Sonali Mohapatra

Guru Sonali Mohapatra is an accomplished Odissi dancer, choreographer, teacher, and exponent of the Debaprasad Das tradition. She began learning Odissi at the age of four under Guru Smt. Truptimayee Mohanty and later received advanced training from the renowned Guru Durga Charan Ranbir. Her artistic expertise encompasses both Abhinaya (expressive dance) and Nritta (pure dance).

At the age of five, Sonali suffered severe hearing loss following medical negligence, losing 100% hearing in her left ear and 87% in her right ear. Despite this profound challenge, she continued her journey in dance. With determination, family support, and the use of a hearing instrument, she developed the ability to understand rhythm, taal, and musical flow through vibration and rhythmic patterns. Her hearing impairment became a challenge she learned to work with rather than a barrier to her artistic aspirations. Over the years, she has performed on prestigious national and international platforms, including the International Odissi Dance Festival, Khajuraho Dance Festival, Mukteshwar Festival, and Konark Festival. She is the founder of Nrutya Upasana Pitha, established in 1998, where she continues to teach and nurture young dancers.

She is also a recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2011) from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, recognizing her contribution and talent in Odissi.