Malavika, Mala, began learning Odissi in 2016 when she participated in Nrityagram’s summer workshop, and falling in love with the artform, traveled there for training during her summer and winter school holidays. Since 2019, she has been passionately training under guru Bijayini Satpathy virtually and in-person, and has assisted Bijayini Di at events such as the Studio 5 NYC City Center showcase, and the NYPL Until Kothari Lecture demonstration. She is a Presidential Scholar in the Arts and is a YoungArts Finalist in dance. She presently conducts weekly Odissi classes at Gibney Studios. Outside of her artistic pursuits, Malavika is a senior at Columbia University studying biochemistry.