Padmashri Ileana Citaristi Ileana Citaristi is an Italian-born Odissi and Chhau dancer, and dance instructor Yuva Bharati based in Bhubaneshwar, India. She was awarded the 43rd National Film Awards for Best Choreography for Yugant in 1995 and became, in 2006, the first dancer Presents of foreign origin to be conferred the Padma Shri for her contributions to Odissi. Bharatanatyam by Apoorva Jayaraman and Citaristi studied Odissi under Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and started her own Odissi by Padmashri Ileana Citaristi school of dance in 1994. Citaristi is also an exponent of the Mayurbhanj Chhau, which she learnt under the tutelage of Guru Hari Nayak and holds the title of an October 24th , 2015, 3:00 pm acharya of Chhau from the Sangeet Mahavidyalya of Bhubaneswar. She Shiridi Sai Parivar, Milpitas founded the Art Vision Academi in 1996, which acts as a platform for sharing ideas between various artistic forms such as theatre, music, dance and www.yuvabharati.org painting. The Academi also conducts classes in Odissi and Chhau. Alarippu by Apoorva Misram * Alarippu Composed by: Aadith Seshadri Dance Composition - Priyadarsini Govind Apoorva will commence her recital with a sloka in praise of Lord Muruga in tamil from Kandar Alangaram, followed by a unique Alarippu in Misram (7-beat cycle) overlaid with Thirupugazh verses enumerating the glory of Lord Muruga. While the verses on Muruga are penned by Arunagirinadhar, the Alarippu has been specially composed by Sri Aadith Seshadri and has been choreographed by Smt Priyadarsini Govind.

Daru Varnam by Apoorva Ragam – Khamas * Talam – Adi Music - Mutthaiah Bhagavathar Choreography - Priyadarsini Govind The mainstay of Apoorva’s recital this afternoon is the well-known Daru Varnam Maathey, describing the beauty and splendour of the mother goddess Meenakshi and daughter of King Malayadwaja Pandyan. Devi is the mother of Vinayaka and Guha. She is the destroyer of the demons Chanda and Munda. Adorned with the crescent-moon, she is the dark beauty. The chitta swaram or mukthayi swaram is the highlight of the Daru Varnam. It comprises of swaras, syllables and lyrics in different speeds and jathis.

Mangala Charan by Ileana Citaristi Music :Sri Ghanashyama Panda Ileana begins the concert with ‘mangala charana’. After the ‘puspanjali’ and ‘bhumi pranam’ or salutation to Mother Earth, the dancer pays homage to Surya, the Creator and Destroyer, who is effulgent like a red hibiscus flower, riding gloriously on his chariot, first among the nine planets. The ‘mangala charan’ ends with a triple salutation, above the head to the Gods, in front of the face to the Guru and in front of the chest to the public.

Pallavi by Ileana CItaristi ‘Dasa Mahavidya’ or the ‘ten forms of supreme knowledge’ depict the ten Raga: Krishna Kedar Music: Sri Ramesh Chandra Das incarnations of Devi according to the tantric school of Indian philosophy. In this The pallavi is an item of ‘nritta’ or pure dance where lyrical music is interwoven item each form of Devi is presented through a brief visualization of her into the fabric of body movements. It is a soft blossoming of music and dance mythical origin followed by the description of her anthropomorphic form. The ending in a crescendo. It is a creative elaboration which flows along and ten incarnations are: heightens the unique character of a raga using rhythmic variations and cyclic Kali : the ‘black goddess’, patterns. This pallavi is set to 3 variations of rhythmical cycles of 14 matra or Tara : ‘who guides us across the sansara’, counts. Tripura Sundari : ‘who is lovely in the three worlds’, Bhuvaneswari :‘ whose body is the world’, Tulsidas Bhajan Thumak Chalath Ramachandra by Apoorva Chinnamasta : ‘the self-decapitated one’, Ragam - Misra Kamas * Talam - Tisra Nadai * Bhairavi : ‘the fierce one’, Lyrics - Tulsidas * Dance Composition - Priyadarsini Govind Dhumavati : ‘born out of smoke’, This unique composition by Saint Poet Tulsi Das addresses Lord Rama as a baby Bagalamukhi :‘the paralyzer’, and describes him through the eyes of his mother. Set to a lilting tune, the Matangi : ‘whose limbs are intoxicated’ and bhajan tenderly extols how the mother enjoys her child taking his first steps. Kamala : ‘the lotus goddess’. Rama laughs sweetly even when he trips and falls over. Admiring the dignified form of little Rama the poet exclaims - who can be equal Rama, but Rama Artists himself! Apoorva Jayaraman Abhinaya - Sharanam by Ileana Citaristi Music: Sri Gopal Panda Dr. Apoorva Jayaraman considered among the best of the upcoming Three women from three different religions with a similar message: no sin is generation of dancers in India had the unique privilege of training under too big in front of God’s merciful eyes. Mary Magdalena of the Christian Priyadarsini Govind over the past 13 years. She has undergone intensive and religion, Amrapalli of the Buddhist dharma and Pingala from the Hindu specialised training in abhinaya under Padmabhushan Smt Kalanidhi Narayan. Bhagavata are three prostitutes who find refuge in the mercy of God. Mary is Apoorva is a dancer, artist, choreographer and teacher, working under various saved from the public stone pelting by Jesus who challenges the accusers by banners in India, USA and Europe. asking: who, among you, is without sin, throw the first stone! Amrapalli finds refuge at Buddha’s feet who accepts her as his disciple in spite of her dubious She was featured as a prominent soloist in more than 10 of a series of past. Pingala realizes the futility of her lustful waiting for her rich client when international dance DVDs produced by Kalakriya earning her a special she discovers that Krishna, her real lover, is already in her heart. recognition and acclaim among connoisseurs from around the globe. She has performed in Chennai’s most prestigious Sabhas, and has had the honor of Thillana by Apoorva regularly performing under the auspices of Milapfest (UK) and Akademi UK. She Dance Composition - Priyadarsini Govind was awarded the Nritya Ratna Best Dancer of the Year (UK) Award in 2013 Ragam Poornachandrika Talam Adi Music - Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar jointly by Milpafest and the Arts Council UK and also the Natya Ratna Award Kavadi Chindu : Nrindranda Mayil * Talam Khanda Chapu 2014 by Trinity Arts Festival. Music Composition - Oothukadu Venkatasubbayyar Apoorva will conclude her recital with a Thillana in Ragam Poornachandrika. Apoorva is also an astrophysicist with a Doctoral degree in Astronomy at This will be followed by a Kavadi chindhu - "Nindrantha mayil" – a meditative University of Cambridge, having completed her Masters in Physics from Oxford piece in Tamil composed by Oothukadu Venkatasubbayyar, in praise of Lord University (Trinity College). Krishna.

Dasa Mahavidya Choreography : Dr. Ileana Citaristi

Music : Pandit Ramahari Das and Guru Bonomali Maharana