Growing up in her home state of Odissa, Suchismita Mishra was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to learn the renowned classical dance form of Odissi, which was not uncommon in her community. She took it up at grade three and eventually completed her Bachelor of Dance in grade 12 under the tutelage of her guru Dhruva Charan Biswal. Miles away from her hometown of Rourkela, in Townsville, Mishra is utilising all that she learned to inspire a new generation of dancers and captivate a fresh audience.
Mishra says she always loved dancing and she was fortunate to have a mentor in the family. “My mother learnt Odissi when she was young but could not complete the dance degree. So, she was my motivation for going into dance.”
But after the bachelor’s degree in dance, Mishra left her hometown to study Physiotherapy in the southern city of Bangalore. That was the reason she couldn’t pursue her Master’s in dance. “In India, once you get into professional studies, everything else takes a backseat,” she rues.
However, she continued to perform during college festivals and other social events. “I love dancing, I love good beats,” she says, displaying a confidence and a comfort zone in her own skin.
Soon marriage happened and Mishra moved to Australia with her husband, who is an ICU consultant. “We first came to Adelaide and in 2018 moved to Townsville, where I got the opportunity to soak in my dance form again,” she says.
Mishra has become the cultural face in Townsville, regularly performing at the famous India Fest and other festivals and introducing Odissi to a new and diverse audience.
Recently at the Multicultural Day event in Townsville Grammar School, she was part of an event that provided an opportunity for students to learn about different cultures and engage in a positive way, fostering a sense of understanding and acceptance.
“People know me now because of my dance,” she says with a hint of pride.
Although a classical dancer, Mishra is drawn to fusion. Recently, she danced to Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You following the traditional form. “I find fusion interesting as it allows you to have variations in the dance within the traditional realm. Change is part of life, we evolve. In many ways, it is symbolic or similar to my coming her and embracing change.”
However, she has been mostly performing solos while dabbling into a bit of choreography for young children. The reason is because, Mishra believes classical Indian dance is not something one can learn in a month and perform on stage. “It’s just respect for the art form,” she says.
Mishra has adapted the Sambalpuri folk dance form and choreographed it for children, incorporating Hindi and English songs into the performance. Sambalpuri folk dance is a traditional folk-dance form that originated in the Sambalpur district of Odisha. It is a vibrant and colourful dance form that is usually performed during festivals, marriages, and other celebrations.
Despite being a busy mother to a young son and pursuing a Bachelor of Psychology degree from James Cook University, Mishra prioritises her Odissi folk dance practice. She believes that regular practice is essential for achieving better outcomes.
“I don’t perform on a monthly basis. So just to be in touch with the dance and to be more perfect I have to practice regularly. I am responsible for my art and craft,” she says.
Asked if she is a cultural icon in Townsville, she modestly says, “That is a big word. I am not an icon. I am just getting into the path of spreading Odissi as people know about the other Indian classical dance forms.”
As perhaps the only Odissi dancer of Townsville, Mishra says she will keep performing as long as she can and hopes to raise awareness and appreciation for the rich cultural heritage of India.
Mishra is heartened by the increasing interest in her performances from both the local community and the Indian diaspora, and she feels motivated when she sees her photos shared on the town’s various social media platforms.
“My husband is a big driving force,” she quips.
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