A first-ever Odishi dance festival organised by the Oxford Odissi Centre in association with the Oxford India Society and the Indian High Commission held at the Oxford University in United Kingdom got off to a flying start with a rousing reception on Friday last.
The festival held at the famous Magdalen Grove auditorium of the 900-year-old university left the audience mesmerised, evoking a standing ovation multiple times.
The Oxford Odissi Festival is a brainchild of Baisali Mohanty, a Master’s Degree student in International Studies at the university who founded the Oxford Odissi Centre in 2015.
The festival was attended by a host of dignitaries including senior Indian diplomats, a number of British parliamentarians, renowned academicians and British artists and celebrities.
Those who performed at the festival included renowned Odishi exponent Ileana Citaristi, Baisali Mohanty, Turkish dancer Guzin Yener, Sri lankan dancer Sutha Poonambalam, Elizabeth Verghese, Suwanja Srikantha, Nisha Somasundaram and many other notable dancers from over 11 countries. Besides featuring solo, duet and group Odishi choreographies, the festival featured a captivating Jugalbandi of Odishi with Kathak, Bharatnatyam and Mohiniyattam.
Renowned dance critic, 83-year-old Padma Shri Sunil Kothari who flew from India to attend the festival described it as a great moment for Indian culture. Deputy Chief of Indian High Commission in london Vibha Mendiretta said the festival would play a critical role in enhancing India’s image in the West.
Renowned scientist Subir Sarkar, popularly known as the Indian father of ‘God Particle’ for his critical role in discovery of Boson
Particle, hailed the effort of showcasing Indian culture overseas.