A younger Ileana Citaristi throughout an earlier efficiency.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives
Italian by start, Ileana Citaristi has been dwelling in Odisha since 1979 in shut contact with the individuals, language and tradition related to the dance type she is captivated with. She took to Odissi after practising conventional in addition to the experimental theatre in Europe. Ileana has carried out throughout the globe as an Odissi and Mayurbhanj Chhau exponent. She has been conducting workshops, writing on dance and dealing on documentaries to popularise the artwork kinds.
Sitting in her aesthetically designed home, overlooking lake Bindusagar in Bhubaneshwar, Ileana describes the enjoyment of discovering herself in dance and the way it helped her discover a dwelling away from dwelling.
Odissi dancer lleana Citaristi at Perur Patteeswara Temple in Coimbatore on September 20, 2015, as a part of Natyanjali dance competition.
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SIVA SARAVANAN S
How did you resolve to make Indian classical dance your calling?
I first got here to India in 1978 to learn Kathakali in Kerala for 3 months as a result of I wished to incorporate a few of its actions in my theatre work. I got here again the very subsequent yr with the identical intention — to remain in Odisha for six months to learn Odissi. After assembly guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, six months grew to become six years. Finally, I made a decision to remain on ceaselessly.
You have settled in Bhubaneshwar. What made you make the town your property?
I used to be in Cuttack for 11 years. I moved to Bhubaneshwar solely as a result of guruji had additionally shifted. Initially I didn’t like the town a lot. I used to be lacking Cuttack. But as soon as I knew Odissi was going to be a lifelong pursuit, I bought a land within the outdated a part of the City close to Bindusagar lake and constructed a house-cum-studio and a dance corridor.
Ileana Citaristi performing Shiv Tandav. She learnt the favored piece from her Chhau guru, Sri Hari Nayak.
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Photo courtesy: Ileana.
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How was it coaching underneath guru Kelucharan?
I used to be fortunate to get the most effective gurus for each Odissi and Chhau. Kelubabu was a taskmaster, for whom solely perfection mattered. He was capable of make clear all my doubts as a result of he was the creator of what he was instructing. He was extraordinarily artistic and on the identical time was all the time eager to find and learn new issues. There was a lot to imbibe from him. My Chhau guru Sri Hari Nayak was all the time prepared to show and share his data without anticipating something in return. He was pleased with me since I started to be identified for the Shiva Tandava piece that he gained experience in as a younger dancer.
How totally different is Mayurbhanj Chhau from Odissi?
I believe the 2 kinds are complementary to one another. They are each from the identical soil and their fundamental stance, the tribhangi as it’s known as in Odissi and dharan in Chhau, relies on the identical triple bending of the physique. But the aim for which the 2 types have been developed is totally different. Odissi was meant for the closed enclave of the temple as a type of prayer to Jagannath whereas Chhau was seen as a technique to preserve the physique match for battle and was practised within the open house of the akhadas within the villages of Odisha. One can purchase energy and a way of steadiness by studying Chhau, and beauty and a way of rhythm from Odissi.
Where do you see the classical arts within the current state of affairs?
There’s now renewed enthusiasm with extra children taking to classical arts. They deliver with them new concepts and a up to date sensibility, that are important for a practice to evolve.
You are additionally identified to your enriching and well-designed workshops. Are they a technique to attain out to children?
Nowadays numerous youngsters are despatched to learn dance by mother and father only for the sake of it. There isn’t any correct motivation or data concerning the coaching entails. Some of them discontinue unable to deal with artwork and educational stress. I would love the mother and father to be extra concerned within the course of in order that they’ll encourage the kids in the precise manner. Classical dance is a whole system of training, it doesn’t relate solely to physique motion. It consists of examine of literature, music, mythology and philosophy. Unless there may be correct understanding of its worth , there isn’t any level in losing time studying it.
Tell us about your present choreographic work.
Usually, I current a brand new choreography yearly on the Sangam competition held from September to October. My final choreography was on the artwork of weaving in relation to the feel of life. It was known as ‘Suta – The Thread’. I’m in the hunt for a brand new topic. You must get impressed by one thing to create. So I’m trying round for that inspiration.