangeet in Sancharika Bi-Monthly

Magazine regularly till 1999.

4. Origin of classical dance in India in 1998.

5. History of Odissi dance and Mahari Nrutya with reference to Jagannath

Culture in 2000.

6. Sringar Rasa in Odissi Dance in Global Era & 21^st century in Web-site

Art India Net in 2002.

7. The temple architecture of Gujarat and its relation to Indian Classical dance in 2003.

8. A book in Hindi named " Bharatiya Nritya" wriiten by Smt Suprava Mishra and

published by Praveen Pustak Bhandar Rajkot and released on 19-3-2005 by Prakhar

Ramayani Morari Bapu at Hemugadhwi Hall Rajkot.

Articles are published in newspapers and available on the Internet at www.nartaki.com , www.odissidance.com and www.artindia.com.

Smt. Suprava Ravinarayan Mishra may be reached at supravamishra@yahoo.com

Dance Gurus:-
A. Initial Training in Dance -Guru Shri Raghunath Datta
-Guru Shri Harihara Mohanty
B. Advance Training in Dance
-Padma Vibhusana Shri Kelucharan Mohapatra.
-Guru Shri Gangadhar Pradhan

"SAUBHAGYA",
13/2-B Income Tax Society,
Near Airport, Rajkot-360007
Gujarat, INDIA.
Tele No. (91) 281 2477777(R),94272 14800 (M), Fax (91) 281 2444112

supravamishra@yahoo.com can be reached at supravamishra@yahoo.com

Website:- http// aumarts.tripd.com

International performance :

Performed at 3^rd International Odissi Festval at Bhubaneswar , Orissa,India Organised by IPAP U.S.A. from 26-30 December.

National performance :-

1.Performance of Smt. Suprava Mishra at 4^th Barabati Nrutyotsaba ( National

Classical & FolkDance Festival) at Katak on 21^st Dec 2004.

2 .Represent Gujarat & Orissa in All India Telecom Cultural meet at

Hyderabad in 1992, Delhi in 1992, Calcutta in 1995, Madras in 1996 and

got First & Second Prizes.

3. Performed in Natya Mahotsava Ahmedabad conducted by Gujarat Sangeet

Natak Academy in 1996.

4. Performed in Acharya Brihaspati Sammelan conducted by Sur singar

Samsad Mumbai in1999.

5.Performed in All India Music Teacher's Conference at cuttack in 1980.

State performance :

2. At Darpana Academy of performing Arts, Ahmedabad both solo & group performances in 1998 &1999.

2. Performed in the Silver Jublee Celebration at Punitachari Ashram

Junagarh in 2000.

3. Give lec-demo at Faculty of performing arts, M.S University Varoda

on 3^rd march-2004.

4. Performed at Sri Dwarkadhis mandir, Dwaraka on 21^st jun-04.

5. Performed in `Mele Sur Mera Tumhara' organised by Rajkot Municipal

corporation in 1992.

Awards received (any Five):

6. Special Jury award at All India Telecom Cultural Meet -1992 at Hyderabad.

7. "Sangeet Alankar" award by Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal,

Miraj in 2003.

8. Felicited by Pujyabhaishree Ramesh bhai Oza on the occasion of Navratri Anusthan at Porbandar in 2002.

9. Felicitated by Pujya Morari Bapu on the occasion of Lokarpan of the "Bharatiya

Nritya" book written by Suprava Mishra on 19^th March 2005.

10. Felicitated by "Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parisad ,Rajkot Chapter" for the Book

"Bharatiya Nritya".

Suprava Ravinarayan Mishra can be reached at supravamishra@yahoo.com

Smt. Bindu Juneja

Smt. Bindu Junej is a renowned Odissi dancer from India who was drawn towards the fluidity and lyrical mysticism of Odissi.

Initially trained in Bharatha Natyam, in her childhood, at the Bhatkhande Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Lucknow, Bindu Juneja was soon drawn towards the fluidity and lyrical mysticism of Odissi. She received training in the style from its eminent exponent Madhavi Mudgal at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi.Bindu’s dance displays a fine classicism of expression, which stems from her rigorous training and a profound understanding of the philosophy and aesthetics of Indian Art.

She was also fortunate to have best in close proximity with Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra, the grand maestro of Odissi, and imbibe the deeper nuance of his art. In her pursuit of oneness with the dance form, she had emerged a sensitive and refined exponent of Odissi.An “A” grade artiste of Doordharshan, Bindu had featured in several national telecasts. She also has extensive experience of performing both within and outside India.


She has performed in several prestigious festivals in the country. Her performance tours abroad have been to the USA for the Festival of India in 1986, Mexico, the Slovak Republic, Sweden, Hungary, Vienna, Germany, France, Holland, Spain, Brazil and United Kingdom.She has been a recipient of the “Junior Research Fellowship” from the Department of Culture, Government of India and also its production grant for a thematic presentation entitled “Sakshatkar Unravelling the True Nature of Lord Jagannath”.


