The rescue of this dance form, from obscurity in the last few decades of cultural renaissance, and its subsequent worldwide popularity has been through the dedication of Smt Sanjukta Panigrahi - the leading dance artist and teacher from India. Mrs. Panigrahi followed the unique style of classical Odissi of Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra, and this style is most widely appreciated over the world for its classical contents, with innovative experiments of exquisite finesse. As is said by critics, ‘She does not exert the form, but creates several forms of beauty, visual renderings which sing, speak and flow like molten gold.’

Sanjukta started her Odissi at the age of five under Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra, the acclaimed dance Master of Orissa. Subsequently she has also undergone a rigorous six years training in Bharata Natyam under the guidance of legendary Rukmini Devi at Kalakshetra, Madras. She traveled extensively throughout the world performing and conducting coaching workshops. Her frequent tours all over the world have left a lasting impression of the rich repertoire of Odissi.

She was a creative choreographer, Embracing new experiments, new compositions, she made the visual and emotional appeals of every dance program fresh and brilliant. For this she had been acclaimed as a choreographer of the highest order.

Today my biggest challenge is to uphold her legacy and pass it onto the young students at my school.

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