Meet Our Team
GAYATRI JOSHI
Principal, Founder & Artistic Director
Guru Gayatri Joshi, is highly accomplished Odissi exponent who has been dancing for more than 30 years. She has performed internationally in prestigious festivals like Konark, International Odissi, San Fransisco Ethnic dance festival, Global Natya Festival, Angkor Wat and many more. She touches everyone’s hearts and souls everywhere she goes with her sharp expressions and grace. To witness her dance is to see the ancient temple sculptures come to life. When she performs, she takes you on a journey of the story she is portraying.
Aside from being a gifted dancer she has brought tears and smiles to people’s faces through her brilliant choreography. She is also an exceptional and nurturing teacher who has been teaching for the past 15 years. She teaches her students how to mature not only as dancers but also as confident and passionate leaders ready to take on the world. She influences her students to strive for greatness in the field of dance and in life. Her dream is to influence the next generation to promote Indian culture and this beautiful Indian classical dance that we call Odissi.
MANOJ JOSHI
Executive Head & Yoga Master
Manoj Joshi, Yoga Master, Life Coarch and Founder of Wellness By All Means, always ready to help people balance their minds and bodies through mindful yoga practice and restorative ayurvedic therapy. A lifelong devotee to yoga, Manoj refined his meditative technique during a two-year study in the Himalayas with local monks and yogis. These profound experiences shaped his current teaching style, which emphasizes...
MALAVIKA DIVAKAR
Teacher & Creative Art Director
Malavika Divakar started learning Odissi at a tender age, under Guru Gayatri Joshi at iGurukul Odissi. Her passion and dedication to the art has won her a number of accolades both internationally and locally. She has performed at such places as the Odissi international Festival, Chausathi Jogini, Kalpana and she has auditioned for America's Got Talent. Malavika participated in Odissi International, Bhubaneswar and was awarded the "Nritya Prativa" award. Malavika has completed her Solo debut 'Rangapuja' and Odissi formal education "Madhyama Antim" - High School level. Malavika has been actively teaching and volunteering for many activities at iGurukul from 2018 and her passion to Odissi is unmatched.
SANIKA KAMDE
Teacher & Marketing & Public Relations
Sanika started learning Odissi at the age of six, under Guru Gayatri Joshi at iGurukul Odissi. Her passion and dedication to the art has won her a number of accolades both internationally and locally. She has performed at such places as the Odissi international Festival, Chausathi Jogini, Kalpana and she has auditioned for America's Got Talent. Sanika participated in Odissi International, Bhubaneswar and was awarded the "Nritya Prativa" award. Sanika has completed her Solo debut 'Rangapuja' and Odissi formal education "Madhyama Antim" - High School level. Sanika has been actively teaching at iGurukul from 2018 and her contribution to iGurukul is commendable. Sanika is currently persuing her education at prestegious UC Berkeley in Computer Science.
Amrita Pati
Senior Teacher
Amrita Pati is an Odissi dancer and choreographer based on the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been dancing, choreographing and performing for over 25 years and continues to refine her technique under the tutelage of Guru Gayatri Joshi.
Amrita started learning Odissi dance under the supervision of Guru Gajendra Panda furthered it with instruction from Guru Somnath Pradhan, both in Bubaneswhar, and Guru Jyoti Rout in California. She completed the Visharad Purna degree in Odissi Dance while at India. While pursuing higher studies in BITS, Pilani and Virginia Tech, she continued to perform and choreograph to Odissi and folk music. Amrita has served as an examiner for the ABGVM Odissi practical exams in California and performed at prestigious venues such as the International Odissi Festival in Bhubaneshwar, Rourkela Dance Festival and the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival.
GURU SANJIB BHATTACHARYA
Manipuri Exponent
Sanjib Bhattacharya, recipient of Appreciation Awards from the President of India Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in 2006 and Smt. Pratibha Patil in 2011. He is an accomplished Manipuri Dance Exponent, Guru and well-known Choreographer
of India and abroad. He has received his training under the tutelage of Guru Bipin Singh, Padmashri Darshana Jhaveri, Kalavati Devi, Manjushree Chaki Sircar and Mamata Shankar. He is currently an established performer of great repute
having extensively performed across India and abroad. He runs everal dance academies and institutions in India and Abroad while conducting Lecture Demonstrations and workshops regularly across the Globe. Currently Sanjib is living in Cleveland, USA and teaching, performing, conducting workshop lecture demonstration, collaboration with the local Indian and multicultural community in US and CANADA, regularly creating a unique global choreographic presentation based on his Manipuri and Indian contemporary dance techniques
as an Extraordinary Artist sponsored by Rainey Institute Cleveland, USA.
GURU BUDDHANATH SWAIN
Mardal
Guru Budhanath Swain obtained his Masters degree in music from Utkala Sangeeta Mahavidyalaya in Utkal University. He worked as a Mardala Teacher and a Mardala accompanist in Nrityagram, the dance village in Bangalore for 5 years. He has performed with leading gurus in many festivals within and outside of India. He was awarded the “Talamani” award by Sur-Singar in Samsad, Mumbai. He is also a staff member at iGurukul and has performed in many of iGurukul programs. He has received many awards including the Best Mrudrangist Award from the Music Academy in 2006. His magic hands on the Mardala are remarkable and saying the Bols is very musical, which is great attribute of a Mardala player.
DR. SANGITA GOSAIN
Advisory Board
Dr. Sangita Gosain who is an Associate Professor in Utkal University of Culture and Chief Executive GKCM Odissi Research Center is a renowned scholar and vocalist was born into music and has always been associated with music. She obtained her Ph.D in Music from Pracheen Kalakendra , Chandigarh. She is an established scholar in the field of research and practices of Odissi vocal. Dr.Gosain is a playback singer for Oriya and hindi films and TV serials. She has given innumerable performances in India and Abroad. Her songs have created a special place in the hearts of thousands of Oriya music lovers all over the world. She has two PhDs: one in English Literature and one in Music. She has been contributing to the field of music for more than five decades. She is a “Top” grade artist of All India Radio, Cuttack and Durdarshan Bhubaneswar. An ICCR empanelled artist, she sings with ease in seventeen Indian languages.
GURU SWAPNESHWAR CHAKRABORTY
Advisory Board
Guru Swapneswar Chakraborthy obtained his Bachelor and Master of Music from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharba Mandal in Pune. As a staffing member at GKCM Odissi Research Center he holds the position of Sitar accompanist. A sitar virtuoso and a composer of music, he has participated in many dance and music programs in and outside of India. He has composed music for many eminent Odissi dancers. He is also a staff member at iGurukul Foundation and has composed many odissi pieces for this institution. He has been with us on this journey for many years and was the sitarist at Guru Gayatri Joshi’s ranga puja so it seems fit that he is present for the first ranga puja of her student. He is an upgraded artist of A-9R and Durdarshan.