Lakshmipriya Devi

🪔 About

Lakshmipriya Mohapatra (born 1928 in Khurda, Odisha, and passed away on March 20, 2021, at the age of 93 in Bhubaneswar) was a pioneering Indian classical dancer of Odissi. She was introduced to dance by her mother, Tulasi Devi, and began performing at the Annapurna Theatre in Puri at the tender age of seven. By 17, she had become a star performer. In the early 1940s, she was part of the first cohort of female dancers at the Annapurna 'A' group in Puri. Her career saw her move to Cuttack, where she met her future husband, the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, who was then a percussionist. In 1946, after training in Odissi with her husband, Lakshmipriya Mohapatra made history by performing the first solo Odissi dance on stage, a pivotal moment in the revival of the classical dance form. She was also the first woman to perform the traditional Gotipua dance on stage in 1947. Throughout the 1950s, she showcased various traditional folk and tribal dances at Republic Day parades in New Delhi. Beyond dance, she was a celebrated theatre actress, starring in plays like "Bharasa," "Ta poi," "Kalapahada," and "Dasavatara," and also acted in significant Odia films such as "Surya Mukhi," "Manika Jodi," "Amada Bata," and "Mala Janha." In 1985, she retired from professional dancing to dedicate herself to supporting her husband's burgeoning career. Together, they co-founded Srjan (Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa) in Bhubaneswar in 1993, a renowned institution for Odissi dance. Following her husband's demise, she served as the chief trustee of Srjan. Her courageous decision to pursue a career in dance and theatre significantly inspired many Odia girls to embrace Odissi.