Odissi exponent Sikata Das captivates audience with her graceful movements, enchanting presence, and magnetic stage charisma. Renowned for her Abhinaya performances, Sikata has become a prominent figure in the Odissi dance world. She has graced prestigious venues and received numerous awards, establishing herself as a leading torchbearer of Odissi in her state.
Born in a family deeply rooted in the arts, Sikata is the daughter of Padma Shri Manoranjan Das, a celebrated playwright. Her mother, Kusum Kumari Das, hailed from a lineage of dancers and musicians, and her household was filled with artistic expression.
" I consider myself fortunate to have been raised in a family where creative arts were highly valued. From a young age, I would start tapping my feet to any music I heard my mother played the harmonium, and my elder sisters practised dance regularly,” Sikata shares.
Recognizing Sikata’s budding interest in dance, her father took her to Kala Vikash Kendra in Cuttack, one of Odisha's premier cultural institutions. The opportunity to learn Odissi from esteemed masters like Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Raghunath Dutta, and Guru Ramaniranjan Jena filled Sikata with excitement.
“Unfortunately, I was informed that I wasn’t eligible for admission at the time due to my age and lack of primary education, which were prerequisites for joining Kala Vikash Kendra,” Sikata recalls. Although the wait was frustrating, her father chose not to enroll her in any other institution. “I had to wait another year until I turned five, at which point I was finally admitted and began my training,” she adds.
Since then, dance has been Sikata Das’s singular passion and focus. She completed her Nrutya Pravesh, Nrutyashri, and ultimately earned her Nrutya Bhusan, a post-graduate degree in Odissi, from Kala Vikash Kendra. Additionally, she undertook a comprehensive four-year course in Odissi at the same institute, with Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra as its director. In 1998, Sikata also achieved a ‘Sangeet Visharad Final’ in Odissi from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, graduating with first division and distinction. “I feel truly blessed to have studied under Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. I strive to honor his teachings every time I perform. Despite dancing for four decades, each stage experience feels new and invigorating,” Sikata reflects, having graced stages across the country and the world..
Sikata has taken her Odissi performances to a global audience, gracing stages in international cities such as Paris, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Boston, Dayton, Iowa City, St. Louis, Houston, San Diego, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York, Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, Portland, San Antonio, and Los Angeles. Despite her busy schedule, she dedicates time to train aspiring Odissi dancers. In 1984, she conducted a workshop at the Odissi Research Centre and has since led workshops in cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Meerut, Hardwar, Roorkee, and Ranchi.
She feels fortunate to have performed alongside luminaries such as Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, the late Sanjukta Panigrahi, Sonal Mansingh, and Kumkum Mohanty. Sikata has also appeared in Odissi dance sequences in Odia films like Krishna Sudama and Adina Megha.
