Sharmila Biswas

Sharmila Biswas is a renowned Odissi dancer, choreographer, and teacher who has significantly contributed to Indian classical dance. Trained under the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and mastering abhinaya with Kalanidhi Narayanan, she began her solo career in the mid-1980s and quickly gained acclaim for her performances. She is the founder of the Odissi Vision & Movement Centre in Kolkata, a major institution dedicated to training and research in Odissi dance. Her work is known for being deeply research-oriented, drawing inspiration from Orissan traditions and exploring the history and cultural roots of Odissi. Over the years, Biswas has performed extensively across India and internationally and has been honored with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her outstanding contributions to the art form.

In addition to her performances, Sharmila Biswas is an influential choreographer and educator, committed to evolving the Odissi style through innovation and scholarship. She authored the textbook "Knowing Odissi" and a biographical book titled "Offstage with Sharmila Biswas." She also served as the Dance Director for the acclaimed film "Chitrangada" by director Rituparno Ghosh. Known for blending tradition with contemporary insight, Sharmila continues to inspire new generations of dancers while enriching the classical dance landscape.

Genres