Bangladeshi Dancer Has Mastered Three Indian Traditions
Farjana Yasmin has completed advanced training in Odissi, Kuchipudi, and Sattriya after years of study in India.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Dance
At age 42, Bangladeshi dancer Farjana Yasmin has concluded a multi-year training program in India to master three classical dance forms. She is the first dancer from Bangladesh to formally study both Kuchipudi and Sattriya.
Why it matters
Yasmin pursued these complex dance traditions to explore their unique grace and distinct movement vocabularies. Her achievement marks a significant cross-border exchange in the preservation and performance of Indian classical arts.
Yasmin has spent eight years dedicated to the research and practice of Indian classical dance. Her repertoire now includes three distinct traditions, drawing from a national universe of eight recognized classical styles.
The players
Farjana Yasmin
She is a 42-year-old dancer from Bangladesh who has become the first from her country to formally learn Kuchipudi and Sattriya.
Amrita Singh
She is a guru who provided specialized Kuchipudi instruction to Yasmin.
Sreemoyee Borah
She is a guru who trained Yasmin in the traditions of Sattriya.
The details
After beginning her Odissi training in Bangladesh in 2012, Yasmin moved to India in 2018 on an Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarship. She subsequently underwent specialized training in Kuchipudi under guru Amrita Singh and in Sattriya under guru Sreemoyee Borah.
Timeline
Yasmin began learning Odissi in 2012.
She moved to India on a scholarship in 2018.
Her training in Kuchipudi started in 2020.
She began her studies in Sattriya in 2021.
The completion of her training was reported in October 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This story follows the academic and artistic mobility enabled by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarship program. Yasmin's work illustrates the growing importance of formal cross-border educational programs in the preservation of heritage performance arts.
Audiences can expect to see Yasmin incorporate these three distinct dance forms into upcoming international performances. Her future work as a university professor in Bangladesh will also create new opportunities for students interested in studying these classical traditions.
The takeaway
Yasmin's multi-year immersion demonstrates how dedicated academic research can bridge cultural gaps in the arts. Her career shift toward teaching and international performance highlights the continued relevance of classical dance on the global stage.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving standards of global performance, visit the Dance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
