Ileana Citaristi
Ileana Citaristi | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ileana Citaristi |
| Born | Bergamo,Italy |
| Origin | Odisha,India |
| Genres | Odissi |
| Occupation(s) | OdissiandChhaudancer,performerand dance instructor |
| Website | ileana |
Ileana Citaristiis an ItalianOdissiandChhaudancer, and dance instructor based inBhubaneswar,India. She was awarded the43rdNational Film AwardsforBest ChoreographyforYugantin 1995 and became, in 2006, the first dancer of foreign origin to be conferred thePadma Shrifor her contributions to Odissi.[1]
Early life[edit]
Citaristi, a native ofBergamo,Italy,[2]the daughter of Severino Citaristi, a leadingpoliticianof theDemocrazia Cristianaparty of Italy.[3][4]She spent five years as an actress in traditional and experimental theatre in Italy before deciding to learn Kathakali.[5]
She went toKerala,where she spent three rigorous months studyingKathakalibefore she went toOdishaon the advice of her Kathakali guru, Krishnan Namboodari.[6]
Since 1979, she has been living in Odisha.[7]She holds aDoctorate of Philosophywith a thesis on 'Psychoanalysisand Eastern Mythology'.[8]
Dancing career[edit]
Citaristi studied Odissi underGuru Kelucharan Mohapatraand started her own school of dance in 1994.[2]Citaristi is also an exponent of theMayurbhanj Chhau,which she learnt under the tutelage of Guru Hari Nayak and holds the title of an acharya of Chhau from the Sangeet Mahavidyalya of Bhubaneswar.[9]She founded the Art Vision Academy in 1996, which acts as a platform for sharing ideas between various artistic forms such as theatre, music, dance and painting. The Academi also conducts classes in Odissi and Chhau.[10]
Major productions[edit]
Ileana Citaristi is noted for her innovative choreographic productions in Odissi and Chhau that bring together themes and styles from both the West and the East. In Chhau, some of her notable productions are ‘Echo and Narcissus' based on the Greek myth inOvid's Metamorphoses,‘The Journey' that draws on Japanesehaiku,‘Images of Change' based on the Chinese concept ofYin and Yangand ‘Still I Rise' based onMaya Angelou'seponymous poem.[7]In Odissi, 'Maya Darpan', 'Mahanadi:and the river flows', about the history and cultural geography of Orissa,[8]'Karuna', based on the life ofMother Teresa[7]and Sharanam, a piece on women from three faiths who attain salvation despite their dubious pasts,[11]are some of her notable compositions.
Books and films[edit]
Besides Yugantar, a Bengali film directed byAparna Senfor which she won aNational Film Awardin 1996, Citaristi has also choreographed forM.F. Hussain'sMeenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities(2004)[12]andGoutam Ghose'sAbar Aranye(2003).[13] Citaristi is also the author of three books. In 2001, she publishedThe Making of a Guru: Kelucharan Mohapatra, his Life and Timesin 2012 theTraditional Martial Practices in Orissaand in 2016My Journey, a Tale of Two Births.[7][10]
Awards and honours[edit]
Citaristi is a ´Top´ grade artist ofDoordarshan.She was conferred the title of ´Leonide Massinefor the art of dance' in 1992. In 1996, she won theNational Film Award for Best Choreographyfor her work inAparna Sen'sBengali filmYugant(1995).[14][15]She is empanelled as ‘outstanding artist’ in ICCR.[16]
She is also a recipient of the ´Raseshwar Award' given by the Sur Singar Sansad, Mumbai.[8][10]For her contributions to Odissi, she was conferred thePadma ShribyGovernment of Indiain 2006.[17]The Italian government made her a member of theOrder of the Star of Italian Solidarityin 2008.[5]
Works[edit]
- The Making of a Guru: Kelucharan Mohapatra, His Life and Times,Published by Manohar Pub., 2001.ISBN81-7304-369-8.
- Traditional Martial Practices in Odisha, Subhi Publications, New Delhi, 2012
- My Journey, a Tale of Two Births, Manohar Publication, New Delhi, 2016
References[edit]
- ^"She Sways to Conquer".The Indian Express. 7 April 2006.Retrieved22 August2014.
- ^ab"Odisha is now my home: Ileana Citaristi".The Times of India.29 March 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 3 January 2013.Retrieved6 November2012.
- ^"Description of a dancer's life - Ileana Citaristi".danceshadow.com.Retrieved22 August2014.
- ^"India, aggredita ballerina italiana. E' figlia dell'ex Dc Citaristi".La Republica.Retrieved22 August2014.
- ^ab"Ileana Citarista - Curriculum Vitae".Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2011.Retrieved6 November2012.Archived7 September 2011 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Ladies who love Indian rhythm".The Pioneer.23 October 2012.Retrieved6 November2012.
- ^abcd"Finding her own idiom".The Hindu.18 August 2011.Retrieved6 November2012.
- ^abc"Ileana Citaristi - Bio Data".Archived fromthe originalon 29 April 2012.Retrieved6 November2012.Archived29 April 2012 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Padmashri Ileana Citaristi".SPICMACAY.Archived fromthe originalon 2 February 2013.Retrieved6 November2012.
- ^abc"Dr. Ileana Citaristi: My karma is to break new ground".Retrieved6 November2012.
- ^"Oscillating between roles".The Hindu.5 February 2010.Retrieved6 November2012.
- ^Ileana CitaristiatIMDb
- ^"A blend of spaghetti and saag".The Tribune.11 April 2004.Retrieved6 November2012.
- ^"43rd National Film Awards".International Film Festival of India.Archived fromthe originalon 15 December 2013.
- ^"43rd National Film Awards (PDF)"(PDF).Directorate of Film Festivals.
- ^"Dr. Ileana Citaristi:: Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar".
- ^"Padma Awards Directory (1954-2009)"(PDF).Ministry of Home Affairs.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 10 May 2013.
..state:orissa;Country India
Archived10 May 2013 at theWayback Machine
External links[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- Living people
- Odissi exponents
- People from Bergamo
- Artists from Bhubaneswar
- Dancers from Odisha
- Women artists from Odisha
- Women educators from Odisha
- Chhau exponents
- Italian female dancers
- Italian stage actresses
- Italian emigrants to India
- Teachers of Indian classical dance
- Performers of Indian classical dance
- Italian choreographers
- Italian women choreographers
- Italian expatriates in India
- Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts
- Best Choreography National Film Award winners
- 20th-century Italian dancers
- 20th-century Italian women artists
- 20th-century Italian educators
- 20th-century Italian women educators
- 21st-century Italian dancers
- 21st-century Italian women artists
- 21st-century Italian educators
- 21st-century Italian women educators