In the pulsating heart of Singapore’s cultural and corporate scenes, one name resonates with unparalleled grace, resilience, and brilliance—Soumee De Odissi, dancer, choreographer, teacher, and changemaker. More than a performing artist, she is a storyteller, a spiritual connector, and a bridge between tradition and transformation. Her life and career offer a masterclass in how passion, purpose, and professionalism can harmonise in a way that leaves a legacy beyond borders.
Soumee De: A Dancer’s Genesis – Nurturing the Spirit from the Age of Four
Soumee De’s journey with classical Indian dance began at the tender age of four. Growing up immersed in the sacred rhythms of Kathak and Odissi, her formative years were shaped by the discipline and devotion intrinsic to these ancient art forms. Under the rigorous training of esteemed gurus, she blossomed not just as a dancer but as a keeper of culture, a vessel of timeless tradition.
Today, Soumee De continues her artistic refinement under the guidance of Guru Ratikant Mohapatra at Srjan, India, while imparting her wisdom as an Odissi instructor at Apsaras Arts, Singapore. Her dual role as both student and teacher embodies her belief in the importance of perpetual learning and the value of generous sharing.
Ethos: Exploring the Odissi Spirit
True to her transformative vision, Soumee founded Ethos – Exploring the Odissi Spirit, a dynamic dance collective in Singapore dedicated to Odissi dancers. More than just a platform, Ethos is a sanctuary for cultural expression and exploration. It fosters a safe space for collaboration, experimentation, and storytelling, where the ancient flows into the modern, and the spiritual interlaces with the social.
For Soumee, Odissi is not merely dance—it is a philosophy. Through programs like Dance-telling at The Artground, she introduces this philosophy to young minds, seeding curiosity, creativity, and confidence from the earliest years.
Soumee De: Dance as a Dialogue – Notable Works and Performances
Soumee De’s body of work is a living portfolio of emotional depth, intellectual richness, and creative daring. Her recent productions like Peace, an Unfolding at Artwalk Little India 2021, and Ritu Ranga at the same event in 2020, speak to her artistic ethos—using dance to reflect, reimagine, and rebuild.
From River Ramble at the Stamford Arts Center opening to Phenomenal Women on International Women’s Day, each performance reveals her talent for choreography as both craft and consciousness. Her solo showcases at Dance India Asia Pacific and Anuvartanam Festival by Srjan further mark her as a compelling soloist of international repute.
In collaborations like Kanna Va with IndianRaga and Apsaras Arts, and storytelling workshops like the Digital Culture Festival by the Indian Heritage Center, she seamlessly blends ancient narrative with contemporary technique.
Kali – The Timeless Goddess: A Dance-Theatre Revelation of Soumee De
Arguably one of her most impactful works, Kali – The Timeless Goddess, is a bold and breathtaking convergence of mythology, dance, theatre, and emotion. Inspired by her college performance of Kali at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, and deeply influenced by the spiritual musings of Swami Vivekananda, this production explores the divine feminine as a force of creation, preservation, and destruction—Srishti, Sthithi, Vinashanam.
Integrating Shyama Sangeet, Odissi music composed by Ratikant Mohapatra and Debashish Sarkar, and soundscapes like the Dhak drums, the performance is a visceral experience. Through drishti-bheda, navarasa sadhana, and layered breathwork, Soumee brings Ma Kali to life—not as an icon of fear but as a divine mirror reflecting the transformational potential in every soul.
The character of Tilottama, a symbolic human protagonist, becomes a conduit through which the performance delivers its central message: to honour creation, to challenge the ego, and to embrace transformation.
Beyond the Stage: A Champion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
What sets Soumee De apart is her multi-dimensional identity. She is not only an artist but a Partner at Ernst & Young Advisory Pte Ltd in Singapore. In her corporate role, she is a strategic advisor, a certified leadership coach, and a champion of DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) across the financial services landscape.
Her portfolio includes workforce transformation, leadership development, mergers and acquisitions advisory, and building inclusive workplace cultures. With over two decades of HR experience in the Asia Pacific and an MBA in HR from XLRI, Soumee fuses analytical acumen with artistic empathy.
“My personal purpose is to serve the next generation of leaders, move the needle on DEI, and humanise our professional world,” she shares. This mission infuses her leadership style—grounded, human-centric, and transformational.
Leading with Grace: Impacting Arts and Society in Singapore
Singapore is fortunate to have visionaries like Soumee De who invest in both artistic growth and societal progress. Through her efforts, Odissi is no longer a niche form but a growing movement. She credits the success of this evolution to the openness of Singaporean audiences and the support of institutions like the National Arts Council.
“The progress we see today—be it in performance quality or student engagement—has been a collective effort. Thanks to peers, seniors, parents, and cultural advocates, Singapore is becoming a global hub for Indian classical arts,” she says with pride.
A Life in Harmony: Dance, Leadership, and Motherhood
Behind the accolades and accomplishments is a woman who wears many hats—a mother of two, a devoted student, a business leader, and a cultural guardian. Soumee De embodies what it means to live with balance and authenticity.
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