Gajendra Kumar Panda

🪔 About

Guru Dr. Gajendra Kumar Panda, born in 1966 in Lokanathpur village of Ganjam district, Odisha, is a distinguished Odissi dance exponent, choreographer, researcher, and teacher. His artistic journey began at the age of nine, training as a Sakhipila under Guru Raghunath Purohit. At the age of eleven, he came under the tutelage of the legendary Guru Debaprasad Das, whose guidance profoundly shaped his artistic vision within the Gurukul tradition. He also received training in Akhada Pila under Guru Bhubaneswar Mishra and in opera and theatre with Guru Prabhakar Shreechandan. Dr. Panda is widely recognized as a foremost custodian and torchbearer of the Guru Debaprasad Das parampara (gharana) of Odissi, dedicated to preserving and expanding its artistic legacy. He is renowned for his mastery of Sabdaswara-Patta, a technique inherited from his guru, and his ability to create stunning sculptural choreography inspired by temple architecture. His style blends the graceful lasya and dynamic tandava aspects of dance, integrating folk and tribal influences into classical Odissi. He holds Nrutya Visharad and Nrutya Alankar degrees from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai. After Guru Debaprasad Das's demise in 1986, Dr. Panda founded Debaprasad Kalakshetra in Brahmapur to propagate his guru's style. He currently leads Tridhara – Odissi Dance Academy in Bhubaneswar, an institution dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of the Debaprasad Gharana. He has performed and conducted workshops nationally and internationally in over twenty countries, inspiring generations of dancers. Awards & Honours: Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Senior Fellowship, Honorary Doctorate in Odissi Dance.