Sujata Mohapatra (born 27 June 1968) is an Indian classical dancer and teacher of

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.Balasore Balasore or Baleswara is a city in the state of Odisha, about north of the state capital Bhubaneswar and from Kolkata, in eastern India. It is the largest town of northern Odisha and the administrative headquarters of Balasore district. It i ...

in 1968. She started learning Odissi at an early age from Guru Sudhakar Sahu. Sujata Mohapatra came to

Bhubaneshwar Bhubaneswar (; ) is the capital and largest city of the States and territories of India, Indian state of Odisha. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Ekamra Kshetra'' (area (''kshetra'') adorned with mango tr ...

, Odisha, in 1987 to further her training under

Padma Vibhushan The Padma Vibhushan ("Lotus Decoration") is the second-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service" ...

Guru

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 ...

at Odissi Research Center in Bhubaneshwar. She married

Ratikant Mohapatra Ratikant Mohapatra is a dancer, percussionist, Guru, and Choreographer and archivist of Odissi. Under the direction and choreography of Ratikant Mohapatra, 555 Odissi dancers, a large number of them belonging to foreign countries, performed in u ...

, son of Guru

. Her daughter Preetisha Mohapatra is also an Odissi dancer.

Career

Sujata Mohapatra started dancing Odissi classical and folk dance with Sahu's dance troupe in programs across Odisha. Under the tutelage of Kelucharan Mohapatra, her dance style evolved, and she was groomed to become one of the foremost Odissi dancers of her generation. Sujata Mohapatra performs in India, and other countries, as a soloist and a leading member of the Srjan Dance Troupe, founded by her father-in-law. Sujata Mohapatra is actively involved in teaching Odissi. She is the Principal of 'Srjan' (Odissi Nrityabasa), a prime Odissi Dance Institution founded by MGuru Kelucharan Mohapatra She holds a master's degree in

Oriya Literature Odia literature is literature written in the Odia language, mostly from the Indian state of Odisha. The modern Odia language is mostly formed from Tadbhava words with significant Sanskrit (Tatsama) influences, along with loanwoards from Desaj ...

from

Utkal University Utkal University (UU) is a Public university in Bhubaneswar, Khordha district, Khordha, Odisha, and is the oldest university in Odisha, the state, and the 17th-oldest university in India. It is a teaching-cum-affiliating university. The pre ...

, and has done research work at the Odissi Research Centre, Bhubaneshwar. In July 2011, she opened an Odissi Institute - Guru Keerti Srjan, in her hometown, Balasore.

Awards

* Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 2017 * Nritya Choodamani from Krishna Gana Sabha,

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

, 2014 * Mahari Award, Pankaj Charan Odissi Research Foundation * 2nd Sanjukta Panigrahi Award, Chitra Krishnamurthi from

Washington D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...

* Aditya Birla Kala Kiran Award,

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...

* Raaza Foundation Award,

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...

* Hope of India, 2001 * Nritya Ragini,

Puri Puri () is a coastal city and a Nagar Palika, municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is als ...

, 2002 * Baisakhi Award * Prana Natta Samman * Abhi Nandika, Puri, 2004 * Bhimeswar Pratikha Samman, 2004 * Raaza Puruskar, 2008 * Top Grade Artist of Doordarshan Outstanding Category Artist in

ICCR 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 ...

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mohapatra, Sujata 1968 births Living people People from Balasore Odissi exponents Indian female classical dancers Performers of Indian classical dance Indian classical choreographers Indian women choreographers Indian choreographers Dancers from Odisha 20th-century Indian dancers 20th-century Indian women artists Women artists from Odisha Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Career

Awards

See also

References

External links