The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : When dancing is a way of life

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Sunday, Oct 04, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

When dancing is a way of life

Everything in India, not just dance, has become a lifetime’s experience, Ileana Citaristi tells
Abhijit Dev Kumar

Ileana Citaristi

When destiny calls, the course of life is set on track. Perhaps this is what happened to Ileana Citaristi when she first visited India from Italy and started learning Odissi way back in the 1970s. Dr. Citaristi’s passion for theatre brought her to India to first learn Kathakali in 1978. “I came to attend a three-month workshop on Kathakali to learn more forms of expressions as I was also doing theatre in Italy,” she says. But her will to learn more classi cal dance forms made her come back to Orissa and this time she was introduced to Odissi by Padmabhushan awardee Kelucharan Mohapatra.

Extended stay

“I came to Orissa for a six months’ course. But those six months have turned into thirty years in India now. My experiences in India is not limited to the dance form, everything has become a lifetime’s experience,” says the Padmashree awardee, who is touring the twin cities as a part of the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth (SPIC MACAY).

Apart from numerous performances in the country and abroad, Dr. Citaristi’s project, the Art Vision Foundation is what keeps her busy. Dr. Citaristi says, “The foundation promotes and encourages all forms of cultural arts. We have dancers, musicians and artistes from different fields. It’s a platform where they can showcase their art and it also helps to increase awareness about traditions and culture among people.”

But with increasing influence of western dance among the young, she says classical dance forms still have takers. “It’s sad to see many youngsters not interested in their culture. Moreover, all movements and emotions in classical dancing are inspired by temple architecture, music, mathematics, traditional paintings, sculpture and most importantly, mythology,” says Dr. Citaristi, who has also choreographed a song in M.F. Hussain’s movie Meenaxi.

From Italy to India, theatre to classical dancing and also bagging the prestigious Padmashree award, Dr. Citaristi has come a long way. “I found my calling here and Indian culture has changed my life,” she concludes with the traditional namaste.

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