Jhelum Paranjape.

BIOGRAPHY

Dance has been a way of life for Jhelum Paranjape since childhood. For a number of years she performed in the dance ballets staged by the Rashtra Seva Dal Kalapathak under the direction of noted poet Vasant Bapat and tutelage of Shri Ramesh Purav. The troupe presented several memorable shows. Maharashtra Darshan, Bharat Darshan, Shiv Darshan and Azadi Ki Jung can be cited as particularly noteworthy productions.

Since 1977, she have dedicated herself to the pursuit of Odissi dance. Starting her training with Guru Shankar Behera, she has, since the last 26 years been training with the doyen of Odissi dance, Padmavibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She has been actively performing since 1983.

When she began her training in Odissi with Shankar Behera, Smita Patil was her active partner. Though Smita Patil shifted to film very soon, her mind was always into dance. She was Ms Paranjape's friend & mentor. It was through her that Ms jordan fake shop Paranjape was introduced to Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Smita Patil died in 1986, and Jhelum was already teaching in a small way by then. Her memory very much inspired the creation of Smitalay.