Jaya Mehta is a multi-media artiste who expresses her art in many art forms : dance, poetry, children's fiction and as a dance educator through written articles, innovative workshops and lecture-demonstrations.

Jaya Mehta's dance has the poetry of sculptural lines, beautiful, natural movement, powerful expression and a deep spiritual resonance. She dances the traditional Odissi style of the Guru Surendra Nath Jena style imbibed from her Guru Pratibha Jena Singh. She is also a dancer-poet who dances to her own 'dance-poems'. Her personal style is a rich union of tradition and modernity, where each is reflected in the other.

Passionate to connect children to Indian culture through dance, she has also written a first of its kind, 'Nritya Katha - Indian Dance Stories for Children', published by the National Book Trust of India in English and Hindi languages.

As an Odissi dancer and poet, she has penned a collection of dance-poems in English titled, 'The Poetic Saree'. She has also lent her voice and narration to these poems in a unique audiobook. Her poetry is powerfully multi-dimensional : it has been danced at the India Dance Festival and the International Poetry Festival in the Netherlands, published by the Levure Litteraire and filmed as 'The Poetic Saree Video project' by film maker, Shabani Hassanwalia.

Jaya Mehta has presented spectacular productions like 'Swayam Khoj', 'Odissi Yatra' and 'Konark Kala Sangam' at prestigious international venues like the Inda Dans Festival in The Hague, the International Poetry Festival in Rotterdam, the Agung Rai Museum of Modern Art in Bali, the Gandhi Centre in the Hague, the Nehru Centre in London, the Indian cultural center in Istanbul and the International Odissi festival held in Odisha and New Delhi. Her highly innovative Odissi workshops have won over audiences in Barcelona, the Hague, Rotterdam and India alike. She was awarded the 'Odissi Jyoti' title at the Naveen Kalakaar festival in Orissa in 2008.

Her insightful articles on Indian art and culture have been published in leading Indian newspapers like the Times of India, the Hindustan Times, the Economic Times and Pulse : UK's leading magazine on south Asian dance.

In her dance process with children, she has created pioneering Indian culture workshops like 'Mum, Me and Odissi'(about Odissi dance, music and costume) and the 'Discover India' series (about Indian festivals and seasons). She guides an ensemble of young dancers at her dance school, 'Odissi Kalaa Ashram', to become Odissi dancers who can span the traditional and explorative with equal ease.

Odissi dancer Jaya Mehta

TRAINING AND AWARDS:

• Trained in the Odissi dance style of Guru Surendra Nath Jena from Guru Pratibha Jena Singh at the Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi.
• Received training in the Odissi dance percussion instrument 'Mardala' from Guru Prafulla Kumar Mangaraj.
• Was awarded the 'ODISSI JYOTI' title at the Naveen Kalaakar festival at Bhubhaneshwar (2008).

PERFORMANCES:

