BHUBANESWAR: Ben Ryken has fallen in love with playing the typical Orissan percussion instrument of mardal. Annie Prague is now too fond of Orissa's fish curry like its culture. And Heidi Berge says she would dance Odissi till her death. Their affair with Orissa and Odissi has just begun.

Ben, Annie and Heidi are among the 30 undergraduate students of The Evergreen State College of America who are in the city now to experience the Indian artistes' way of life.

They are in the last leg of their tour to three Indian states - Gujarat, West Bengal and Orissa - to study "the dance of politics and politics of dance". They are being led and guided by their professors - US-based noted Odissi dancer Ratna Roy, who teaches them expressive arts and Jeanne Hahn, professor of political economy and history.

"Both of us have integrated our teaching module to help our students understand the complex Indian society and its culture from different dimensions," explained Roy.

From Narendra Modi's Gujarat, the young Americans travelled to the Communist Government led West Bengal. Orissa has been their final destination to study how tradition matters a lot here in dance and lifestyle. "It is amazing to see that they are so sincere in doing yoga, exercises and dance . It is also heartening to see them touch the feet of the elders and prefer to put on traditional Oriya wear," said Bichitrananda.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail