Aakash Odedra

🪔 About

Aakash Odedra is an internationally acclaimed British dancer and choreographer, celebrated for his unique synthesis of classical Indian dance forms, Kathak and Bharatanatyam, with contemporary dance. Born in Birmingham, UK, Odedra began his dance journey at the age of eight with Smt. Nilima Devi at the Centre of Indian Classical Dance (CICD) in Leicester, focusing initially on Kathak. He furthered his training in Bharatanatyam with Chitraleka Bolar in Birmingham and later studied in India with renowned gurus Asha Joglekar and Chhaya Kantaveh. At 15, he moved to Mumbai to train with Bollywood choreographer Shiamak Davar, an experience that profoundly shaped his artistry. In 2011, Odedra co-founded the Aakash Odedra Company in Leicester with Anand Bhatt, serving as its Artistic Director. The company became a vehicle for commissioning solos and developing his own choreographic work. His debut full-length solo, "Rising" (2011), featured new works created for him by acclaimed choreographers Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and Russell Maliphant, alongside his own creation. Odedra's choreographic credits span theatre, opera, and dance, including "James Brown: Get on the Good Foot" (Apollo Theater, New York), "God's Little Soldier" (Theater Freiburg), and contributions to The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the London Cultural Olympiad. His works, such as "Murmur," "Echoes," "#JeSuis," "Samsara," "Mehek," and "Songs of the Bulbul," have toured globally to critical acclaim, often exploring themes of spirituality, identity, and the human condition. Odedra is based in Leicester, UK, and is widely regarded as one of the leading Kathak dancers of his generation, recognized for his ability to bridge Indian and British cultural experiences. He has received numerous accolades, including a Bessie Award (2014), the Amnesty International Award for Freedom of Expression (2017), a British Empire Medal (2020), and multiple National Dance Awards in 2025 for Best Male Dancer and Outstanding Male Classical Performance. The Aakash Odedra Company also runs training programs like ROOTS, nurturing emerging dance practitioners. Awards & Honours: Danza&Danza award, Dora performance award, Audience Award Dance Week (2013), Infant Award (2014), Bessie Award (Best Male Performer) (2014), Sky Academy Arts Scholarship, Amnesty International Award for Freedom of Expression (2017), Eastern Eye ACTA Award (Best Dance for #JeSuis) (2018), British Empire Medal (BEM) (2020), Best Show of Edinburgh International Festival (2024), UK Theatre Award for Dance, Best Male Dancer at the UK National Dance Awards (2025), Outstanding Male Classical Performance at the UK National Dance Awards (2025).