Indira P. P. Bora

🪔 About

Indira P. P. Bora, born in 1949 in Golaghat, Assam, India, is an acclaimed Indian classical dancer specializing in Sattriya, Bharatanatyam, and Kuchipudi. Her early immersion in dance began in childhood with Sattriya training under gurus Rosheswar Saikia Barbayan, Ghana Kant Bora, and her maternal uncle Pradip Chaliha. She further honed her skills in Bharatanatyam over thirteen years at the prestigious Kalakshetra in Madras (now Chennai) under the tutelage of Guru Rukmini Devi Arundale, where she earned a post-graduate diploma with distinction. Bora also received advanced training in Kuchipudi from the renowned Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam. Bora has dedicated over two decades to performing and popularizing Sattriya worldwide, playing a pivotal role as one of the first female pioneers to transition this monastic dance form into a recognized Indian classical dance. Her international performances include tours in Europe with the Kalakshetra dance company in the 1960s and 70s, where she introduced Sattriya elements. She was also the first dancer to perform Sattriya and Devadasi traditions on BBC Television in London and the first Indian artist to archive her Sattriya compositions at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. Her extensive international outreach includes performances in the United States, New Zealand, and Vietnam. In 1982, she co-founded Kalabhumi in Guwahati with her husband, P. P. Bora, an institution recognized as one of the first dedicated centers for dance, art, and culture in Northeast India. At Kalabhumi, she imparts training in both Sattriya and Bharatanatyam, fostering the next generation of dancers. Bora's contributions extend to collaborating with traditional exponents from Assam's Sattras, conducting research, documentation, seminars, and workshops, and publishing articles on Sattriya. Her efforts significantly contributed to the Sangeet Natak Akademi's formal recognition of Sattriya as one of India's classical dance forms in 2000. She also innovated by introducing Assamese Pat silk costumes and locally-worn jewelry for stage performances, adapting the art form for contemporary audiences while preserving its core traditions. Awards & Honours: Padma Shri (2020), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1996), Guru Gopinath Desiya Natya Puraskaram (2019), State Bishnu Rabha Award (2004), Jonaki Award, Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.