Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (Odia: ଗୁରୁ କେଳୁଚରଣ ମହାପାତ୍ର; January 8, 1926 – April 7, 2004) was an Indian classical dancer, guru, and proponent of Odissi dance, who is credited for the revival of the classical dance form in the 20th century.[2] He is the first person to get Padma Vibhushan from Odisha.[3] A noted Sanskrit poet of India writes on this Guru 'that Saango-paanga-subhangi-laasa-madhuram samteerna-nrutyaarnavam' which means - Each fraction of his dancing body leads to paramount sweetness through the miraculous pose and postures. In fact, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra crossed the ocean of styles.[4]
"Odissi is not a mere dance form to entertain people but to inspire and elevate. I don't actually dance but pray in compassion and the spectators say that this `form' is dancing." [6]
""The real dance must convey the feeling of undivided existence, that a spectator can feel that he is not different from the thing observed".[6]
" Dance has not only made my life purposeful,it has been my whole life... Whatever I am today is entirely due to the blessings of my guru."