Smt. Bindu Junej may be reached by email at bindu.juneja@yahoo.com

Uttara Asha Coorlawala

Uttara Asha Coorlawala, (Ph.D. New York University) has been teaching technique and theoretical dance courses at Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus, Barnard College (Columbia University) and at Princeton University, NJ. She served as editor and as member of the Editorial and Executive Boards for Dance Research Journal. Her articles have been published in Pulse, U.K. Animated, U.K. Sruti (India's leading magazine for Music and dance) Dance Chronicle, Dance Research Journal, Sangeet Natak Akademi Journal and anthologies. Her most recent project involved South Asian Dance as part of a larger Ford Foundation project on changing demographies and cultures in the USA. Born in Hyderabad and educated in India, Uttara studied hatha yoga with B.K.S. Iyengar, Siddha Yoga, Bharatanatyam (Kalakshetra style) and studies in Ancient Indian Culture at St. Xavier’s Heras Indological Institute, all in Mumbai. She transferred to Smith College, Mass. graduating with the Phi-Sigma-Psi honor award, and went on to train in modern dance in New York city, as a competitive scholarship student at the Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham studios while running a dance program at The Spence School, New York. Concurrently she was and dancing with New York based dance companies as Ballet Hispanico, Pearl Lang, Daniel Maloney, Sun Ock Lee, and Kei Takei. Here, she performed the works of choreographers as diverse as Talley Beatty, Yvonne Rainer, Anna Sokolow. Coorlawala then returned to India to pioneer what is now a growing trend towards intercultural innovation. Her own choreographic style brought her three disciplines, modern dance, Bharata Natyam and yoga, to the dance stage. As a soloist, she danced throughout India, Europe, East Europe, Japan and the United States and as a designated cultural representative of India and for the United States. She served as a Performing Arts advisor to the late Rajiv Gandhi when he was Prime Minister and to the National Center of Performing Arts, Mumbai. Her repertory included works by Mrinalini Sarabhai, Padma Subrahmanyam, Mohanrao Kalyanpurkar, Carmen DeLavallade, Alvin Ailey, and Asian new dance works as well. Coorlawala received the AHRB Dance Research Fellowship for South Asian Dance Research awarded by The Universities of Surrey, U.K. and the School of Oriental and Asian Studies, London, Graduate Research Award from CORD, an organization for dance research and scholarship, with membership worldwide; Kappa Delta Pi, the National Honor Society of Educators for excellence in research; the J.D. Rockefeller IIIrd Fund Fellowship; the the Dadabhai Naoroji Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored jointly by the British and Indian governments and the Homi Bhabha Fellowship in India.

Uttara Asha Coorlawala may be reached by email at uacoorlawa@aol.com

Gopa & Purna Patnaik

Gopa Patnaik is an academic counselor at Rosemont College, San Diego.

Dr. Purna Patnaik is an environmental scientist with Maxwell Technologies, the past president of The San Diego Indian American Society and the current Treasurer for the Center for World Music.

Purna is currently COO of Global Analytics. Over his 30 year career, he has led numerous projects involving large datasets and analytical systems. He specialized in mathematical modeling and fluid mechanics, including geothermal reservoir modeling, weapon effects, modeling of fluidized beds, high-speed combustor flows, flow around submerged bodies, flow over complex terrain, spill and safety studies of heavier-than-air gases, dispersion of air-borne pollutants, and flow in porous media.

Also, Purna was a member of the design team for the successful Stars & Stripes America's Cup effort that brought the Cup back to the US. Purna has a B.Tech degree from IIT, Kharagpur (India) and an M.S and Ph.D from the University of California, Berkeley. He has published over 80 articles in technical journals and proceedings.


Their daughters are students of Guru Gangadhar Pradhan and Manoranjan Pradhan of Bhubaneswar, Orissa.

Laboni, Shivani, and Shalni Patnaik

Dr. Purna and Mrs. Patnaik can be reached by email at ppatnaik@yahoo.com

Sayani Chakraborty

Sayani Chakraborty was born Decemenber 9th, 1987. She resides in West Bengal and studies Bethune College, Kolkata. Her Odissi Guru was previously Smt. Poushali Mukherjee; and at present is Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, the son of Padmabivushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Sayani has a long list of achievements such as:

• Stood 1st in odissi dance in “children’s competition 2000”.

• Received a National Scholarship in Odissi Dance from Centre for cultural resources and training(CCRT), New Delhi on 24/12/2001 and got outstanding performance at renewal in 2004.

• Selected as permanent odissi artist by Neheru Children’s Museum(a national cultural organization), Kolkata in 2003.

• Stood 2nd in odissi dance competition held by Paschimbanga Rajya Sangeet Academy in 2003-2004.

