About Maya

Greetings and Namaskar!

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People often ask me, "What do you do?", I say I am an Odissi dancer. Then I'm asked, "So, what else do you do?" I then tell them I'm a professional Odissi dancer, who also enjoys writing about dance and studying dance, and that I just finished my Master's in Odissi and started teaching. That sounds more wholesome? The truth is, I realised in my late twenties that I do not have one true calling. Let me talk you through this journey, or should I say process of discovery?

 

After finishing a Bachelors of Commerce from St. Joseph's College of Commerce, Bangalore, I studied Journalism and Mass Communication at Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai. I've been dancing pretty much all my life. So as soon as I graduated from journalism school in 2017, I went to Bhubaneswar to learn Odissi professionally.

 

I am a proud student and former ensemble member of Srjan, one of India's leading Odissi dance groups. My life in Bhubaneswar involved dancing for the best part of the day (and sometimes night), and spending the rest of my time thinking about, remembering, and practicing dance and everything related. During this time, I also gained experience in cultural writing, editing, compering, and the "subtle art" of time, life, and people management, of course! Well before COVID-19 changed the landscape of the workspace, I started working remotely and with flexible hours at Cactus Communications Pvt Ltd., Mumbai in 2018 as a freelance editor with the Centre of Excellence for Business and Finance. I also lent my editing expertise to Imperial Overseas Education Consultants. My experience in verbal training includes teaching students verbal and logical reasoning for CLAT at CLATutor and basic IELTS training.  I am passionate about independent, incisive, and accurate news, am a glutton for information, and have started writing for dance.

 

In 2024, I completed a Master of Performing Arts in Odissi Dance at Sri Sri University, under the aegis of my Guru, Shri Ratikant Mohapatra. The enchanting universe of Odissi and my time at the abode of Odissi at Srjan, has drawn me back numerous times, tirelessly. I now embark on my endeavour to teach Odissi, while learning and performing the treasured Art. I hope I can bring my ardour for Odissi and love for the English language through my forays in both fields as I try to don different hats and balance an interdisciplinary career combining dance and writing.
 

Welcome to my odyssey in Odissi!