Ankur Ballal

Ankur Ballal is a Mumbai-based Indian classical dancer, teacher and choreographer associated principally with Odissi. He began studying Odissi at Smitalay, Mumbai, under Guru Jhelum Paranjape in 1995. His training was subsequently enriched through instruction from Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Guru Ratikant Mohapatra and Sujata Mohapatra. He holds a Nritya Visharad qualification in Odissi from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and is listed by Prasar Bharati as a Doordarshan B-grade Odissi artist.

Ballal has been closely associated with Smitalay as a performer, teacher and assistant choreographer. His documented choreographic work includes the Smitalay production Bahinaai, and he has participated in Odissi presentations that engage with both traditional repertoire and thematic production work. His documented performance record includes the 3rd International Odissi Festival in Bhubaneswar in 2006, the 19th Guru Pankaj Utsav in Bhubaneswar in 2013, NCPA programming in Mumbai, and the Odissi International gathering in 2011.

Alongside performance, Ballal has developed a teaching practice within the guru-shishya tradition. He has taught at Smitalay, and published institutional material from Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya identifies him as an Odissi dance teacher. His pedagogical legacy is also visible through disciples who have appeared in public Odissi performances under his and Guru Jhelum Paranjape's guidance.

He remains active as of 2026. On October 30, 2026, he was listed as a performer in the ICCR Sub-Zonal Office, Pune and Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics programme, 100 Years of a Legend: Centenary Celebration of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, in Pune.