The world of dance was introduced to Sonali Mishra at a very tender age of five. Under the great tutelage of Smt. Uma Suresh, she underwent training in Bharatnatyam. Then after she went on sharpening her skills in Bharatnatyam under Smt. Sudha Chandrasekhar. At the age of fourteen years, Sonali Mishra was inducted into the world of Odissi dance. She was inducted to the dance form under the Chitralekha Dance Academy with (Kalashree) Chitralekha, (Kalashree) Ellora, and Guru Devraj Patnaik. Sonali Mishra`s love for her native state Orissa delves her to nurturing this art form.
Sonali Mishra from the year 1995, travelled to India frequently to acquire further training. Under the strict guidance of illustrious guru Sri Bichitrananda Swain and Sri Rameshchandra Jena at the Orissa Dance Academy, she acquired necessary things, which has sharpened her skills in Odissi dance. Guru Sri Gangadhar Pradhan has also trained her under his great supervision. From the year 1999 to the year 2000, Sonali Mishra underwent a rigorous and continuous training in Odissi. Smt. Aruna Mohanty from Bhunabeswar and Smt. Nandita Behera from Los Angeles have also trained her. Smt. Aruna Mohanty and Smt. Nandita Behera are well-accomplished dancers to their credit. In the current time, Sonali Mishra is also undergoing training process under `Rudrakshya`. `Rudrakshya` is the Odissi dance Institute established by her Guru.
Sonali Mishra has been regarded as the `constant pursuit of Perfection`. Her rise as one of the most aspiring young dancers of the generation from she belongs was made possible only because of her total devotion and commitment towards this art form. As a soloist, Sonali Mishra has performed in an extensive manner. She has performed at many highly esteemed festivals and programmes throughout India, Canada, US, UK to mention a few. Some of the occasions where she has performed are: the Asian American Dance Festival (New York), the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center (Boston), The Brooklyn Folk Feet Festival (New York), the Mahari Award Program (Orissa), and the 3rd International Odissi Festival (Orissa) to name a few. Sonali Mishra has also conducted several Lecture demonstrations as well as performed at the University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon University, New York University, City University of New York, and Stony Brook University.
Apart from exhibiting her brilliance in dance, Sonali Mishra also holds a Bachelors degree in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. At this moment she is staying at New York City, US.
