“All things classical are elegant, aesthetic, and traditional. But that doesn’t mean they have to be complex. If classical dance doesn’t reach all, it becomes limiting. That is not its destiny.”
Sutapa is an expert dancer as well as a skilled swimmer. She started learning water ballet from the tender age of 6 years. She has also directed many water ballets, most significant being ‘Shyama’. Her water ballets include -
- NATURE’S GIFT AND GANGABATARAN -1962
- NIL SAGARER RUPKATHA- 1964
- DIPER MAYA – 1965, 1966
- TASHER DESH– 1977, 1986
- SHYAMA – 1977
These productions were produced by the Indian Life Saving Society.In her journey as an artist, she has performed across the nation and internationally as well. As part of her devotion to Odissi, she started her Odissi learning academy, Gurukul, in 1987. It’s second unit was opened in 2015. Within this institute, she created a specialized training unit, ‘Creative Wing’ which nurtures the experimental works of Sutapa and Gurukul. Today she is completely dedicated to the preservation and permeation of Odissi, and finds solace in passing on the knowledge that she has acquired from her Gurus to the young generation through regular training at ‘Gurukul’..