Sharmila Banerjee

🪔 About

Sharmila Banerjee is a celebrated classical, folk, and creative dancer and choreographer from Bangladesh. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Dance from Visva-Bharati University at Shantiniketan, India, under an ICCR Scholarship. During her time at Shantiniketan, she trained in Kathakali and Manipuri dance styles. Furthering her expertise, she was bestowed with the title of "Nartan Visharad" after completing post-graduate courses in Manipuri dance at the Manipuri Nartanalaya in Kolkata, where she studied under renowned Manipuri teachers Guru Bipin Singh and Srimati Kalavati Devi. Banerjee also received training in Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and various forms of folk dance. Throughout her career, Sharmila Banerjee has made significant contributions to the dance landscape of Bangladesh. She serves as the head of the dance department at Chhayanaut and is the founder and director of her own private institution, Nritya Nandan, both located in Dhaka. As a choreographer, she has composed and directed numerous Tagore dance dramas, including "Chitrangada," "Chandalika," "Shyama," "Mayar Khela," and "Kalmrigaya," as well as productions based on Bengali literature by Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. She has also worked as a choreographer for theatre performances and has performed and choreographed for Bangladesh Television Dance Programs. Banerjee is recognized for her efforts in promoting and educating about classical dance. She has curated and presented monthly series like "Understanding Classical Dance" and "Understanding Dance," which feature lectures, demonstrations, and audio-visual content on various dance forms, including Kathak and folk and tribal dances. Her dedication to dance has earned her several accolades, including the "Visva Yuva Barsha Padak 1984," "Nartan Visharad" in 1996, Meril Prothom Alo Award 2009 for best dancer and choreographer, "World Master of Bangladesh" in 2009, and the "Shilpakala Padak 2018" for her contributions to dance in Bangladesh. She is married to elocutionist Bhaswar Banerjee and is the mother of dancer Sudeshna Swayamprabha. Awards & Honours: Visva Yuva Barsha Padak (1984), Nartan Visharad (1996), Shadhinata Padak (Chittagong) (1999), Gauhar Jamil Shammanana Padak (2002), Gunijan Shammanana (2005), Meril Prothom Alo Award (2009), World Master of Bangladesh (2009), Shilpakala Padak (2018).