Simantini (Soma) Mitra-Behura presents a solo recital showcasing unique choreographic compositions, both traditional and contemporary, rooted in the Odissi classical dance tradition. With over 23 years of experience, Soma began her training in 2003 under Guru Supradipta Datta in Houston, TX, performing early at the prestigious Wortham Centre and International Odissi Festival 2013 as its youngest soloist.
Since 2015, Soma has trained under Padmashree Guru Aruna Mohanty at Orissa Dance Academy. As a member of the ensemble, she has performed and scriptwritten for the Saptavarna US tour (2019) and the Odissi Odyssey UK tour (2024). As a soloist and group artist, she has performed at global stages across Boston, London, Odisha and Assam including the Dhauli-Mahotsav Festival, the British Museum and the Bhavan.
This recital marks eleven years since Soma’s Rangapravesh – an occasion for gratitude and reflection. In those eleven years, Soma has deepened her artistry through work with Odissi icons like Bijayini Satpathy, Sharmila Biswas, and Madhavi Mudgal, while broadening her experience under Bharat Natyam exponents like Divya Ravi and Christopher Gurusamy. Reflecting on the ever-expanding boundaries of the artform, balancing the old and the new, Ekadasha is a celebration of what has been and what is to come.