About Nilanjana Banerjee

She took a short hiatus from active dance performances but her learning continued as she matured. She learnt Bharatnatyam for a few years at Bhatkhande Hindustani Sangeet Mahavidhalaya. On relocating to New Jersey, she continued her quest for learning Odissi and started training with Smt. Mitra Purkayastha, a leading disciple of the noted Guru Padmasri Murlidhar Majhi. Being an accomplished dancer and choreographer, Mitra was able to further enhance Nilanjana's dance skills. Nilanjana was now ready to give her own interpretation of Odissi with the maturity and finesse necessary for this task. Mere technical perfection and faultless execution of dance steps were never enough for her. Her body and soul were one when she now performed. She wishes to bring the same dedication to her teaching. Dance is an art form where instruction is not just handed down to the disciple. The teacher is a guiding light and she illuminates the path as the pupil takes her own tentative steps towards a lifelong journey.

"There is no other knowledge, no other learning, no other art, not even yoga or action that is not found in dance." Natya Shastra