Sujata Mohapatra (born 27 June 1968) is an

Indian classical dance Indian classical dance, or ''Shastriya Nritya'', is an umbrella term for different regionally-specific Indian classical dance traditions, rooted in predominantly Hindu musical theatre performance,, Quote: All of the dances considered to be part ...

r and teacher of

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

dancing style.

Early life and background

Sujata Mohapatra was born in

Balasore Balasore, also known as Baleswar, is a city in the state of Odisha, about from the state capital Bhubaneswar and from Kolkata, in eastern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Balasore district and the largest city as well as heal ...

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

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

Bhubaneshwar Bhubaneswar () is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. It is located in the Khordha district. The suburban region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Chakra Khetra'' and ''Ekamra Khetra'' ( ...

, Odisha, in 1987 to further her training under

Padma Vibhushan The Padma Vibhushan ( , lit. "Lotus Grandeur") is the second-highest 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". All persons w ...

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, 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 loanwords from Desa ...

from

Utkal University Utkal University (UU) is a public university in Bhubaneswar, Khordha, Odisha, and is the oldest university in the state, and the 17th-oldest university in India. The university was established in 1943 and was operating from Ravenshaw College ...

, 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

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (IAST: Saṅgīta Nāṭaka Akādamī Puraskāra), also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recogni ...

, in 2017 * Nritya Choodamani from Krishna Gana Sabha,

Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...

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

Washington D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

* Aditya Birla Kala Kiran Award,

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

* 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, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...

* Hope of India, 2001 * Nritya Ragini,

Puri Puri, also known as Jagannath 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 ca ...

, 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

References

External links

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

Early life and background

Career

Awards

See also

References

External links