• Presented her solo dance production, 'The Boulder Being, at the launch of her book of dance-poems, 'The Poetic Saree', at the Nehru Centre in London(2019) and at the Bikaner House in New Delhi(2019)
• Performed Odissi renditions of Hanuman Chalisa (solo) and Shiv Mangalacharan and Vande Mataram in duet and group format at the Young Artistes Dance Festival at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur (2023)
• Presented Odissi abhinaya 'Benu Gatha' in the Guru Surendra Nath Jena style at Delhi Odissi Utsav 2023 in New Delhi.
• Presented Shiv Shakti solo dance, at the 3rd Guru Surendra Nath Jena International Odissi Festival at Rishikesh (2021)
• Performed a dance production 'Tree of Life', with Odissi dancer, Swaati Chattopadhyay, at the International Scientists Conference, at the ICGEB, New Delhi (2018). The theme of the conference was 'Plant responses to Stress' and the dancers connected the study of nature by artists and scientists.
• Created and danced a residency based-production 'Swayam Khoj', at the India Dance Festival at the Korzo Theatre in the Hague, with Kathak dancer Anima Jhagroe-Ruissen. (2017)
• Presented a duet Odissi recital, 'Odissi Yatra' with Swaati Chattopadhyay at The Nehru Centre in London (2017)
• Presented a solo Odissi recital at The Gandhi Centre in Hague, Netherlands (2016)
• Presented a solo Odissi dance recital titled, 'Odissi Yatra', in the tradition of Guru Surendra Nath Jena at the Centre Mandapa in Paris, France (2015).
Created and performed the 'India Yatra' dance production at the International Poetry Festival in Theatre de Bakkerij in Rotterdam, and the Fayant Theater in the Hague. With Anima Jhagroe-Ruissen (2017)
Presented 'Konark Kala Sangam', an illustrated performance of poetry and Odissi dance with Swaati Chattopadhyay, (about the depiction of the Konark temple in dance and literature) at the Manushi Seminar in the World Book Fair, New Delhi. (2017)
Presented a solo Odissi dance recital titled, 'Odissi Rasa' in the tradition of Guru Surendra Nath Jena at Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA),Ubud, Bali (2014).
Presented a solo Odissi recital titled, 'Krishna Calling' at the India Cultural Centre, Istanbul (2013).
Performed an Odissi recital titled, 'Nritya Darpan' with Odissi dancer Swaati Chattopadhyay at the India International Centre, New Delhi (2015).
Performed duet and group Odissi dances at the '2nd Guru Surendra Nath Jena International Odissi Festival' in Rabindra Manch, Jaipur (2018).
Presented Odissi at the 'Shilp Yatra 2015'- an Odissi recital in the tradition of Guru Surendra Nath Jena at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
Presented 'Dance Travels- into the heart of love and devotion', a special Odissi event at Atelier, costume designer Sandhya Raman's studio in New Delhi (2014).
Presented Odissi at the 'Nritya Dhara 2014'- an Odissi recital by three generations of students of Guru Surendra Nath Jena at the Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi.
Performed the 'Hanuman Chalisa' at the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations at the temple on Anjanadri hill, Hampi(2013).
Presented Odissi at the Vedic Swar Concert 2013 at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
Presented an Odissi recital with Swaati Chattopadhyay at 'Vasant Utsav' the annual cultural festival at Bharati College, New Delhi (2012).
Presented a special Dance Travels event, 'Trees in Indian classical dance',at the Zorba the Buddha, New Delhi (2012).
Presented a special Dance Travels event, 'Decoding Abhinaya',at the Attic, New Delhi (2012).
Presented a special Dance Travels event, illustrating Indian classical dance for the NGO Manzil, New Delhi (2012).
Presented a special Dance Travels event at the Kunzum Travel Cafe, New Delhi, illustrating classical dance as window into the culture of a place (2012).
Performed a duet Odissi recital with Swaati Chattopadhyay at the Jagannath Rath Yatra 2012, at the Sri Jagannath Mandir, New Delhi.
Performed solo at the International Odissi Dance Festival 2011, held at Bhubhaneshwar, Orissa.
Presented 'Divyanjali', an Odissi dance recital with Swaati Vivek at the India International Centre, New Delhi (2011).
Performed Odissi at the International Odissi dance festival, Bhubhaneshwar (2010).
Performed 'Shraddhanjali' - a tribute to late Guru Surendra Nath Jena at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi (2007).
Performed at Sangeet Natak Akademi's cultural programme, highlighting the work of its annual awardee for 2007:Guru Surendra Nath Jena. (Meghdoot Theatre, 2007)
Performed in group choreography on 'Ramayan' , composed by Guru Surendra Nath Jena, at 'Nrityaradhana'( Triveni Chamber Theatre, 2007)
Performed Odissi recital titled 'Bhakti Sandhya' ,an evening of compositions on bhakti, at Triveni chamber theatre, new delhi (2005).
Performed a Trigalbandi with Bharatnatyam and Kathak dancers in a programme in aid of Tsunami victims in New Delhi (2005).
Performed in a Trigalbandi with Bharatnatyam and Kathak dancers at JNU Founders Day Programme (2004).
Solo performance at the Odissi recital titled 'Nrityopasana' at triveni chamber theatre, New Delhi (2004).
Solo performance at the Odissi recital titled 'Odissi Sandhya', an evening of Guru Surendra Nath Jena's dance compositions at Triveni chamber theatre, New Delhi - (2003).
Solo Odissi recital at the Convocation ceremony of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (2003).
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LECTURE DEMONSTRATIONS AND WORKSHOPS:

