My Story
an accomplished odissi danseuse of the legendary Guru Shree Kelucharan Mohapatra gharana.
Initiated into dance an early age of 10 by the exponent Smt. Aloka Kanungo, Nilanjana was tended carefully and nurtured in Odissi dance and she took further training from Guru Shree Giridhari Nayek for few years. Her dance was finally refined and polished under the able tutelage and discerning guidance of the Legendary Maestro of Odissi Dance Padmabibhushan Guru Shree Kelucharan Mohapatra. Her quest for more learning sent her to Srjan (an Odissi Nritybasa at Bhubaneswar) conducted by Guru Shree Ratikant Mohapatra and she mastered there the art and technique of Odissi Dance under the able guidance of Guru shree Kelucharan Mohapatra & Guru shree Ratikant Mohapatra. Nilanajana’s devotion, perseverance and commitment has placed her as the promising danseuse among the Odissi Dancers of her generation. Nilanjana has imbibed within herself the essence of the Odissi Dance with purity and perfection.
Nilanjana has been conferred with the "NRITYA VISHARAD" in the year 2000.
She acquired "GOLD MEDAL" in all Bengal Talent Test in the year 2000.
She has been awarded by the title “ODISSI JYOTI” in the year 2009
Performances
Nilanjana has performed in most of the major cities and festivals in India. Some of her noteworthy performances are -
• Dover Lane Music Festival in Kolkata
• Udayshankar Dance Festival in Kolkata
• Sur Sringar in Mumbai
• Oriya Mahotsav in Raipur
• Odissa Festival in Kolkata
• Barabati Nrityotsav in Cuttack
• International dance festival in Bhubneswar
• International World Dance Festival in Kolkata
• Sampreeti Utsav in Delhi
• Samsaranam (tribute to Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra) in BBSR
• Indo – Japan Friendship Mission in Japan
• Heritage dance festival in Bangkok
• Poush utsav in Shantiniketan