Minakshi Behera

🪔 About

Minakshi Behera is a distinguished Indian classical Odissi dancer and a senior guru, acclaimed for her grace, creativity, and profound knowledge of the art form. She received her initial training from Guru Gangadhar Nayak, where she mastered the acrobatic form of Odissi dance, Bandha Nrutya. Subsequently, she became an illustrious disciple of the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, from whom she imbibed the nuances of expression, graceful movements, and the intricate purity of Odissi. Her career also saw her collaborate with other doyens of Odissi dance, including Mrs. Kumkum Mohanty, Mrs. Sanjukta Panigrahi, and Guru Gangadhar Pradhan. A student of philosophy, Minakshi Behera is recognized for her unique Odissi recitals, characterized by lively expressions and a poetic quality while maintaining the classical form's purity with her outstanding improvisations. To propagate and impart the purest form of Odissi, she founded the Gunjan Dance Academy in Cuttack, Odisha. The academy has been performing globally for nearly two decades and has attracted international students who now serve as torchbearers of Odissi in their respective countries. Beyond her classical choreography, Behera has also choreographed for films and is a gifted music composer and vocalist. Awards & Honours: Mahari Samman, Bhavan Samman.