Kelucharan Mohapatra

Kelucharan Mohapatra
Mohapatra on a 2023 stamp of India
Born(1926-01-08)8 January 1926
Died7 April 2004(2004-04-07) (aged 78)
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Occupation(s)Indian classical dancer, choreographer
Years active1935–2004
SpouseLaxmipriya Mohapatra[1]
ChildrenRatikant Mohapatra
AwardsPadma Vibhushan

Kelucharan Mohapatra (8 January 1926 – 7 April 2004) was a legendary Indian classical dancer, guru, and exponent of Odissi dance, who is credited with the revival and popularizing of this classical dance form in the 20th century.[2] He is the first person to receive the Padma Vibhushan from Odisha.[3]

A noted Sanskrit poet of India writes on this Guru: Saango-paanga-subhangi-laasya-madhuram samteerna-nrutyaarnavam, which translates as – "Each fraction of his dancing body leads to paramount sweetness, through miraculous poses and postures. In fact, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra crossed the ocean of styles."[4]

  1. ^ Remembering the maestro[usurped] Leela Venkatraman, The Hindu, 15 April 2005.
  2. ^ DANCE REVIEW; Sculptural And Sensual, It's Odissi by Anna Kisselgoff, New York Times, 19 October 2000.
  3. ^ Sampad, Shilpi (26 January 2013). "Sun dreamer gets Padma". telegraphindia.com. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013. after late Odissi dancer Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra
  4. ^ Vanikavi Dr.Manmohan Acharya (8 January 1926). "SRJAN, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa". Srjan.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.