Sanjukta Panigrahi

Born: 24 August 1944

Died: 24 June 1997

• She was a dancer from India, who was the foremost exponent of Indian classical dance Odissi.
• She was the first Odia woman to embrace this ancient classical dance at an early age and ensure its grand revival.
• In recognition of her contribution to dancing and associated activities, she was honoured with one of India’s highest civilian awards the, Padma Shri (1975).
• She is also recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1976.
• Apart from presenting Odissi performances in different parts of India, She has been a part of the Government’s cultural delegation to different countries, including to the US and the Philippines (1969), United Kingdom (1983), Israel, Delphi International Festival in Greece (1989).
• She has also performed in France for eleven weeks and participated there in the International Music Festival in Paris.
• She spent some time at the International School of Theatre Anthropology at Bologna, Italy in 1986, 1990 and 1992, teaching short courses and demonstrating Odissi dance to foreign students, further adding to its global popularity.
• Her great advantage was her musician husband, whose constant presence helped her finesse her abilities in this genre.
• In Abhinaya (interpretation of poetry), connoisseurs and critics were agreed on the fact that she more often than not veered towards Jatra and melodrama.

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