Ileana Citaristi

🪔 About

Ileana Citaristi is an acclaimed Italian-born Odissi and Chhau dancer, instructor, choreographer, and author, primarily based in Bhubaneswar, India. Born in Bergamo, Italy, she initially pursued a career in traditional and experimental theatre in Europe. Her quest for a profound form of body language led her to India in 1978, where she first undertook a rigorous three-month study of Kathakali in Kerala under Guru Krishnan Namboodari. Following his advice, she moved to Odisha in 1979 and became a dedicated disciple of the legendary Odissi Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, immersing herself completely in the dance form. Citaristi also became an exponent of Mayurbhanj Chhau, learning under the tutelage of Guru Hari Nayak and earning the title of 'Acharya' from the Sangeet Mahavidyalaya of Bhubaneswar. She holds a Doctorate in Philosophy with a thesis on 'Psychoanalysis and Eastern Mythology'. In 1994, she established her own dance school, and in 1996, she founded Art Vision, an academy in Bhubaneswar that serves as a platform for interdisciplinary artistic exchange, offering classes in Odissi and Chhau. Through Art Vision, she has organized numerous festivals, including the unique 'Festival of Arts for Environment' and the 'Festival of films on performing and visual arts', and has been a key organizer of the Kalinga Mahotsav, a national festival of martial arts. Her innovative choreographies in both Odissi and Chhau often blend Western and Eastern themes, with notable productions like 'Echo and Narcissus' and 'The Journey' in Chhau, and 'Maya Darpan' in Odissi. Citaristi has performed extensively across India and internationally, and has choreographed for several films, including Aparna Sen's 'Yugant' and M.F. Husain's 'Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities'. She is also the author of several books, including 'The Making of a Guru: Kelucharan Mohapatra, his Life and Times', 'Traditional Martial Practices in Odisha', 'My Journey, a Tale of Two Births', and 'Odissi and the Geeta Govinda'. Awards & Honours: Leonide Massine for the Art of Dance (1992), Raseshwar Award (1994), Cine Critic Association Award (1995), National Film Award for Best Choreography (1996), All India Cine Critic Association Award (1997), Prananath Patnaik Award (2005), Padma Shri (2006), Sanskiti Siromani (2006), Desharatna (2007), Lalithakala award (2007), Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity (OSSI) (2008), Pandit Jasraj Award for Cross Cultural Understanding (2009), Odisha Women Leadership award (2012), Showcase Odisha (2014), NALCO Kharavela Award (2016).