Sreyashi Dey is an exponent of Odissi, an Indian classical dance style from the state of Orissa in India. She is the founder-director of Srishti, meaning creation, an institution dedicated to teaching and research on Odissi and developing awareness and thinking on Indian culture through classical dance.

Early Training
Sreyashi's initial dance training was in Bharata Natyam, which she studied and performed (including her arangetram) for over ten years from Saroja Vaidyanathan and Lalita Shastri of Kalakshetra. Attracted by the beauty and grace of Odissi, she initiated her study of Odissi from renowned Gurus Mayadhar Raut and Harekrishna Behera. She began performing Odissi after a period of intensive training with them.

Performances in India
Sreyashi has performed in most prestigious dance festivals all over India, including ones organized by premier institutions in India such as

• Sahitya Kala Parishad
• Sangeet Natak Akademi
• India International Center
• Indian Council for Cultural Relations
• India Habitat Center

She has performed in numerous programs on Indian TV. She has been involved in dance-related projects - she was a regular participant in lecture-demonstration programs that made classical dance available to rural schools in India. She has been involved in fundraising through cultural programs for non-profit organizations that support literacy programs in India.

As an Odissi Dancer in the US
Sreyashi was a dancer of repute when she moved to the US in 1987 to pursue graduate studies in Economics and Business. Since then she has performed all over the country. She has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area where she was active in its vibrant cultural environment. She has lived in Pittsburgh since 1995 where she performs and teaches Odissi to a select group of dedicated students. In addition, she has established many creative links with the broader artistic community in Pittsburgh. She is active in facilitating understanding of classical dances of India in their broader cultural context through workshops and lecture/demonstration programs.

She maintains her growth as an Odissi dancer by regular trips to India when she undergoes further advanced and rigorous training with her Guru. She continues to perform in Pittsburgh and other cities in the US as well as in India. Her solo performance at the prestigious India Habitat Center, New Delhi, in March 1999 was a major landmark, highly praised by critics as well as dance lovers.

Artistic Vision
Apart from her dedication to preserving the rigorous classical style of Odissi, Sreyashi is constantly expanding her creative horizons and experiences with new collaborations and choreographies. She has collaborated with video artiste Prajna Parasher in a multi-media presentation to interpret Mahashweta Devi's short story, "The Hunt". She recently worked with Sylvia Nanyonga-Tamasuza, performer (dancer, musician and drummer) from Uganda, Africa and poet Andrea Read to creatively explore the many identities a woman assumes in her life and the significance of rhythm in the two cultures. She also choreographed a dance theater composition of Kalidasa's ancient Sanskrit play Meghadutam. 

Recent New Works

• "Shakti Sanatani: Primordial Female Enrgy in the Cosmic Cycle" A choreography in classical Odissi style that that frames the female divinities of Gayatri (Sun), Ganga (the holy river) and Kali (the terrible form of Goddess Durga) in the cosmic cycle of Creation-Preservation-Dissolution. Premiered: February 6, 2000.
• "Our World: One People, Many Faces" a three-way collaboration between the Mary Miller modern dance company and UMOJA African Arts Ensemble. This Millenium Peace Project was premiered on April 14 and 15, 2000. 

Multi-faceted

In addition to dance, Sreyashi pursues a full time parallel career in marketing management. She graduated from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, in Economics. She has a Masters degree in Economics and another one in business (MBA).

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