Gayatri Chand

🪔 About

Gayatri Chand is a highly accomplished and noted solo Odissi dancer, teacher, and choreographer, recognized for her significant contributions to the preservation and propagation of the Odissi classical dance form, particularly the style of her guru, the late Guru Debaprasad Das. Hailing from Bhubaneswar, India, she is one of the senior-most disciples of Guru Debaprasad Das, under whom she commenced her Odissi training. She further honed her skills under Guru Dhuleswar Behera and Guru Durgacharan Ranbir. Chand is the visionary founder-cum-executive trustee of "Debaprasad Nrutya Pratisthan," a charitable institution established in Bhubaneswar to honor and perpetuate her guru's legacy. Through this institution, she organizes the "Gurukrupa Nrutya Samaroha," a dance festival providing a platform for Odissi dancers. Her dedication to her guru's work is further exemplified by her authorship of "GURU DEBAPRASAD DAS ICON OF ODISSI," the first comprehensive book on his contributions to the dance form. Gayatri Chand's performances are particularly lauded for her mastery of "Abhinaya," the expressive aspect of dance, which has garnered national and international appreciation. Beyond the stage, she is a Law graduate from Utkal University and has ventured into acting, earning a best actress award from the Government of Odisha for her role in the feature film "Agni Sanket." She is also a recipient of a Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards throughout her career. Awards & Honours: Bhaskar, Visharad, Nrutya Siromoni (2008), Prativa Samman (2008), Haripriya Debadasi Samman (2012), Nrutya Patiyashi Samman (for outstanding contribution to Odissi by International Dance Congress (IDC)) (2012), Best Actress Award (for the feature film "Agni Sanket" from the Government of Odisha), Jayadev Rastriya Sanman (2017), Saptashajya's Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), Guru Debaprasad Nrutya Ratna (2019), Senior Fellowship, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India.