Guru Shradha

Odissi dance is from the state of Odisha in eastern India and is one of the oldest surviving Indian dance forms. Its unique captivating grace is expressed through the juxtaposition of fluid torso movements, strong stamping footwork, and poses evoking temple dance sculptures. An Enchanting Odissi Odyssey takes the audience through a spiritual journey of Odissi’s repertoire pieces showcasing contemporary and traditional choreography revealing a tapestry of its devotional, emotive, and intricate dance performed to haunting music. Vakratunda and Jaya Mahesha will be performed by Guru Shradha company dancers; founder-director Niharika Mohanty will be featured in Pallavi

Niharika Mohanty (Founder-Director/Soloist)

Niharika Mohanty resides in California and is a leading Odissi dancer in the U.S. A prominent disciple of Odissi legendary maestro, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Niharika still continues refining her dance under Guru Ratikant and Guru Sujata Mohapatra. She has performed extensively as a soloist in festivals in India and throughout North America, holds an MA in Dance and has received several grants and awards for training, performance, and choreography. Niharika is the Founder-Director of Guru Shradha, a premier Odissi institution, committed to excellence in training dancers in Guru Kelucharan’s dance tradition. She also enjoys working on original collaborative projects.