Sharanya Mukhopadhyay Sekhri

🪔 About

Sharanya Mukhopadhyay Sekhri is a prominent Odissi dancer, choreographer, and educator based in Orange County, California, USA. She commenced her extensive training in the classical Indian style of Odissi dance at the age of five under Guru Srimati Nandita Behera in Cerritos, California. Her dedication to the art form led her to undertake frequent visits to Bhubaneshwar, India, where she further honed her skills under the tutelage of internationally acclaimed Gurus, including Padmashree Guru Srimati Aruna Mohanty, Guru Srimati Sujata Mohapatra, Guru Sri Bichitrananda Swain, Guru Sri Monoranjan Pradhan, Sri Yuddhistir Nayak, and Sri Pabitra Kumar Pradhan. A 2008 dance graduate of UCLA, Sharanya is recognized as one of the leading dancers of her generation, celebrated for her expressive performances and strong technical foundation, which blend power and grace. She made her solo dance debut, known as Ranga Pravesham, at the age of 13, with the esteemed sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar as the chief guest. Beyond her performing career, Mukhopadhyay Sekhri is the artistic director of her own Odissi dance school, Ishwara Dance Academy, established in 2010 in Orange County, California. Through her academy, she conducts classes and workshops, actively promoting Odissi art globally and nurturing future generations of dancers. She also serves as the Associate Artistic Director of SA Dance Company. In addition to her dance career, Sharanya Mukhopadhyay Sekhri is a Speech-Language Pathologist, working with children with special needs. Awards & Honours: Princess Grace Award (2000), J'nae Fincannon Talent Award, L.A. Treasures Award, Miss California Sweetheart (2010).