Silvana Duarte
Odissi, ballet, & contemporary dance in Brazil
“Dance is a kind of channel for healing, and also for knowing yourself…when you understand that—through meditation and through yoga—you can understand how your mind works, how to be better, and how to transform yourself through the art. When you speak about dance, you’re not only speaking about movement. You are speaking about yourself.”
Silvana Duarte’s journey from Brazil to the heart of Indian classical dance is a testament to her devotion and transformative spirit. A former ballerina, Silvana discovered Odissi at age 30, traveling to India to train at the Nrityagram dance village under Protima Bedi. Combining her background in ballet, yoga, and meditation, Silvana embraced Odissi as both a physical and spiritual practice.
After Nrityagram, she trained with Sharon Lowen in Delhi, culminating in her debut solo performance at the Indian Habitat Centre. Returning to Brazil, Silvana founded Padmaa, one of Brazil’s first Odissi schools. She became a senior teacher at the Indian Cultural Centre in São Paulo. Through performances, workshops, and demonstrations, she introduced Brazilian audiences to the depth and beauty of Odissi, blending tradition with a personal philosophy of self-discovery through art.
