• Academic Qualification:
 M.A.
in History from Jadavpur University. Obtained her Phd.
on "Study of the Terracotta temples of Vishnupur
with special reference to the Music and Dance".
At present, she is working Director, Nrityanti Odissi Centre, Kolkata.
A talented artiste of performing arts and a zealous researcher of Indian Art History, Dr. Barnali Mitra has been for long developing her acumen in mass communication activities. A master of Arts in History from the Jadavpur University, she obtained her Ph.D degree on Temples of Vishnupur with special reference to music and dance which drew the attention of scholars and art lovers. The recipient of the title Nrityashree from a Dance school in Kolkata, she was a prominent student of Late Guru Ramgopal Mishra in Jaipur gharana of Kathak and obtained the best competitor's certificate in Kathak from All India Prayag Sangeet Samiti in 1976. She joined Ananda Shankar's Dance troupe of Creative Style in 1978, touring ail over India and abroad including Japan, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Holland, Kuwait, Hongkong and Thailand.
 In 80's, she devoted herself to Odissi dance — first with Guru Muralidhar Majhi, and then with Padmabhusan Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra. She has practiced under the guidance of one of Guruji's senior disciples. Late Guru Gangadhar Pradhan. A permanent 'A' - grade Odissi dancer of Doordarshan Kolkata, she got her first debut in the National Network in 1987. She has performed successfully in various music and dance conferences.
 Vishnupur, a jewel in the crown of Bankura district of West Bengal with its exquisite late mediaeval terracotta temples displaying a sheer artistry with mud still stand in resplendent glory. A comprehensive literature on these architectural delights was a long felt desideratum. In this book celebrated dancer-scholar and internationally reputed photographer came together to produce a symphony of words, images and perceptions.
 The author has elaborately explained the iconographic significance, literary contents, dedicatory inscriptions, socio-cultural contexts and the available account of the temple' builders as also the much neglected artisans. She analyzes the human figures on the temple panels, especially the female ones from a dancer's view point.
A talented artiste of performing arts and a serious researcher of art history. Dr. Barnali Mitra is the Director, Ntityanti Dance Institute in Kolkata. A prolific writer on dance and music. Dr. Mitra worked also as Dance critic for a leading newspaper in Kolkata.
• Her Publications:
 'Rajasthani influence in VishnupurTerracotta"— Janasatta (Hindi).- "Dance in Indian Sculptures" in Bharatiya Samskriti Samsad Encyclopaedia of Art.
- In Lokasanskriti Patrika, write-ups on some subjects like Nari, Nritya - Ganesha etc.
- 'Vishnupur - the abode of Dance and Music" in the Indian Museum special Bulletin, Vol. No. XXXVI of 2001.
- "The Dance of Bauls" in the Folklore Research Journal, no XI in 2002.
- "Bauls in movement" in Nrityakalpa, patrika of Dance by W. B. Dance Group Federation in Dec:, 2003.
- A book "Vishnupur Temples - Rhythm and Melody" published by Bingsha Satabdi,
inaugurated by the one honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal on 21st June, 2007.
• Her Performances:
 Calcutta Conference - 1987 - Radhikamohan Moitra Conference - 1988
- Ghungru Festival, Bhopal - 1989
- Alauddin Khan Festival, Maihar -1990
- Indian Museum Dance Festival, Kolkata - 1996
- Dvipa Mahotsav, Port Blair, Andaman -1996
- Binoytosh Centenary Celebration, Kolkata -1996/97.
- Gangtok Dance Festival, Sikkim -1997.
- Sikkim CulturalFestival - 1997
- ICCR Dance Festival, Kolkata -1997.
- Sanskrit Colege 175th Anniversary, Kolkata - 1997.
- Nritya Durga Festival at Indian Museum 1997 & 2000
- International Cultural programme at Kyongju, South Korea - Nov.' 1998
- 185th Anniversary of Indian Museum, a new choreography on the life of James Princep "searching (he soul of India" - 1999.
- Demo - lectures, performance of Odissi, Workshops, Tagore Dance- Dramas in six cities of U. S. A. during Oct'- Nov.' 1999.
- Choreography on the "Mahisasuramardini" on stage in 2000 during Puja.
- Derno-lecture at India International Centre.. New Delhi, on "Dance and Music on the panels of the Vishnupur Terracotta Temples" - June 2001.
- Performed at Hungarian Cultural Centre with a choreography on the Hermit Hero, Csoma de Coros -2001.
- Dance and Music on the terracotta temples of Vishnupur at the Indian International Centre, New Delhi (June-2001),
- Nriyanli (Her Dance Institution), performed in different programmes including
 "Mahisasuramardini" on the occasion of the Mahalaya, on 25th Sept. 2003, organised by the HMV Saregama & thelndian Museum.
- Participated in the Biswa Banga Sammelan with choreographic work in Kolkata - 2002.
- In Feb. 2006, she performed her own choreographic work on Prajnaparomita in Bodhgaya, on the occasion of 2500 years of Lord Buddha.
- Classical Dance Tour at Taipei, Taiwan (2003).
- Solo performance in Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, - 2004
- Nrityanti performed in Kolkata Doordarshan in March 2006 & Buddha Mahotsava, Bodhgaya - 2006.
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