Internationally-acclaimed US-based Kathak dancer Anindita Neogy Anaam will be felicitated with the National Nritya Shiromani award for her preservation and promotion of Kathak dance in India and at global level in a weeklong 10th International Dance and Music Festival at the Sarla Bhawan Art Centre in Cuttack from January 2.

This award has been given in the past to outstanding Indian classical dance performers and musicians of India and abroad. This event is organised by the Utkal Yuva Sangsthan.

Anindita will also showcase her solo Kathak recital on the inaugural day on January 2. She will start her recital on the famous Rajasthani Maand, “PadharoMaare Des” (Welcome to My Land) in Jaipur style of Kathak. This Maand reflects a popular folk of the Thar desert and inspired by the love story of Dhola and Maru; so, it also has a touch of Shringar Ras or romantic love.

Second presentation of the evening is a Kathak fusion on the famous composition Rhythm Scape by Tabla virtuoso Bickram Ghosh. This music is a confluence of east and west. Similarly, Anindita would use more technically-diversified body gestures with hints of ballet and flamenco dancing styles into mainstream Kathak to give this world music a twist.        

Anindita is a recipient of prestigious national awards like Jayadev Rashtriya Puraskar and Bidagdha Nartaki Samman for her outstanding achievement in the preservation and promotion of Indian art in India and abroad. She has also appeared as a judge in the famous Indian classical dance competitions. She has performed in leading festivals of India, Germany and the USA.

Anindita is a disciple of Pt Jai Kishan Maharaj, eldest son of Pt Birju Maharaj, and Pt Rajendra Gangani.