Kasturi Pattanaik is a pioneering

Odissi Odissi (), also referred to as Orissi in old literature, is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temple, temples of Odisha – an eastern coastal state of India.

Profile

Kasturi Pattanaik’s compositions and choreographies in Odissi Dance are well acclaimed for their originality and creative diversity. She has introduced new concepts, new ideas, new techniques, new co-ordination, new linkages and new themes in Odissi Dance repertory. Pattanaik is both an accomplished soloist and group performer. She is also one of the pioneers of Odissi dance drama, particularly blending the classical and folk traditions of

Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...

and the great pan-Indian mythological stories. Being an proficient Odissi music composer, Pattanaik has integrated Odissi music in its original and undiluted format in her innovative and imaginative compositions and choreographies in Odissi dance. Kasturi Pattanaik started her Odissi dance learning, along with

Kathak Kathak ( hi, कथक; ur, کتھک) is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. It is the classical dance from of Uttar Pradesh. The origin of Kathak is traditionally attributed to the traveling bards in ancient northern Ind ...

Dance from her childhood. After completing her graduation from the prestigious Shailabala Women's College, Cuttack, Odisha; she joined Odissi Research Centre (ORC), Bhubaneswar in its first batch for her advanced intensive course in Odissi dance. Pattanaik has the rare distinction of learning and performing under the foremost Odissi dance Gurus/maestros; including Late Raghunath Dutta, Late Padma Vibhushan

Kelucharan Mohapatra Kelucharan Mohapatra (8 January 1926 – 7 April 2004) was a legendary Indian classical dancer, guru, and exponent of Odissi dance, who is credited with the revival and popularizing of this classical dance form in the 20th century. He is ...

, Padma Shri

Kumkum Mohanty Kumkum Mohanty (born 10 September 1946) is an Odissi dancer. Mohanty was born at Cuttack. She received training from Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra at Kala Vikash Kendra. She is recognised for '' abhinaya''. She has worked as the special secretary ...

, Padma Shri

Gangadhar Pradhan Gangadhar Pradhan (10 July 1948 – 10 October 2010) was an Indian Odissi dancer. Life and career Pradhan was born in Parikula, a village in Puri district, Odisha. He was a sickly baby; his father, Muralidhar Pradhan, a farmer, and mother, Dwi ...

, Ramani Ranjan Jena and Dayanidhi Dash. From an early age, she travelled across the country and world to perform and disseminate Odissi dance. She also conducted workshops in various countries; including in Hong Kong, USSR, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, North Korea and China. Pattanaik has trained more than four hundred students across the country and abroad in Odissi dance; many of whom have established themselves either as acclaimed performers or as Gurus. After her stint in Odissi Research Centre as the choreographer; she moved to New Delhi and joined the India’s national nodal cultural organization-‘SANKALP’ as its Programme Director (Culture) and Creative Head. In SANKALP, she broadened her arena of activities to include education, research and policy strategies; besides her main activities related to promotion of Indian Art and Culture. She has also served the Ministry of Culture, Government of India in its various expert committees. Pattanaik has also performed leading roles in Odia Films and National Doordarshan Channel serials. Her Doordarshan serial on ‘Debadasi” is a classic masterpiece on Debadasi traditions. She was a member of Regional Committee of the

Central Board of Film Certification The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a statutory film-certification body in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India. It is tasked with "regulating the public exhibition of films under the provision ...

. She has also anchored eight episodes of primary education programmes, produced by the State Institute of Technology (SIT), Bhubaneswar under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. She has played a pioneering role in syllabus preparation for B.A & B.A. (Hons.) courses in Odissi Dance of

Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya (IKSV), also Indira Kala Sangeet University, is a public university located in Khairagarh, Rajnandgaon district, Chhattisgarh, India. History In 1956, Maharaja Birendra Bahadur Singh and maharani Padmavati Dev ...

(IKSVV), Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh. She has also served as the Jury of the ‘Kalidas Samman’ and ‘Tulsi Samman’, prestigious arts awards, presented annually by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. She has also received a number of awards and acclaims for her achievements in promoting the diversity of Indian culture expressions.

