Sharanya

Srimati Sharanya Mukhopadhyay Sekhri is a 2008 UCLA dance graduate who has been trained in the Classical Indian Style of Odissi dance since the age of 5. She is currently one of the leading Odissi dancers in her generation and has trained in the U.S. and in India at Orissa Dance Academy, under the guidance of Padma Sri Guru Srimati Aruna Mohanty (BBSR & USA), Guru Srimati Nandita Behera (USA), and Guru Sri Pabitra Kumar Pradhan (BBSR & USA). She has also received training from Guru Sri Manoranjan Pradhan and Guru Sri Yuddhistir Nayak when visiting India during the ages of 9-14. She completed her Ranga Pravesham, solo dance debut, at the young age of 13 with chief guest in attendance, the late Pandit Ravi Shankar ji. She has been published in numerous newspapers like the OC Register, LA Times, San Diego Tribune, Kolkata Telegraph, etc. for her stunning performances. She is the recipient of many prestigious awards like the Princess Grace Award and has won multiple scholarship pageant titles such as Miss California Sweetheart 2010, under the Miss America Organization. Sharanya travels and performs globally and is currently the artistic director of Ishwara Dance Academy, (IDA) a premiere Odissi Dance Academy in Orange County, California. It is her passion to promote Odissi art across the globe and she has been vigilant in passing down art and culture to future generations. Sharanya is also a mother to two young girls who are ages 2 & 4 and they love watching and learning Odissi from their mother and current resident teacher at IDA, Guru Sri Pabitra Kumar Pradhan.