Sharmila Bandyopadhyay

🪔 About

Sharmila Bandyopadhyay is a distinguished classical, folk, and creative dancer and choreographer from Bangladesh. Her foundational training in Indian classical dance forms began at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Dance under an ICCR Scholarship. During her studies, she received comprehensive training in both Kathakali and Manipuri dance styles. Throughout her extensive career, Bandyopadhyay has made significant contributions to the dance landscape of Bangladesh. She currently serves as the head of the dance department at Chhayanaut, a prominent cultural institution. Additionally, she established and directs her own private dance institution, Nritya Nandan, fostering the next generation of dancers. Her artistic endeavors include numerous performances and choreographies for Bangladesh Television Dance Programs. She is particularly acclaimed for composing and directing Rabindranath Tagore's iconic dance dramas, such as “Chitrangada,” “Chandalika,” “Shyama,” “Mayar Khela,” and “Kalmrigaya,” along with other productions based on Bengali literature by Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. Bandyopadhyay has also lent her choreographic expertise to various theatre performances. She is recognized as a leading artist dedicated to the Rabindrik dance form, which integrates elements of Manipuri and Kathakali. Awards & Honours: Visva Yuva Barsha Padak (1984), Nartan Visharad (1996), Shadhinata Padak (Chittagong) (1999), Gauhar Jamil Shammanana Padak (2002), Gunijan Shammanana (2005), Meril Prothom Alo Award (2009), World Master of Bangladesh (2009), Shilpakala Padak (2018), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2020).