• Conducted a workshop about the festival of Holi, (through an illustrated talk, performance and improvisation) at the Hague University of Applied Sciences, as a part of the 'Stories of Kathak Festival' 2019.
• Conducted four 'KalaYogi workshops' for adults (connecting odissi dance, sculpture, nature, emotions and yoga) at the Saktisha studio, Hague university square, Netherlands (2017)
• Conducted a 'Performing Poetry through Dance' workshop for The British school students in New Delhi (2023)
• Conducted an 'Odissi Intensive' workshop for the students of the Ashakiran school of Dance in Rotterdam, Netherlands (2017)
• Conducted a children's workshop on 'Connecting with Nature through Indian classical dance' at the Environment Week in Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (2017)
Conducted a series of 'Discover India' workshops for children in Delhi, illustrating the many Indian seasons and festivals, their stories and associations, through art, dance, audio visuals and storytelling (2016).
Conducted a illustrated talk and workshop for school children on 'Connecting Sculpture and Indian classical dance' at the Art Week in Sun City World school, Gurgaon (2016)
Conceptualized a new series of Odissi workshops for mothers and children titled, 'Mum, ME and Odissi'in New Delhi. These introduce the aesthetics of Odissi to parent and child. (2011-2014).
Conducted 'Sun God and Konark', a multi-disciplinary workshop about the visualization of the Sun in Indian mythology and temple architecture through visuals, story, dance and craft for young ones under the Kalatalkies arts initiative.
Conducted a special Odissi dance workshop 'Dance Travels in Barcelona', at the Kundalini Yoga Studio in Barcelona, Spain,2012.
Conceptualized, 'Nourishing our Inner Selves', another new workshop to introduce classical dance to adults which have been conducted in July and August 2012 in New Delhi.
Conducted a classical dance workshop for students of Vasant Valley school at the the Moonbeam meditation centre, New Delhi, (2012).
Conducted 'Ka se Krishna', a unique Odissi workshop for children, connecting the Hindi alphabet with Indian art and classical dance. Mogly's Gurukul, New Delhi.
Conducted a special Dance Travels event, 'Keertan with Krishna', for pre-school going children in New Delhi,(2012).
Conducted lecture – demonstration on the Odissi dance style of Guru Surendra Nath Jena at the Centre for Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (2003).
Conducted lecture – demonstration on Odissi dance grammar, performance and evolution at the Centre for Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (2003).
Conducted lecture – demonstration on classical dance on World Dance Day, for children with special needs at Navjyoti school(2005).
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

• 2012 to present: teaching the Odissi style of Guru Surendra Nath Jena to students at her dance school 'Odissi Kalaa Ashram' in New Delhi.
• Taught dance to children with special needs at Very Special Arts, vasant kunj, New Delhi (2005).
• Created the 'Mum, ME and Odissi', workshops for children, to introduce the aesthetics of Odissi. (2011 -2014)

WRITING:

• Written 'Nritya Katha - Indian Dance stories for Children', published by the National Book Trust of India, in English and Hindi languages.
• Written 'The Poetic Saree - Dance Poems from India' , published by Notion Press, New Delhi.

Jaya Mehta has published many articles on Indian dance and culture for leading Indian newspapers like The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Sunday Guardian, The Economic Times, The Pioneer etc. and for Pulse, UK's leading magazine on South Asian dance.