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| Similar to the training of other Indian art forms, the training of Odissi at Insideorissa is achieved through the Guru-Shishya Parampara (loosely translated as the teacher-student tradition). "Gu" means dark and "Ru" means light. So, "Guru" may be translated as darkness to light, or possibly one who leads from darkness to light. Guru is a teacher of life or a spiritual mentor who leads the shishya (student) from blindness or ignorance to bliss, wisdom, and enlightenment.
The dance Guru guides the disciple in following the Hindu path of dance to finally attain liberation. The Guru observes the disciple's strengths and weaknesses and treats the disciple as a unique individual. The Guru often tests the disciple.
Two concepts related to Guru are seva and Guru dakshina. Seva refers to the student doing work for the Guru. Guru dakshina is the payment to the Guru which traditionally was often achieved through seva. The disciple would live with, eat with, learn from, and do work for the Guru.
Our faculty comprises teachers who work relentlessly under the able guidance of the pioneer Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, Guru Manoranjan Pradhan and Guru Aruna Mohanty. To enable a learning environment, lecture demonstrations(at temple sites), workshops and seminars are held regularly by maestros of Odissi dance, Music and other classical art forms.
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| Guru Gangadhar Pradhan
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| Guru Gangadhar Pradhan's training began at the age of six at Balunkeswar temple in Puri District, Orissa to mature as a gotipua dancer. |
He was trained by Guru Banchhanidhi Pradhan, Pt. Chandra Shekhar Pattnaik, Guru Mahadeva Rout and Guru Birabara Sahoo. He completed his Natya Acharya course in Odissi from Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyala. He received further training in Odissi under the able guidance of Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Guru Devprasad Das, Dr. Minati Mishra and Shri Dhirendra Nath Pattnaik. He mastered the delicate nuances and the subtleties of the Odissi dance form none other than Padma Bibhusan Kelucharan Mohapatra. |
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Guru Pradhan received intensive training in Mardala under the tutelage of the legendary maestro Singhari Shyama Sundar Kar and Guru Banamali Maharana. After his brief stint in Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya and Odissi Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, he has been imparting training to hundreds of his disciples .across the globe. Guru Gangadhar Pradhan has traveled widely to all corners of the world and is the founder of Orissa Dance Academy and Konark Natya Mandap. A recepient of State Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1993 and the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1998. “Humbleness” has been the key to his success. |
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| Aruna Mohanty |
Initiated into dance at the early age of ten Ms Aruna Mohanty was tendered carefully and nurtured by eminent Guru Shri Gangadhar Pradhan. |
Aruna has also had the privilege of working with Padmashree Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Padmabibhusan Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra and Padmashree Sanjukta Panigrahi. She has been a student and Member Secretary of the Orissa Dance Academy since its inception. Her devotion, perseverance and commitment has placed her as the finest among the Odissi dancers of her generation. |
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Apart from her technical virtuosity, she displays a unique skill and versatility while depicting varied emotions and thus excels in the 'Abhinaya' aspect of dance. Aruna has many awards to her credit, namely, Mahari Award 1997, Sanjukta Panigrahi Memorial National Award, Fellowship by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India and award for contribution in the field of Odissi Dance from Utkal Unversity, Orissa. Aruna has traveled extensively in Canada, Europe, USA, South America to render performances at the Festival Of India series and other programmes of ICCR. |
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| Manoranjan Pradhan |
Guru Manoranjan Pradhan was trained at the Orissa Dance Academy in India under Guru Gangadhar Pradhan and completed his Master's degree in Odissi dance at Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Utkal University. |
He underwent rigorous training with the doyen of Odissi dance Padma Bibhushan Kelucharan Mohapatra. He has adequately performed on the stage & TV in India and abroad. A major time of his career has been spent dancing and teaching in Canada, Mexico and the United States. He has served as a guest lecturer in Odissi dance at the Standford University and shares his experience through extensive teaching at Odissi Dance Academy and Odissi Research Centre in Bhubaneswar. |
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He toured the USA with Ralph Lemon's "Tree", second in series of the Geography Trilogy, with a company of dancers and musicians from all over the World. He also performed in Germany, Italy, Croatia and England. |
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| Madhusmita Mohanty |
| Ms. Madhusmita Mohanty inherited the art of Odissi dance from her parents. At the age of six, she was initiated to Odissi dance by Guru Tamala Patra. |
For the last 15 years she has been training herself to be an accomplished dancer under the able guidance of three gurus :Kanduri Charan Behera, Bichitrananda Swain and Gangadhar Pradhan. Recipient of many awards one needs to mention the “Singarmani” title conferred by Sur Singar Samsad,Mumbai and the “Deba Prasad Dash Memorial Fellowship” for 1997-98 .Madhusmita’s dance is characterized by liquidity and grace in body movement. She has been a teacher and has performed widely in India. She participated in a television serial "World Heritage Monumental” series, a production of UNESCO, for the Japanese Television.
She has performed at the Orissa Society of the Americas Convention in July 2002 and in Germany, Italy, Croatia and England. She wants to be Known as a perfect dancer and a good instructor
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Yudhisthir Nayak |
| Sri Yudhisthir Nayak was initiated to Gotipua dance at the age of seven. He continued learning the same form till the age of twelve. When he was fifteen he started learning Odissi from Guru Bichitrananda Swain. |
He is also a direct disciple of Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, Founder of Orissa Dance Academy, Bhubaneswar, Orissa .He is a rare breed of Odissi dancer who has been trained in Odissi vocal as well as in Odissi Mardala. This makes him a well rounded Odissi artist. Yudhisthir has also been trained in Chhau dance. His perfection of the art of Odissi dance, through supple and graceful body movements and varied facial expressions, has won him recognition. Yudhisthir has performed extensively in India and abroad. Besides being the recipient of a Senior National Scholarship from the Ministry of HRD,India he has carved a space for himself in the USA as a Odissi Dancer and teacher.
He is currently a resident teacher at the Centre Of World Music in San Diego. He is spreading the charm of Odissi and mardala (Indian drum) to many children of the primary schools in the San Diego area. His dream is to propagate and popularize Odissi in its true form across the world.
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Pabitra Kumar Pradhan |
| Born in the village of Nilakantha Pur, in the District of Puri Orissa, Pabitra was initiated to Odissi as a gotipua dancer under the able guidance of Late Guru Mahadev Rout. Later he began training at Odissi Gurukul at Nrityagram, Bangalore established by late Pratima Gouri Bedi. |
He is also a direct disciple of Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, Founder of Orissa Dance Academy, Bhubaneswar, Orissa .He is a rare breed of Odissi dancer who has been trained in Odissi vocal as well as in Odissi Mardala. This makes him a well rounded Odissi artist. Yudhisthir has also been trained in Chhau dance. His perfection of the art of Odissi dance, through supple and graceful body movements and varied facial expressions, has won him recognition. Yudhisthir has performed extensively in India and abroad. Besides being the recipient of a Senior National Scholarship from the Ministry of HRD,India he has carved a space for himself in the USA as a Odissi Dancer and teacher.
He is currently a resident teacher at the Centre Of World Music in San Diego. He is spreading the charm of Odissi and mardala (Indian drum) to many children of the primary schools in the San Diego area. His dream is to propagate and popularize Odissi in its true form across the world.
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