Carolina Prada
Dancer, Martial Artist, Educator
Carolina Prada is a distinguished Colombian artist whose name has become synonymous with strength, grace, and artistic rigor in the field of Indian classical performance. With over a decade and a half of immersive training and practice in India, she is recognized internationally for her dedication to Mayurbhanj Chhau, Odissi, and Kalaripayatt — disciplines she has pursued with rare commitment since 2008.
Learn With Me From Anywhere in the World
Mayurbhanj Chhau
Dynamic and powerful dance-theatre blending martial arts, ritual, and storytelling from eastern India.
View Class Schedules
| Level | Day | Time (Col) | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginners | Tuesday | 7:30 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. (Weds) |
| Beginners | Thursday | 7:30 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. (Friday) |
| Beginners & Intermediate | Saturday | 7:40 a.m. | 6:10 p.m. |
Monthly Fee: 160,000cop / 36usd / 3,500inr
Odissi
Graceful and expressive classical dance from Odisha, embodying devotion, fluidity, and sculptural elegance.
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| Day | |
|---|---|
| Private class | By appointment |
Private class: 80,000cop / 18usd per session
Kalaripayatt
Ancient Indian martial art combining combat techniques, healing practices, and spiritual discipline.
View Class Schedules
| Level | Day | Time (Col) | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular & Beginners | Monday | 7:00 p.m. | 5:30 a.m. (Tuesday) |
| Regular | Wednesday | 7:00 p.m. | 5:30 a.m. (Thursday) |
| Regular | Saturday | 6:30 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
Monthly Fee: 150,000cop / 34usd / 3,000inr
Workshops are also available for individuals, institutions, and festivals, online or in person.
More About Carolina Prada
As one of the few female soloists of her generation to choreograph and perform Mayurbhanj Chhau at a professional level in both masculine and feminine styles, Carolina has carved a unique space for herself in the Indian classical dance landscape. Under the mentorship of Guru Janmejoy Sai Babu, Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, she has dedicated herself not only to mastering the form but also to researching, documenting, and promoting it across continents.
Her Odissi journey began as an ICCR scholar under Smt. Priyambada Pattnaik, culminating in a formal certificate course. She has deepened her understanding of abhinaya through studies with Padmashri Ranjana Gauhar and continues to refine her technique under Geetanjali Acharya, also participating in workshops with eminent maestros Sri Ratikant Mohapatra and Smt. Sujata Mohapatra.
Carolina’s performance career includes appearances at some of the most prestigious cultural platforms in India — Khajuraho Festival, Konark Dance Festival, Dhauli Kalinga, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, and the Delhi International Arts Festival — as well as international events such as Erasing Borders Festival (New York), Sonika Bollywood (Madrid), and performances at The Nehru Centre (London). Her work has consistently received critical acclaim for its authenticity, depth, and power.
A passionate educator, Carolina has designed syllabi and taught in renowned institutions in India and Colombia. As the first ICCR dance scholar from Colombia and a pioneer of these art forms in her home country, she founded OdissiYatra, a company through which she organizes workshops, lectures, and performances that introduce South American audiences to Indian embodied traditions.
Carolina’s commitment to research is evident in her comparative studies of Chhau traditions from Bhubaneswar, Baripada, and Rairangpur. Through visual and academic documentation, she works to expand awareness of Chhau’s regional richness and bring visibility to its practice among new generations.
In 2017, her artistic journey expanded into the realm of Kalaripayatt, training at Kalarigram under Lakshman Gurukkal . Her dedication earned her a place as a performer and guest instructor at the institution. She has explored the choreographic possibilities of combining Kalaripayatt and Chhau, and is now completing a diploma in the discipline after four years of rigorous training.
Guided by her teachers and driven by an unwavering devotion to her craft, Carolina Prada continues to stand out as a leading figure among non-Indian artists devoted to Indian classical traditions. She is celebrated not only for her technical excellence but also for her cultural sensitivity, interpretative depth, and her mission to build bridges between India and Latin America through dance and martial arts.
A Few Press Reviews:
Shyamhari Chakra“The unmasked martial dance of Mayurbhanj Chhau from Odisha has been her passion-profession- mission for life since she landed in India…. The lone professional female dancer of the tradition today…”
Broadwayworld.com“With her extreme extension, gravity defying barrel turns, leaps and bounds, perfect balances, and tremendous expression, Ms. Prada proved the perfect incarnation of God as a dual gendered being.”
The New York Times“The Colombian-born dancer Carolina Prada, expressing the interplay of masculine and feminine energies in the universe by dancing the martial, male dominated form of Chhau with great strength.”
The Pioneer“Tradition in Transition, recently presented by guru Janmejoy Sai Babu with his prime disciple, Colombia-based Caroline Prada, was a worthy exploration of the finesse and sophistication that this form has attained to date.”
The Pioneer“The Colombia-citizen Caroline Prada, disciple of Guru Janme Joy Saibabu, presented a mesmerizing Nataraj: depicting his yogic, destructive and blissful aspects, in pristine Mayurbhanj Chhau.”
The Hindu“Carolina Prada was arguably the best of the disciples, her bodily and inner attitude showing one who has made Mayurbhanj Chhau her personal language.”
(By Leela Venkataraman)
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