Nandita Patnaik

🪔 About

Nandita Behera, born Nandita Pattnaik on August 29, 1957, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, is a highly respected Odissi dancer, teacher, choreographer, and the visionary founder of the Odissi Dance Circle in Cerritos, California. Her profound journey in Odissi began with rigorous training under two of the dance form's most revered masters, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Guru Gangadhar Pradhan. This foundational education equipped her with a deep understanding and mastery of Odissi's intricate techniques and expressive nuances. After establishing her roots in California, USA, Behera dedicated herself to the global propagation of Odissi, a mission she has pursued for over two decades. Her Odissi Dance Circle serves as a vital institution for the preservation and promotion of this ancient Indian classical dance form, offering comprehensive training to aspiring dancers. Through her academy, she has nurtured numerous talents, including notable students like Shibani Patnaik, who has gone on to perform widely across India and North America, and Prasanna Karthik, for whom Behera choreographed a significant dance presentation in December 2020. Nandita Behera's significant contributions to Odissi have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the Sringaramanai award from Sur Singar Samsad Bombay and the National Scholarship for Dance in India, underscoring her artistic excellence and scholarly dedication. As a performer, she has showcased her artistry on various platforms, including a notable performance in Long Beach in April 1991 and at the International Odissi Festival organized by the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre in Bhubaneswar in December 2012. Further extending her impact, Nandita Behera is also an accomplished author, with her book "Odissi: An Ancient Art Revived," published in 2012, contributing valuable insights to the academic discourse and appreciation of Odissi dance. Her unwavering commitment has solidified her status as a pivotal figure in ensuring the continued legacy and global reach of Odissi. Awards & Honours: Sringaramanai, National Scholarship for Dance.