Rajashri Praharaj

Rajashri Praharaj is an accomplished artiste of the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra gharana of Odissi. She has been dancing since early age. Her formal training in Srjan (Odissi Nrityabasa) as a resident student under the able tutelage of her Guru Shri Ratikant Mohapatra, made her capable to master the art and technique of Odissi dance. Rajashri has imbibed within herself the essence of this style with purity and perfection. Her dance has the excellent blend of sensuous movement and graceful footwork with absolute control of laya. She has performed widely as a soloist in India and internationally at Bangkok, Malaysia and USA. She has also traveled with the repertory group of Srjan and attended the master classes in Summer Workshop 2002 and 2003 conducted by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.

A versatile with immense potential, Rajashri charms the audience with her beauty and grace combined with her confidence on the stage. she has participated in Kalke Kalakar of Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai and won the “Sringaramani” title. In the year 2004, the Ministry of Culture, Govt.of India, has awarded her the National scholarship in Odissi dance. For the Deepavali Festival 2007 She was invited to perform at Vedic Heritage, New York by Her Holiness Guruma Smt. Jyotishanand Saraswati in Pt. Jasraj Auditorium. She has been awarded “Nalanda Nrutya Nipuna 2008” for her outstanding performance in Odissi dance at Mumbai Festival in 2007.

Rajasri’s performance in Odissi Dance Festival, organized by Orissa Sangeet Natak Academy - the New Indian Express in one of its reviews writes that – Rajashri’s technical perfection combined with feminine grace gave glimpses of her bright future as a promising dancer with distinct signature of the Kelucharan ‘Gharana’.

Apart from performing, Rajashri is also involved in teaching Odissi. Although totally dedicated to dance, Rajashri has also obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Cutural University, Orissa.