Usharani Baishya

🪔 About

Usha Rani Baishya is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, choreographer, scholar, and cultural ambassador, primarily recognized for her profound expertise in Sattriya dance, one of India's eight classical dance forms. With a career spanning over three decades, she has dedicated herself to performing, teaching, and training, making significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Sattriya dance. Baishya is the visionary founder and principal of Kirtan Kala Kendra, an institution established in Guwahati in 1997, which is devoted to the propagation of Sattriya dance and music. Through this academy, she has nurtured and trained numerous students from various parts of Assam, across India, and even internationally. Her artistic prowess is further recognized as an "A" Grade artist of Doordarshan Kendra, New Delhi, and an empaneled artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in the solo Sattriya category, leading to extensive performances both within India and abroad. Beyond her performance and teaching, Baishya has made notable academic contributions. She serves as a UGC Visiting Fellow at Dibrugarh University, a Senior Research Fellow of the CCRT (Ministry of Culture), and a faculty member in the Department of Performing Arts at Pragjyotishpur University, Guwahati. She is the author of "Sankara Suro Parakasha," a dance drama that delves into the life and philosophy of Mahapurush Srimanta Shankardeva. Additionally, she has conceptualized and scripted significant documentaries, including "E Maatri Shanti Radhika," produced by Doordarshan Kendra Guwahati in 2024. Her accolades include the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi. In 2024, Usha Rani Baishya was honored with the Dr. Sudha Dutta Award in Kolkata. She has also been instrumental in organizing major cultural festivals such as Kirtan Kala Utsav and Bihu Festival. Her dedication to the art form is evident through her extensive work and the students she has mentored, such as Rimlee Choudhury, who has performed alongside her. Awards & Honours: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, Dr. Sudha Dutta Award (2024).