Sharmila Mukerjee

🪔 About

Sharmila Mukerjee is a distinguished Indian classical Odissi dancer and choreographer, widely recognized for her contributions to the art form. She commenced her dance journey at the age of sixteen, performing the lead role of 'Prakriti' in Rabindranath Tagore's dance drama 'Chandalika' in Kolkata, which garnered critical acclaim for her grace and stage presence. Her formal Odissi training began in 1984 under the tutelage of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, after initially learning from Smt. Poushali Mukherjee, a disciple of Mohapatra. She underwent rigorous and intensive training at her Guru's residence in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, also receiving guidance in Abhinaya from Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan and attending workshops by Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi. Mukerjee had her Rangapravesh (debut performance) in 1988, with Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra himself accompanying her on the mardala. Her career as a performer has seen her grace prestigious festivals and conferences across India and internationally in countries such as Fiji, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, the USA, Indonesia, the UAE, Turkey, Tunisia, and Seychelles. She is recognized as a Grade A artist of Doordarshan and an Established artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), often performing as a cultural ambassador for India. In 2000, she received a scholarship to the University of Michigan, where she trained in dance movement and composition. In 2004, Sharmila Mukerjee founded the Sanjali Centre for Odissi Dance in Bangalore, where she serves as the artistic director. The Sanjali Ensemble, under her direction, is empanelled by the Ministry of Culture in the 'Outstanding' category for participation in national and international festivals. As a prolific choreographer, she has created numerous dance pieces and directed several Odissi productions, including 'Hansika' (an adaptation of Swan Lake), 'Sookshma' (based on A.K. Ramanujan's "A Flowering Tree"), 'Kaikeyi and the poet', 'Kalidas's Ritusamhara', and "Ritubhava". She also hosts an annual Odissi show in Bangalore titled 'Pravaha'. Beyond performing and teaching, Mukerjee has also taught dance and movement therapy to hearing-impaired children at The Oral School for Deaf Children in Kolkata and the Sheila Kothwala Institute for the Deaf in Bangalore. Awards & Honours: Singar Mani (1989), Kala Gaurav, Sironama, Mahari Award (2016), Karnataka Kalashree (2016).