Piyali De

An an aspiring artist of Odissi dance, Piyali commenced her training at a tender age of five under the tutelage of renowned Odissi Maestro Smt. Madhavi Mudgal at the prestigious Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya, New Delhi. Due to her dedication, sincerity, commitment and perseverance, Piyali steadily refined her dancing abilities and inched towards perfection. She rendered her first public performance at a very young age of ten for Doordarshan's "Nanhi Duniya". This laid the foundation for Piyali's successful and flourishing dancing career. With a burnign desire to learn the various facets of Odissi Dance, coupled with regular feedback from the late doyen, Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra, Piyali blossomed into an excellent performer.

Piyali rendered her first solo performance as a Scholarship holder in Sahitya Kala Parishad's "Sopan Festival". More such programmes followed suit. She has since featured in major festivals and performances in Delhi like the "Young Dancers Festival" at Sri Ram Centre. "Horizon Series" of ICCR at Azad Bhawan and that of the NDMC's series of Young Talents. Her solo at "The Yuva Mahotsava" was highly acclaimed by the well-versed people of this field. Amongst the programmes outside Delhi, she performed in groups as well solo at festivals like "The Puri Sea Beach Festival", "Konark Festival", "Nrityotsava Festive of Choreographies" etc. Her solo recital at the India International Centre was highly appreciated by the journalists and critics of various Newspaper dailies. Her credentials were established and helped her curve out a niche for herself as an upcoming artist. Recently she has been sponsored by ICCR for a trip to Shanghai, China in June 2006 to participate in the World Summit of Asian Countries.

Her unquestionable dancing talent fetched her innumerable opportunities in the international arena too as she actively performed in a group as well as solo in major festivals organised in countries like South America, South East Asia, the Sub Continent etc. She was also featured in "The Days of Delhi in St. Petersberg". Soviet Russia organised by the Delhi Govt. and Sahitya Kala Parishad in September, 2003. Her impeccable and meritorious performances culminated in her getting empanelled by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and as a Grade "A" artist of Doordarshan. She has won many accolades and honours at the State and National level, which eventually catapulted her to win the Best Talen Award in Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) and the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) and a Blazer Colour Award from Hansraj College. Piyali is a recipient of Scholarship awarded by the Centre of Cultural Resources and Training, Sahitya Kala Parishad and the National Scholarship from Ministry of Human Resources and Development. She has been the winner of several Gold Medals at the State and National Level competitions.

Her participation in the workshop conducted by the NDMC in training the young boys and girls of the various age groups helped her in improving her teaching skills. She marvelled as a Cultural Coordinator in Delhi Public School, Greater Noida where several students were benefitted from her rich experience as an accomplished dancer. She also served as a Faculty member in the Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya and imparted training to the budding artists. Under the series of Greeshma Kaleen Bal Mahotsava organised by the Sahitya Kala Parishad on 25th June 2005, Piyali choreographed a creative dance "Ek Nai Subah" with the students from The Creativity School for Slum Children, Basti Vikas Kendra at Okhla.

Amidst her extremely hectic schedule, she could complete her graduation in B.Com (Hons) from Hansraj College, Delhi University and Visharad in Dance from Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya Mandal, she has successfully completed her Diploma in Mass Communications from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan. After gaining rich experience and recognition, Piyali aims to enhance her knowledge further and strive for excellence in her chosen field.

For more about Piyali De, please visit her at her website at www.piyalide.com
or email her at de.piyali@gmail.com