Sharmila Biswas

Sharmila Biswas is a leading exponent of Odissi dance, known for her work as a performer, choreographer, and teacher. Born in Kolkata in 1962, she began her training at the Children’s Little Theatre before specializing in Odissi under Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She also studied abhinaya with Kalanidhi Narayanan.

Active since the 1980s, she has performed widely across India and internationally, participating in major dance festivals and cultural events. Alongside her performance career, she has developed a body of choreographic work informed by research into traditional performance practices of Odisha, including Mahari traditions and regional dance forms.

In 1994, she founded the Odissi Vision & Movement Centre in Kolkata, focusing on training, research, and production. Her work explores both traditional frameworks and contemporary interpretations within Odissi.

She has received several recognitions for her contribution to Indian classical dance, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2012).