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My journey: a tale of two births | ILEANA CITARIST | TEDxKids@NMS

1,163 views · Published 16 August 2018 · 21:15 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2018 · Nonprofits & Activism

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Padma Shri recipient and famous Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi talks about her journey from Italy to Odissa. A story of migration across continents from the small town of Bergamo in North Italy to bustling Cuttack on the east cost of India, a story of a rebellious soul in search its form of expression, a story of a metamorphosis from a bohemian foreigner  to a disciplined Indianized  shishya. Italian by birth Ileana holds a Doctorate in Philosophy with a thesis on 'Psychoanalysis and eastern mythology'. She has come to Indian dance after years of experience in the traditional as well as experimental theatre in Europe. Ileana has been living in Orissa, India, since the year 1979 in close contact with the people, their language and culture. Ileana is a top- grade artist from Doordarshan and she is empanelled as ‘outstanding artist’ in ICCR. She has been awarded the prestigious title ‘Leonide Massine for the art of dance’ in Italy in September 1992 and the ‘Raseshwar’ award by the Sur Singar Sansad, Bombay, in December 1994. In May 1996 she won the ‘National Award for best choreography’ for her dance direction to the Bengali film ‘Yugant’ directed by Aparna Sen. In 2009 she has received the 'Pandit Jasraj award' from the Rotary Club of Hyderabad.
She has also authored the book "Traditional martial practices in Odisha"  and  "My journey, a tale of two births" This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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