Preeti is a prolific Odissi dancer who converted her hobby into her profession. She feels proud to teach students not only dance but also academic subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Math.

Preeti Priya Behera is an Odissi dancer and a PCM teacher at a Government High School in Odisha. She also runs an institute called "Padamruta Nrutyayana," which provides free dance education to children who are financially weak and are trying to enhance their dancing skills.

Recalling her childhood, Preeti says that since her parents were always interested in classical dance, they decided to teach their daughters Odissi dance and made them practice during their summer and winter vacations. She shares that her mother used to keep a check on her dance practice, and it was only during her 9th grade that Preeti realized that her interest in dance had grown.

Preeti grieves losing her dance guru when her dance journey was at its peak. At that time, her father tried different means to make dance videos available to her so she could continue her practice. Preeti soon started participating in group dance performances, which further boosted her confidence. She also attended dance workshops, which helped improve her dance posture and expressions.

Besides dance, Preeti also joined a school as a teacher after successfully completing her B.Ed.

When asked about her mistakes, Preeti says that not giving enough importance to dance during her early days has been one of her major mistakes. Trusting people with a blind eye has been her second mistake, which has cost her at some point in time.

Speaking of her role models, Preeti says she draws inspiration from her mother and her dance guru, without whom she would not have come this far in her dance journey.

Speaking of her achievements, Preeti says that she won the Governor’s Trophy twice, in her 7th and 9th grades. She won the Chief Minister’s trophy as well in her 12th standard. Preeti was later offered the opportunity to be a grade B artist at Doordarshan, and she is also an ICCR-empanelled artist. Preeti is also a SPIC MACAY artist.

Preeti advises aspiring dancers to keep practicing and never forget their classical roots amid western dance influences. She advises everyone to always remember God and stay humble in life. Preeti adds that one should continue with their studies while continuing their passion for creative fields like dance and music.