Bhubaneswar: Danseuse Sujata Mohapatra has been chosen for this year's Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contribution to Odissi.

She is the only recipient of the award from the state this year.

The award, which is being conferred by the country's apex body for performing arts since 1952, symbolises the highest standard of excellence and achievements in the arena and also recognises sustained individual work and contribution. The award carries a cheque for Rupees one lakh, a tamrapatra and angavastram. The President confers the award at a special ceremony.

Sujata is the disciple of legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and is married to his son and Odissi exponent Ratikant Mohapatra.

Born in Balasore, she learnt the dance form initially from Guru Sudhakar Sahu. Later, she shifted to Bhubaneswar and became a disciple of Kelucharan. She has since been performing in dance festivals around the globe.

Known for her immaculate performances of complex compositions, Sujata has also come up with an Odissi institute in her hometown to train youngsters in the dance form.

"My aim is to train youngsters from the rural parts of the state in the art form and also to promote Odissi in all corners of the world simultaneously," she said.

This year, Odissi dancer Janhabi Behera and folk musician Sarbeswar Bhoi have been chosen for Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the state by the academy.

The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar is given to artistes below the age of 40 years. It identifies young talents in diverse fields of performing arts and gives them national recognition.