Surendra Nath Jena

🪔 About

Surendra Nath Jena (October 10, 1924 – October 8, 2007) was a renowned Indian classical Odissi dancer, choreographer, musician, poet, and teacher. Born in Utchapur, Bhadrak, Odisha, India, he began his performing career at the age of nine, initially training in Jatra under Anand Nayak. He also briefly studied Kathakali under Balakrishna Menon in Calcutta. Jena then moved to Cuttack, where he trained in Odissi dance for five years at the Kala Vikash Kendra under gurus such as Kelucharan Mohapatra and Mayadhar Raut. He was conferred the Nritya Bhushan degree in Odissi Dance in 1965-66. In 1966, Jena relocated to Delhi, initially working as an assistant at Nritya Niketan before joining Triveni Kala Sangam in 1967 as an independent Odissi dance teacher, a position he held until his retirement in 2004. Over four decades, he evolved a distinctive Odissi style, deeply influenced by his extensive study of ancient literature and Odishan temple sculptures, particularly those of Konark and the Chaunsath Yogini temples, and texts like Abhinaya Chandrika and Shilpa Prakash. His compositions, including Konark Kanti (1967), Chaya Jhatak (1971), and Shilpa Chandrika (1977), are integral to his extensive repertoire. Jena's dance philosophy integrated Vaishnava, Shaiva, and Shakta or tantric content, viewing dance as a means of worship and self-realization. He authored the Oriya poetry book "Atman-Odissi Nritya Puran" (1991-1993), focusing on the history, technique, and aesthetics of Odissi. His work has been documented by various organizations, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi. After his demise, the Nrityashilp Guru Surendra Nath Jena Odissi Dance Foundation was established in Delhi NCR, dedicated to teaching and promoting his unique style, led by his eldest daughter, Pratibha Jena Singh. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2006), Nritya Bhushan (1965), Fellowship from Department of Culture, Government of India (1981).