The Italian Dancer Who Calls Odisha Home

Brut India

She came to India in 1979 for just a few months to learn Kathakali. But 41 years and a Padma Shri later, Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi is an “Odia at heart”.

Transcript

00:00I wanted to learn Odissi.

00:01Of course, I never planned that I would stay the entire life.

00:05That is what destiny was there for me.

01:00So that was unexpected.

01:02I started learning and I never ended.

01:05So I still keep on learning.

01:21So now the new generation, unfortunately,

01:24they don't have that fortune to learn directly from him.

01:28So I feel responsible to carry on

01:30and to share with them what I learned.

01:45I was not expecting it.

01:47I really didn't do anything for it.

01:49So it was the most surprise news

01:52which I got on 26th January of 2006.

01:55And I'm very happy that

01:57my father was still conscious and alive.

02:00Unfortunately, he died after 20 days.

02:25You

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