Kelucharan Mohapatra

Infobox actor
name = Kelucharan Mohapatra


imagesize =
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = Birth date|1926|1|8|mf=y
location = Raghurajpur, Puri, Orissa, India
deathdate = death date and age|2004|4|7|1926|1|8|mf=y
deathplace = Bhubaneshwar, Orissa.
occupation = Indian classical dancer, choreographer
yearsactive = 1935- 2004
spouse = Laxmipriya Mohapatra [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2005/04/15/stories/2005041501680200.htm Remembering the maestro] Leela Venkatraman, "The Hindu", April 15, 2005.]

othername =
awards = 1966: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

"Guru" Kelucharan Mohapatra (January 8, 1926 - April 7, 2004) was a Indian classical dancer, guru and proponent of Odissi dance.

Kelucharan Mohapatra was born in Raghurajpur, a village near the temple town of Puri, Orissa, India. He learnt to paint, sculpt and play the "khol" drum at an early age. He started playing in folk theatre groups and Gotipua troupes from the age of nine. He married dancer Laxmi Priya with whom he often co-acted.

In 1994, he set up "Srjan", an organisation dedicated to train students in Odissi dance.

He trained renowned Odissi dancers like Sanjukta Panigrahi, Kumkum Mohanty, Sonal Mansingh, Protima Bedi, Jhelum Paranjape, Priyambada Mohanty, Minati Mishra, Sharon Lowen and Madhavi Mudgal as well as Bharatanatyam dancers like Yamini Krishnamurthy.

The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award was instituted in 1995 in his honour. It is an annual award and is given to artists who have contributed to arts.

He kept healthy to his last days and kept performing despite a heart surgery. He died in Bhimtangi, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa.

Awards

* Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1966
* Padma Shri, 1972
* Padma Bhushan, 1989
* Padma Vibhushan, 2000
* Kalidas Samman from Madhya Pradesh government

References

External links

* [http://www.odissidance.com/Guruji/K_Mohapatra.htm Kelucharan Mohapatra profile from www.odissidance.com]
* [http://specials.rediff.com/news/2004/apr/13sld1.htm Homage to a Guru] at "Rediff.com";Video links
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjkeZVewEjc&feature=related Kelucharan Mohapatra - Orissi dance - "Gita Govinda"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk1bE4zWY2M&feature=related Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra - Geeta Govinda]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vn42yt98cY Dancer Madhavi Mudgal explains, a performance of Kelucharan Mohapatra]