Nandita Behera

🪔 About

Nandita Behera is a distinguished Odissi dance instructor, performer, and choreographer, widely recognized for her contributions to the art form in the United States. Born Nandita Pattnaik in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, she received extensive training in Odissi for 25 years under the tutelage of legendary gurus Kelucharan Mohapatra and Gangadhar Pradhan. Behera immigrated to the United States in 1988, where she has since dedicated her career to promoting and teaching Odissi. She is the founder and artistic director of the Odissi Dance Circle in Cerritos, California, an institution committed to preserving and propagating this classical Indian dance form. Behera is known for her fascinating blend of religious expression, graceful movements, and captivating postures, drawing directly from Odissi's rich heritage. Her commitment to the art form is encapsulated in her statement, “Odissi is my prayer and my profession. It is my life.” She has been teaching Odissi in California for over two decades, nurturing numerous students, some of whom have become accomplished dancers themselves. Her expertise has been acknowledged by publications such as The Orange County Register, which described her as one of the outstanding exponents of Odissi dance in the United States, and the Los Angeles Times, which lauded her performances. In 2002, she served as a master artist in the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) Apprenticeship Program. Awards & Honours: Sringaramanai, National Scholarship for Dance.