GURU SHANKAR BEHERA    See Video Shankar Behera

Disciple of Guru Pankaj Charan Das and of Guru Kelu Charan Mahapatra, Shankar Behera is the worthy successor of his gurus. The title of Nritya Acharya bestowed on him reflects his excellent knowledge of Odissi Dance.

Born in Cuttak Orissa, he was introduced,as a child, to the dance by his grandfather, Dukh Behera, a former dancer and folk singer.

Eminent specialist in Odissi dance, Shankar Beheri was the first guru to teach Odissi in Mumbai in the late sixties. He has trained highly renowned dancers such as Protime Bedi, Sangeevani Dhutta and Flora Devi. He travels regularly to England and France to teach and give performances.

"His silver hair flowing, dressed in red and golden silks, his belt chisseled out of coins , his foot bells accentuating the rhythmic pounding of his bare feet on the floor, Shankar Behera accompanied the music with the supple movements of his ebony body. He performed in front of a silent audience. When the guru dances, it is for the Gods. The mystical finale introduced a great moment of peace that allowed the dancer, now semi god, to serve as a liaison between the audience and the Supreme Being."
Le Dauphiné Libéré

"Watching the performance of Guru Shankar Behera, the spectator is brought back to the sources of Hindu mythology: the offering dance in reverence to Mother Earth; the emergence of Nataraja, King of the Dance; the bewitchment of the shepherdesses by Lord Krishna , the ten incarnations of Vishnu, Protector of the Universe and the release of the soul into Nirvana ... All these mysteries of India were danced in the same sensual and mystical way as they were in the ancient temples over two thousand years ago.
Weekend, l'Ile Maurice