Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra was an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, known for his mastery of the Odissi dance form. He was born in 1928 in the village of Raghurajpur in Odisha, India. He began his training in Odissi dance at the age of five from his father, Guru Raghunath Mohapatra. He later went on to study under other renowned Odissi dancers, such as Guru Pankaj Charan Das and Guru Deba Prasad Das.
Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra was a pioneer in the field of Odissi dance. He was instrumental in reviving and popularizing the dance form. He also played a key role in establishing the Odissi Research Centre in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. He was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, in 1972. He was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, India’s highest award for performing arts, in 1986.
Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra died in 2004 at the age of 76. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
Odissi is a classical dance form that originated in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. It is one of the eight major classical dance forms of India. Odissi dance is characterized by its graceful movements, intricate footwork, and expressive facial expressions. The dance is performed to the accompaniment of music played on traditional Odia instruments, such as the mridanga (drum), the sitar (stringed instrument), and the tabla (drum).
Odissi dance is believed to have originated in the temples of Odisha during the 6th century CE. The dance was performed by temple dancers, who were known as devadasis. The devadasis were dedicated to the service of the gods and goddesses in the temples. They performed dances as a form of worship.
Odissi dance declined in popularity after the 12th century CE. However, the dance was revived in the 20th century by a group of dancers and choreographers, including Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. These dancers and choreographers worked to preserve and promote the dance form. They also developed new techniques and styles of Odissi dance.
Today, Odissi dance is performed all over the world. It is a popular form of dance that is enjoyed by people of all ages.