VISITING ARTISTS
Padmashree Dr Ileana Citaristi
Dr. Ileana Citaristi is an Italian-born Odissi and Chhau dancer, guru and choreographer, based in Bhubaneshwar, India since 1979. She was awarded the 43rd National Film Awards for Best Choreography for Yugant, a Bengali film directed by Aparna Sen, in 1996 and conferred with the Padma Shri by the President of India in 2006 for her contributions to Odissi dance. Besides Yugant, Dr. Citaristi has also choreographed for M. F. Hussain's Meenaxi: Tale of Three Cities (2003) and Goutam Ghose's Abar Aranye (2004). Dr. Citaristi is the author of four books; ‘The Making of a Guru: Kelucharan Mohapatra, His Life and Times’ (2001), ‘Traditional Martial Practices in Orissa’ (2012), ‘My journey, a tale of two births’ (2015) and ‘Odissi and the Geeta Govinda’ (2022). She is founder of Art Vision her organization where she imparts lessons. She has started working with Sushmita since this year 2022 on Chhau and now teaching Odissi to her students through a residency. Ratikant Mohapatra
In the universe of Indian classical dance and music Ratikant has carved an enviable niche for himself as a dancer, percussionist, teacher and archivist. In the last 25 years, with his father Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, he has been able to establish Odissi in the consciousness of audiences worldwide.
The Times of India newspaper described him as the “young Kelucharan”. Barely in his twenties, he collected a string of accolades for his percussion and dance skills, demonstrating them with a typical ease and flair in numerous stage performances, and workshops in India and abroad. As the Director of Srjan [Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa], he has single–handedly created a world-class dance institute, which attracts students from all over the globe for extended periods of learning Odissi dance. In this, he has tirelessly emulated the dedication of his father. Furthermore, Ratikant organises regular summer workshops for senior students & beginners to help them to absorb the highly subtle and nuanced dance that has been fashioned by the Guru Kelucharan Gharana in Odissi. In conjunction with his busy performance and teaching schedules Ratikant also works as a highly applauded choreographer. His prolific portfolio of choreography is constantly in receipt of accolades for innovation, quality music and fluency. His accomplishments have been acknowledged by a number of awards including “Pride of India 2004”, “Sanjukta Panigrahi Samman 2005”, “Nrutya Bhushan” by International Dance & Theatre Festival 2005 and “Nritya Shiromani” by Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangh at Cuttack, 2010. Ratikant’s versatility and creative energy have also recently found their way in to celluloid too. He has recently choreographed Odissi dance sequences for the Indo–Chinese film “The Desire” guiding the performance of noted film stars Jayaprada and Shilpa Shetty. This is the very first instance of a Bollywood film featuring classical Odissi dance. |
Rajashri Praharaj
Rajashri Praharaj is an accomplished artiste of the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra gharana of Odissi. She has been dancing since an early age and her formal training as a resident student under the able tutelage of her Guru Shri Ratikant Mohapatra, has helped her to master the art and technique of Odissi Dance.
She has performed widely as a soloist in India, and internationally in Bangkok, Malaysia and the USA. She has also traveled with the repertory group of Srjan. She has participated in Kal-ke-Kalakar of Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai and won the “Sringaramani” title. In the year 2004, the Ministry of Culture for the Goverment of India, awarded her the National Scholarship in Odissi dance. For the Deepavali Festival 2007 she was honoured by an invitation to perform at Vedic Heritage, New York by Her Holiness Guruma Smt. Jyotishanand Saraswati in Pt. Jasraj Auditorium. She has been awarded “Nalanda Nrutya Nipuna 2008” for her outstanding performance in Odissi dance at Mumbai Festival in 2007. Rajasri’s performances are highly commended and the following quote comes from the in the New Indian Express on her performance in the Odissi Dance Festival "Rajashri’s technical perfection combined with feminine grace gave glimpses of her bright future as a promising dancer with distinct signature of the Kelucharan ‘Gharana’." Apart from performing, Rajashri is also involved in teaching Odissi. Although totally dedicated to dance, Rajashri has also obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Utkal University of Culture, Orissa. |