• Received a 1st class 1st position in odissi dance in the Inter Collegiate Oriental Dance Competition(2003-2004)organized by Calcutta University Institute.

• Received Jugal Srimal Scholarship from Tagore Foundation, Kolkata on 28/08/2004.

• Stood 1st & received Gold Medal along with SANGEET BIVAKAR certificate in 5th year odissi nritya examination conducted by Bangiya Sangeet Parishad.

• Appointed as Odissi Dance trainer by Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra.

• 

In addition to Sayani's achievements, she has partipated in the following programs:

• Biswa Banga Sammelan(dec-jan 2000)held at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.

• Uday Shankar Dance Festival in 2000 at Madhusudhan mancha,Kolkata.

• 75th Birthday Anniversary of Padmabivushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra at Gyan Mancha,Kolkata in 2001.

• Performed solo live program on Odissi dance in 48th Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra Classical Music Conference on 23rd January 2004.

• Performed solo live odissi dance recital at the Spirit Of Youth Festival Of Music And Dance held on 24th Feb 2005 at Kasturi Srinivasan Hall,Music Academy,Chennai.

• Performed solo odissi dance recital in 22nd All India Music Festival, Kolkata in 2006.

• Performed solo odissi dance on 19/05/07 in Nrityoutsav 2007,organized by West Bengal Dance Group Federation & Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra.

• Shaam E Basant,a jugalbandi of kathak by Emile Ghosh & odissi by Sayani Chakraborty at Gyan Mancha in 2007.

• She has successfully participated in various T.V programs

• Performed solo Odissi recital at Gyan Mancha on 5th jan 2008 at the Odissi festival organized by Odissi Dancer’s forum Kolkata.

• Attended an Odissi workshop of Paschimbanga Rajya Sangeet Academy under West Bengal Govt.Information & Cultural Wing in 2001.

• Attended an Odissi workshop by Silalipi Parida,faculty member of Odissi Research Center,Bhubaneshwar in 2003 & 2004.

• Attended an Odissi workshop by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra in Kolkata in 2003.

• Attended a workshop on “abhinaya”in 2003 conducted by Guru Govindan Kutty.

• Attended a National Workshop, titled “UNITY IN DIVERSITY” organized by CCRT in 2005 held at Don Bosco Institute, Guwahati, Assam.

Sayani Chakraborty may be reached by email at chakrabortys90@yahoo.com

Prakriti Bhaskar

Prakriti Bhaskar is amongst the younger generation of dancers, Prakriti combines in her pursuit of the art, a rare blend of an elegant performer, meticulous teacher, imaginative choreographer, accomplished nattuvanaar & a prolific writer. Prakriti holds a Masters Degree in Fine Arts & is a National Scholar. A senior disciple of rhythm wizard Kalaimamani Talavidwan Shri T.S. Kadhirvellu Pillai, Prakriti specializes in rhythmic choreography & nattuvangam (the art of playing the cymbals). She is also trained under Padmashree Guru Adyar K. Lakshman, an internationally acclaimed teacher & choreographer.
Her meticulous training under both these stalwarts helped her evolve into a mature artiste with a highly creative mind & sensitivity. Her versatility also finds expression in her passion for an equally challenging & dynamically contrasting dance-form Mohini Attam. She has been pursuing it over the last 6 years under the guidance of Guru Udyogamandala Vikraman in Mumbai & Dr. Neena Prasad at Tiruvananthapuram.Brilliant technique, coupled with a dignified stage-presence & natural grace are the hallmark of her dance, while aesthetic taste & penchant for perfection lend an ethereal quality to her choreographic work. Her choreographic productions have won her high critical acclaim for innovative interpretation of themes & aesthetically sleek presentations. She has along with her dance repertory “NRTYAMANDALA Dance Ensemble” performed at all major dance festivals such as the Natyanjali Festival, Chidambaram, Uday Shankar Dance Festival, Kolkata, Konark Dance & Music Festival, Konark etc. Her workshops & insights on 'the aesthetics & mathematics of rhythm' have been widely appreciated & she has been invited by prestigious institutes across the country to share her work with serious students of dance, which includes the world-renowned KALAKSHETRA College of Fine Arts, Chennai. In 2007, she has been awarded the prestigious ‘senior fellowship’ by the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India for her research work on “Cross-rhythm Choreography & Nattuvangam”. Carrying forth her guru's legacy, she has been zealously training students for over two decades at Shiladhish Art & research Institute hoping to create a next generation of committed artistes.

Prakriti Bhaskar can be reached by email at nrittam@hotmail.com

or read her fascinating blog here!

Pallavi Das

Young and talented dancer Pallavi Das waits patiently as Smt. Aruna Mohanty adds the finishing touches. Ford Community and Performing Arts Center 2007. Photo by Smeeta Mahanti.

Pallavi Das may be reached by email at pallavidas01@gmail.com