Odissi is taught by Mala Desai, a fine proponent of this gracious dance form.  She was initiated into classical Indian dance education at the age of four, and has studied Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Odissi. She has earned her Diploma in Odissi Dance from Guru Mayadhar Raut School of Odissi Dance. She was awarded Certificates for Classical Dance from the Indira Kala Sangit Viswavidyalaya, Khairagarh University in India. A teacher of Odissi dance since 1995, Mala offers Odissi classes, workshops, lecture demonstrations and regularly does creative choreography in classical and semi-classical dance styles. She  directs, performs and teaches Indian folk dances. She has conducted private classes at the Great Neck School of Dance since 1999. She also teaches at the Lotus Music and Dance Studios in Manhattan and at YICG.