Dimple Saikia

🪔 About

Dimple Saikia is a dedicated exponent, performer, and researcher of Sattriya, a major Indian classical dance form originating from Assam, India. Born in Guwahati, she has been immersed in Sattriya since childhood, receiving her initial training from her father, Guru Gobinda Saikia, a revered Sattriya guru, at his school, Guwahati Kala Kendra. Her elder brother, Pradyumna, also trained under their father. Saikia pursued higher education in dance, earning an MA from the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Centre for Studies in Performing Arts at Dibrugarh University. She furthered her academic pursuits by qualifying for the National Eligibility Test (NET) and is currently pursuing a PhD in Sattriya at Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan. Her doctoral research focuses on "Sattriya dance and Manipuri dance: A Comparative Study," reflecting her scholarly engagement with classical Indian dance forms. As an accomplished performer, Dimple Saikia has showcased Sattriya on national and international platforms. Her performances include the Erasing Borders Festival of Indian Dance in Lower Manhattan, the "Classical Dance Festival" organized by the North-East Zone Cultural Centre in Dimapur in 1999, and a cultural program under the inter-state culture exchange scheme in Daman in 2002. She also performed at the World Tea Science Congress in Jorhat in 2011, under the "horizon series" organized by ICCR in 2012, and at the 'KHAJURAHO' festival in 2012. Early in her career, she received the 1st Prize in Sattriya Dance organized by Assam Kalakshetra in 1996. Beyond performance, Saikia contributes significantly to the academic discourse of Sattriya. She serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Performing Arts at Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva Viswavidyalaya in Guwahati, Assam. Her research has been published in various journals, including "SATTRIYA DANCE: AN AESTHETICAL OUTLOOK" (2024), "A Comparative study of “Aharya” of Sattriya and Manipuri Classical Dance forms of North-East" (2021), and "The music of Sattriya and Manipuri dance: A comparative study" (2022). Her multifaceted career highlights her dedication to both the practice and scholarly understanding of Sattriya dance. Awards & Honours: 1st Prize in Sattriya Dance organized by Assam Kalakshetra (1996).