Shaswati Roy Chowdhury

🪔 About

Shashwati Roy Chowdhury, also known as Shashwati Garai Ghosh, is a prominent Indian classical Odissi dancer, choreographer, and teacher based in Kolkata, India. She began her journey in Odissi at the age of 10. In 1998, she enrolled in a pre-degree course in dance at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, where she pursued her bachelor's and master's degrees in Odissi. A pivotal moment in her artistic development occurred in 1998 when she witnessed a production by reputed Odissi dancer Sharmila Biswas, which deeply inspired her. The following year, in 1999, Shashwati joined Sharmila Biswas's Odissi Vision and Movement Centre in Kolkata, where she further honed her skills. Recognized for her talent, Shashwati received the prestigious Kelucharan Mahapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman in 2005, an award honoring the memory of the legendary Odissi guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She is known as one of the few Odissi soloists in India, striving to design her own unique dance expressions. In 2012, she founded Angashuddhi, an initiative through which she incorporated workshops to teach her students the importance of sharing art and learning from diverse classical forms, emphasizing the evolving nature of art with the artist. As the head of Angashuddhi, she conceptualizes and choreographs productions, performing with her ensemble and senior disciples at various festivals. She actively performs and teaches, with her students participating in choreographies and performances. Awards & Honours: Kelucharan Mahapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman (2005).