Gurus
ध्यानमूलं गुरोर्मूतिः पूजामूलं गुरोः पदम्।
मन्त्रमूलं गुरोर्वाक्यं मोक्षमूलं गुरोः कृपा॥
- श्री गुरु गीता
The source of meditation is the Guru's form. The source of devotion is the Guru's feet. The source of prayer is the Guru's word. The source of awakening is the Guru's grace.
- Shri Guru Geeta
Since 1975, Shri Ratikant Mohapatra has been surrounded by Odissi dance and music almost every minute of his day. A 40-year association with Odissi, and the experiences shared with his father and guru, late Sri Kelucharan Mohapatra have enabled him to carve an enviable niche for himself as a dancer, percussionist, teacher, choreographer and archivist.
Shri Ratikant Mohapatra’s dedication to the Art has been acknowledged with awards such as the ‘Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi Samman’, ‘Nrutya Choodamani’, ‘Bhumiputra Samman’ and the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, to name a few. Also attributed to creating a Guinness World Record for choreographing 555 dancers in an Odissi dance composition, Shri Ratikant Mohapatra has conceived more than 80 original ‘neo-classical’ compositions within the boundaries of the Odissi idiom. These compositions are designed to attract the larger public through fast-paced movements, innovations in dance and music, and the depiction of popular themes.
As Director of Srjan, he has created a world-class dance institution, attracting students from across the world for a comprehensive training in Odissi dance. His attention to detail, perfection and professionalism have established him as a leading force in the Art form today.
Smt. Sharmila Mukerjee is the founder and artistic director of Sanjali Centre for Odissi Dance in Bangalore, established in 2004. She started learning Odissi under the tutelage of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra from 1984 in Kolkata. Rigorous, intensive training in Odissi continued at her Guru's residence in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. Smt. Sharmila Mukerjee initially taught Odissi at Calcutta School of Music and has worked closely with hearing impaired children at The Oral School for Deaf Children, Kolkata. After moving to Bangalore, she taught dance at the Sheila Kothwala Institute for the Deaf.
A Grade 'A' artiste of Doordarshan and an established artiste of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Smt. Sharmila Mukerjee has performed at various prestigious festivals and conferences in India, Fiji, Malaysia, Australia , New Zealand, Italy, U.S.A, Indonesia and U.A.E. She has won various awards like the Singar Mani from the Sur Singar Samsad ( Mumbai), the Kala Gaurav from Karnataka, the Sironama from Kolkata, and the Mahari Award 2016 from the Guru Pankaj Charan Das Foundation.
Smt. Sharmila Mukerjee has also created many dance pieces and directed a number of productions in Odissi. The Sanjali Ensemble is committed to promoting Odissi throughout the world by presenting traditional and innovative choreographies and Smt. Sharmila Mukerjee continues to spread this dance form through her teaching and performances, to many students in and outside Bangalore and India.
Smt. Prativa Panda is a reputed dancer of the Guru Deba Prasad Das Gharana of Odissi. She is a disciple of Guru Durga Charan Ranbir. At her institution, Nrutya Prativa, in Bhubaneswar, she imparts training in the classical Art form, while working towards the promotion and propagation of the rich cultural heritage of Odisha and other Art forms.
Smt. Prativa Panda is an A grade artist of Doordarshan and a research scholar. She is also a notable actress having played the role of the leading lady in several Odia films and serials, and is versatile in her abilities.
Nrutya Prativa organises the Chausathi Yogini Mahotsav every year in the month of December at the Yogini Temple in Hirapur with a view to sensitise the larger public to the rich culture and tradition of the region, while inviting artistes of national and international repute to perform.