Odissi Vision and Movement Centre

Odissi Vision and Movement Centre was founded in 1995 with the purpose of promoting Odissi classical dance through research and performances. The institution has a Training Unit, a Performing Unit and a Creative Unit, making the institution interlinked, self sufficient and integrated. Most of the OVM Productions highlight the different aspects of Oriya culture. Sampoorna, OVM s first full length production has been inspired by the lives of the Temple Dancers of Orissa. , Murchhana is based on the Mrudanga Traditions and Dhulikhel is an attempt to expand the boundaries of Odissi by imbibing elements from the folk art forms of West Orissa. Sutra interlinks the folk and Classical forms of Orissa. , These are some of the noteworthy productions, which have helped establish OVM Repertory as one of the leading dance companies of India and has toured extensively in India and abroad. , Sharmila Biswas, the Founder-Director, is a disciple of Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra. Known for her originality in composition, technique and stage design, her versatility ranges from classical Odissi Dance to experimental choreographic work often based on the traditional movement skills of Orissa. This gives her the strength to reach out for new forms and create new mediums of expressing unique contemporary statements through her work. , She has been awarded the Uday Shankar Award, for the best choreography in 1998, by the Dept. Of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of West Bengal. She has also received the Junior and subsequently the Senior Fellowship Award from the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India and the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi. Sharmila is graded as a Top artist by Doordarshan (Indian National Television) and Outstanding by Indian Council of Cultural Relations , Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. Of India.