Welcome To Kasturi Pattanaik
A Brief Profile

MRS. KASTURI PATTANAIK

Programme Director (Culture), SANKALP

& Creative Head, SANKALP’s Performing Arts Groups

 

Mrs. Kasturi Pattanaik is a leading exponent of Odissi Dance. She has left a deep imprint in the evolution of Odissi Dance in its contemporary format through her new creations. Her compositions and choreographies have left deep artistic impact for their originality and diversity. She has introduced new concepts, new ideas, new techniques, new co-ordination, new linkages and new themes in Odissi Dance repertory. She is both an accomplished soloist and group performer. She is also one of the pioneers of Odissi dance drama, particularly blending the classical and folk traditions of Odisha and the great pan-Indian mythological stories. Her creative spectrum stretches beyond choreographies and performances. She is known as an excellent trainer and teacher in Odissi Dance. She has also integrated Odissi music in its original and undiluted format into her own innovative and imaginative compositions & choreographies in Odissi dance.

 

Mrs. Kasturi Pattanaik started her Odissi dance learning from her childhood. Throughout her school and college education, she prioritised her Odissi dance learning, along with Kathak dance. She joined Odissi Research Centre (ORC), Bhubaneswar in its first batch for her advanced intensive course in Odissi dance. Simultaneously, she learned and performed under the leading Odissi dance Gurus; including Late Raghunath Dutta, Late Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Padmashree Smt. Kumkum Mohanty, Padmashree Gangadhar Pradhan, Guru Shri Ramani Ranjan Jena and Guru Dayanidhi Dash.

 

After completing her graduation from Shailabala Women’s College, Cuttack; she did her Masters in Performing Arts (Odissi dance), both from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh and Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Maha Vidhyalaya Mandal, Mumbai. She had also completed the sixth year Senior Diploma in Odissi dance as well as third year Diploma course in Kathak dance from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad. She has also completed Advanced Intensive Course in Odissi dance from Odissi Research Centre (ORC), Bhubaneswar as its first batch student under the guidance of Padma Vibhushan Guru Shri Kelu Charan Mohapatra.

 

From an early age, she travelled across the country and world to perform and disseminate Odissi dance. She also conducted workshops in various countries; including in Hong Kong, USSR, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and North Korea.

 

Mrs. Pattanaik has trained more than 400 students across the country and abroad in Odissi dance; many of whom have established themselves either as performers or as Gurus.  

 

After her stint in Odissi Research Centre as the choreographer; she moved to Delhi and joined ‘SANKALP’ as its Programme Director (Culture) and Creative Head, Performing Arts. In SANKALP, she broadened her arena of activities to include education, research and policy strategies; besides her main activities related to promotion of Indian Art and Culture. In culture, she has promoted young talents extensively and worked in other fields, particularly supporting the custodians and inheritors of the indigenous/tribal/folk arts; which are in the process of extinction. In education she has contributed towards promoting alternative and innovative education for the disadvantaged children as well as capacity building education for the women for their economic empowerment. She has also been participating in Parliamentary Committees on thematic issues of national importance as part of SANKALP’s delegation/ representative.

 

Presently, Mrs. Kasturi Pattanaik is a Member of the Expert Committee of the Performing Arts of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. She has also served the Ministry of Culture, Government of India as an youngest member of various expert committees.

 

Mrs. Pattanaik has also performed leading roles in Odia Films and National Doordarshan Channel serials. While in Odia Films, she has been well-acclaimed for her sublime and creative roles, her Doordarshan serial on ‘Debadasi” is a classic masterpiece on Debadasi traditions. She was a member of Regional Committee of the Central Board of Film Certification. She has also anchored eight episodes of primary education programmes, produced by the State Institute of Technology (SIT), Bhubaneswar under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

 

She has been associated as an Expert for syllabus preparation, question setting and examiner for B.A and B.A. (Hons) course of Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalay (IKSVV), Khairagarh. In fact, she has a pioneering academic role in setting up the course in Khairagarh University.

 

 

She has also received a number of awards & acclaims for her achievements in promoting the diversity of Indian culture expressions. She has also been serving as the Jury of the ‘Kalidas Samman’ and ‘Tulsi Samman’, prestigious arts awards, presented annually by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

 
 
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