36+
Years of Experience
1
Followers
About
Oopali Operajita is a distinguished Indian classical dancer and choreographer, specializing in both Odissi and Bharatanatyam. Born into a scholarly family in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, she is recognized as a virtuoso performer. Operajita began her dance training at the age of six, studying Bharatanatyam in the Pandanallur style under gurus S. Meenakshi and…
Journey Timeline
1970s
Began Bharatanatyam and Odissi training — Started Bharatanatyam at age six and Odissi concurrently.
1979
Began choreographing Odissi pieces — Her innovative choreographic pieces for Odissi have been set to music by Pandit Chhannulal Mishra since 1979.
1982
Named Top Ranked Artist of the Younger Generation — Awarded by the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi.
1990
Appointed Distinguished Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University — Appointed by President Richard Cyert.
1995
Received MAPW degree from Carnegie Mellon University — While a Distinguished Faculty Fellow at CMU.
2007
Founded Al Gore Sustainable Technology Venture Competition — Asia's first major sustainable technology venture competition.
2010
Artistic Director and Choreographer for Concert for President Obama — Hosted by Indian President Pratibha Patil.
Photo Gallery
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Video Library
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Signature Performances
Signature repertoire pieces will be showcased here.
Performance Map
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Awards & Honors
- 1982 · Top Ranked Artist of the Younger Generation — Central Sangeet Natak Akademi
- Top Ranked Odissi Dancer of the Younger Generation — Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi
- Singar Mani — Sur Singar Samsad
- Canada Council Arts Award — Canada Council for the Arts
- Senior Performing Arts Fellowship — Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute
- Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Fellowship — Rotary Foundation
- National Science Talent Scholar
- National Scholar
- Chancellor's Prize Winner for Debating
Media Coverage
- best Odissi interpreter
The Statesman
- absolute empress of the dance
Marie Claire, Paris
- one of Mohapatra's "star pupils."
The New York Times
- one of the top 10 Pittsburgh classical dance performances of 1996
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Columnist
The Indian Express
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Students
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Testimonials
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Upcoming Workshops
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