BARIPADA: Noted Chhau dance guru Srihari Nayak passed away at his Baripada residence late on Monday night.
A specialist in dances like ‘Shiva’, ‘Sabara Toka’ and ‘Vishnu’, Nayak earned laurels for his Mayurbhanj style of Chhau dance across the globe. He worked as a Chhau teacher at the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Bhubaneswar for sometime and joined Central Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) sponsored project for promotion of Mayurbhanj style of Chhau dance at Baripada.
Nayak was conferred the State Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1976-77 and the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1988.