https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Ileana_CitaristiIleana Citaristi - Revision history2026-07-31T19:27:28ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Ileana_Citaristi&diff=162517&oldid=previmported>WikiCleanerBot at 12:25, 19 July 20212021-07-19T12:25:44Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Infobox musical artist<br />
| name = Ileana Citaristi<br />
| image = Padmashri_ileana_citaristi.jpg<br />
| caption = Ileana Citaristi in an Odissi pose<br />
| birth_name = Ileana Citaristi<br />
| birth_date = <!--{{Birth date and age|11|16|mf=y}}--><br />
| birth_place = [[Bergamo]], [[Italy]]<br />
| origin = [[Italy|Italian]]<br />
| genre = [[Odissi]]<br />
| occupation = [[Odissi]] and [[Chhau dance|Chhau]] dancer, [[performer]] and dance instructor<br />
| website = {{Official website|http://www.kalinga.net/ileana/index.htm}}<br />
}}<br />
'''Ileana Citaristi''' is an [[Italy|Italian]]-born [[Odissi]] and [[Chhau dance|Chhau]] dancer, and dance instructor based in [[Bhubaneswar]], India. She was awarded the [[43rd National Film Awards|43rd]] [[National Film Awards]] for [[National Film Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography]] for ''[[Yugant]]'' in 1995 and became, in 2006, the first dancer of foreign origin to be conferred the [[Padma Shri]] for her contributions to Odissi.<ref>{{cite news|title=She Sways to Conquer|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/she-sways-to-conquer/1974/|access-date=22 August 2014|publisher=The Indian Express|date=7 April 2006}}</ref><br />
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==Early life==<br />
Citaristi, a native of [[Bergamo]], [[Italy]],<ref name="articles.timesofindia.indiatimes">{{cite news|title=Odisha is now my home: Ileana Citaristi|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-29/news-and-interviews/31254416_1_odissi-odisha-yoga|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103151641/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-29/news-and-interviews/31254416_1_odissi-odisha-yoga|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 3, 2013|access-date=6 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=March 29, 2012}}</ref> the daughter of Severino Citaristi, a leading [[Italian politics|politician]] of the [[Democrazia Cristiana]] [[Italian political parties|party of Italy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Description of a dancer's life - Ileana Citaristi|url=http://danceshadow.com/ileana-citaristi|website=danceshadow.com|access-date=22 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=India, aggredita ballerina italiana. E' figlia dell'ex Dc Citaristi|url=http://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2013/07/21/foto/india_aggredita_ballerina_indiana_e_figlia_del_tesoriere_citaristi-63437346/1/#1|access-date=22 August 2014|publisher=La Republica}}</ref> She spent five years as an actress in traditional and experimental theatre in Italy before deciding to learn Kathakali.<ref name="kalinga_a">{{cite web|title=Ileana Citarista - Curriculum Vitae|url=http://www.kalinga.net/ileana/cv.htm|access-date=6 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907034226/http://www.kalinga.net/ileana/cv.htm|archive-date=7 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />
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She went to [[Kerala]], where she spent three rigorous months studying [[Kathakali]] before she went to [[Odisha]] on the advice of her Kathakali guru, Krishnan Namboodari.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ladies who love Indian rhythm|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/vivacity/103668-ladies-who-love-indian-rhythm.html|access-date=6 November 2012|newspaper=The Pioneer|date=23 October 2012}}</ref><br />
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Since 1979, she has been living in Odisha.<ref name="thehindu">{{cite news|title=Finding her own idiom|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/dance/article2369405.ece?css=print|access-date=6 November 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=August 18, 2011}}</ref> She holds a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Doctorate of Philosophy]] with a thesis on '[[Psychoanalysis]] and Eastern Mythology'.<ref name="kalinga">{{cite web|title=Ileana Citaristi - Bio Data|url=http://www.kalinga.net/ileana/biodata.htm|access-date=6 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429005300/http://www.kalinga.net/ileana/biodata.htm|archive-date=29 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />
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== Dancing career ==<br />
[[File:Ileana Citaristi performing Mayurbhanj Chau style Siba Tandaba.jpg|thumb|Ileana Citaristi performing Mayurbhanj Chhau at the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Bhubaneswar]]<br />
[[File:Ileana Citaristi performing Mayurbhanj Chhau.gif|thumb|Citaristi performing Mayurbhanj Chhau (Shaivism theme) in 2014.]]<br />
Citaristi studied Odissi under [[Kelucharan Mohapatra|Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra]] and started her own school of dance in 1994.<ref name="articles.timesofindia.indiatimes" /> 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 acharya of Chhau from the Sangeet Mahavidyalya of Bhubaneswar.<ref>{{cite web|title=Padmashri Ileana Citaristi|url=http://spicmacay.com/articles/padmashri-ileana-citaristi|publisher=[[SPICMACAY]]|access-date=6 November 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202220725/http://spicmacay.com/articles/padmashri-ileana-citaristi|archive-date=2 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> She founded the Art Vision Academy in 1996, which acts as a platform for sharing ideas between various artistic forms such as theatre, music, dance and painting. The Academi also conducts classes in Odissi and Chhau.<ref name="narthaki">{{cite web|title=Dr. Ileana Citaristi: My karma is to break new ground|url=http://www.narthaki.com/info/intervw/intrv149.html|access-date=6 November 2012}}</ref><br />
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She has presented her solo dance recitals as well as her creative group choreographies in all the major festivals in India and travelled in many foreign countries such as Italy, Argentina, Poland, France, Germany. Holland, Denmark, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, USA, Australia , Israel, Spain , Poland., South Korea, Canada, Peru and Portugal.<br />
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== Major Dance performances Abroad ==<br />
- International Meeting of Moving Theatre, Budapest<br />
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- International Tanz-Werkstat, Bonn<br />
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- International Tanzprojekt, Munster<br />
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- Latin American Theatre Festival, