Discover the Enchanting
World of Odissi Dance

Lisa Santhanam is an internationally acclaimed Odissi artist, the Artistic Director for Odissi Lasya Dance Academy, and a distinguished recipient of India’s Devadasi National Award. A dedicated practitioner of the Srjan gharana, Lisa’s work serves as a vital bridge between classical heritage and contemporary global expression. Her artistry is defined by decades of rigorous training under her mentors, Gurus Ratikant and Sujata Mohapatra, whose lineage she continues to preserve through performance, mentorship, and creative research.

Beyond her role as a performer, Lisa is a sought-after educator who facilitates intensive residencies and workshops for dancers across the United States and abroad. Lisa has actively supported university world dance programs, enriching higher education curricula with the intricacies of Odissi aesthetics and classical dance tradition.  Her pedagogical approach is instrumental in training the next generation of Odissi practitioners, ensuring the art form’s technical precision and spiritual depth endure in the modern era.

Lisa’s professional footprint spans global stages, with notable performances at:

• International Festivals: Odissi International (Bhubaneswar), International Odissi Festival, India Dance Festival (Athens, Greece), and the Yoga Festival (Guangzhou). Chidambaram Natyanjali, Bangalore & Chennai Margazi, and Brazil.

• Regional Programs: the U.S. National Cherry Blossom Festival,  Arts Alive, NYC international Dance Festival