Achievements and contributions

Pattanaik is still with SANKALP, an NGO described as "very good" and "of particular interest" by the Government of India Committee, headed by

J. S. Verma Jagdish Sharan Verma (18 January 1933 – 22 April 2013) was an Indian jurist who served as the 27th Chief Justice of India from 25 March 1997 to 18 January 1998. He was the chairman of National Human Rights Commission from 1999 to 2003, and ...

, former

Chief Justice of India The chief justice of India (IAST: ) is the chief judge of the Supreme Court of India as well as the highest-ranking officer of the Indian Judiciary. The Constitution of India grants power to the president of India to appoint, in consultation w ...

. As the programme director for culture, Pattanaik promotes cultural and natural heritage. She has created nine

pallavi A pallavi has multiple connotations in carnatic music. It is the first part of any formal composition (Krithi) which has three segments - Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam (which can be one or more). Pallavi is usually also an abbreviation of R ...

s: * ''Charukeshi'' * ''Pattadeep'' * ''Gati Sammikrutta'' * ''Hansadhwoni'' * ''Narayani'' * ''Janasammohini'' * ''Asavari'' * ''Bageshri'' * ''Sankaravaran-1-for the beginners'' * ''Sankaravaran-2'' * ''Koushik Dhwoni'' * ''Yog'' Dance dramas include: * ''The Deer Krishnasara'' (''Krushnasara Mruga'') * ''Yama Savitri Sambad'' * ''Rasa Trayee'' * ''Kanchi Abhiyan'' * ''Chitrangada'' * ''Sthitaprajna'' * ''Sabari Upakhyanam''

ICCR Empanelled Artist

Kasturi Pattanaik is empanelled in the

Indian Council for Cultural Relations The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India, involved in India's global cultural relations, through cultural exchange with other countries and their people. It was founded on 9 Apri ...

(ICCR).

Honours

* Rajendra Prasad Puraskar from "Rajendra Prasad Smruti Sansad" at Cuttack, Orissa, 1997 * "Abhinandanika – 1999" for excellent Abhinay in Odissi dance from Vishnupriya Smruti Sammana at Puri, Orissa * Scholarships from the state in 1987 and the Ministry of Human Resource Development in 2000 * "Debadasi Samman" from Udayan Sanskritik Anusthan, 2003 * Juries of the Central Board of Film Certification for 2002 * Honoured from Kuchipudi Natyakala Mandali in Kuchipudi District, Andhra Pradesh in 1999 * Mahari Award-2015, instituted by Adi Guru Pankaj Charan Das

Festivals

* India Festival,

USSR The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...

, 1987 * Spring Festival,

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...

, 1990 (ICCR) * Kalinga Bali Yatra (Indonesia, Jakarta, Bali, Singapore, Thailand) * Solo Performances (Hong Kong,

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

, Japan), 1994 * Khajuraho Festival, 1992 and 2007 * Ekamra Utsav, 2007 * Ellora Festival, 1991 * Nisagandhi Festival, 1989 * Surya Festival, 1990, 1992, 2010 * Sidhendra Yogi Dance Festival, Kuchipudi, 1998, 1999, 2000 * Udaya Shankar Dance Festivals, 2000 * Konark Dance Festival, 1989 to 2004 * Konarka Nata Mandap Festival, 1988 * Central SNA Youth Festivals * Yuva Nrita Utsav, 1992, 1996, 2003 * Odissi International, Bhubaneswar, 2010 * Utkal Divas-Rourkela, 2010, 2014 * SANKALP Festival Series, Mysore 2010 and Benguluru 2010 * Commonwealth Game, New Delhi, 2010 * Oriya Cinema 75 Years Celebration Day, Bhubaneswar, 2011 * Utkal Devas, Dehradun, 2011 * Inaugural Function of 150th Birth Anniversary of Guru Rabindranath Tagore, Bhopal, 2011 * Betwa Mahotsav, Vidisha, 2011 * Satna Mahotsav, Satna, 2012 * SANKALP’s National Festival on New Creations in Odissi Dance, 2012 * Konark Festival, 2012 * Khajuraho Festival, 2014

Research