Shankar Behera

🪔 About

Guru Shankar Behera is a distinguished figure in Indian classical Odissi dance, recognized for his significant contributions as a performer, teacher, and choreographer. Born in Berhampur, South Odisha, he commenced his Odissi training at the tender age of nine in 1960, under the tutelage of Guru Mahadev Rout at the National Music Association in Cuttack, where he studied until 1964. Subsequently, from 1964 to 1970, he pursued a six-year course at the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya in Bhubaneswar, receiving guidance from eminent gurus such as Pankhaj Charan Das, Dev Prasad Das, and Dr. Minati Misra. He further enriched his training by attending condensed courses at the Kala Vikash Kendra, led by the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. In 1971, Guru Shankar Behera relocated to Mumbai (then Bombay), where he played a pivotal role in establishing Odissi dance. After a solo performance at Sur Singar Samsad in 1972, he was approached to teach, at a time when no dedicated Odissi school existed in the city. His early students included notable dancers like Menaka Thakker, Jaya Deer, Baby Gouri, Flora Devi, and Protima Bedi. His international teaching career began in 1974 with a three-month engagement in Mauritius, invited by Flora Devi. He later conducted his first workshop in London in 1989 at Akademi, at the invitation of Sanjeevini Dutta, and also taught at Flora Devi's Anjali Association in Montpellier, France. Guru Shankar Behera's distinctive style, characterized by exaggerated lines, high leaps, and profound abhinaya (expressive acting), has earned him a unique place in Odissi. He was honored with the prestigious Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award for lifetime achievement in Odissi dance in 2013. Awards & Honours: Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award for lifetime achievement in Odissi dance (2013).