We’re very happy to share that Sukanya Mukherji, Mayur’s founder and Artistic Director, has received a Maryland State Arts Council Heritage Award! This honor recognizes six individuals each year for sustained contributions to traditional arts and culture across the state. We’re deeply grateful to the MSAC Heritage Awards committee for recognizing Sukanya’s life’s work and the tradition she has carried forward with such care.
Sukanya has dedicated more than five decades to Odissi, one of India’s oldest classical dance forms. Trained in the lineage of Padmabibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, she brings a rare combination of rigor, depth, and generosity to her teaching and choreography. Since founding Mayur in 1993, she has helped Odissi take root in Maryland—not just as a performance form, but as a shared cultural practice that connects students, families, and audiences across generations.
Those of us who have learned from her know that her impact goes far beyond technique. Sukanya has built a community grounded in discipline, curiosity, and respect for lineage, while encouraging dancers to grow into their own voices. Through classes, productions, mentorship, collaborations, and festivals, she has created space for hundreds of students to develop both as artists and as cultural bearers.
At Mayur, we have long known how special Sukanya’s work is. It’s meaningful to see that work recognized at the state level, and we’re proud to celebrate this moment with her. Our sincere thanks to the Maryland State Arts Council for honoring Sukanya and for continuing to support the traditional arts that shape Maryland’s cultural life.
Official press release: https://msac.org/news/2026-heritage-awards