Sarodi Saikia

🪔 About

Sarodi Saikia is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, teacher, choreographer, and musician, widely recognized for her profound contributions to the Sattriya dance form. Born on October 24, 1956, in Jorhat, Assam, she began her formal dance training at the tender age of five, initially learning Manipuri dance under Guru Rathin Singh. In her early teens, she also delved into Kathak dance. At the age of sixteen, after completing her schooling, Saikia moved to Guwahati to dedicate herself to Sattriya dance, studying under the tutelage of Guru Raseswar Saikia Barbayan of Kamalabari Satra. She further honed her skills in the Kamalabari style under Gurus Rameswar Khataniar Barbayan, Ghanakanta Borah Barbayan, and Jagannath Mahanta. Recognizing the complexity and limited reach of Sattriya at the time, her gurus encouraged her to popularize the form, leading her to perform on stage even before fully mastering its nuances. Beyond dance, Saikia is also an accomplished musician, having studied Sitar under H. B. Dutta, Lipika Banerjee, and Nand Banerjee, and Hindustani vocal music under Nand Banerjee. She is credited with pioneering a distinctive repertoire for solo Sattriya performance, a significant achievement as the dance was traditionally performed by groups of monks in Sattras. Her extensive career includes performances at national and international dance festivals, including those organized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and conducting numerous workshops and lecture-demonstrations. In 2003, Saikia established Rangayan, an institute of dance, acting, and music in Guwahati, where she imparts training to young dancers and conducts research on the history and evolution of Sattriya dance. She also founded Rang Mandoli, a performing group that showcases her choreographic works. An author, Saikia has penned several books and scholarly publications on education, women, and development issues, alongside her writings on Sattriya dance. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2015), Bishnu Rabha Award (2022), Devdasi Award (2015).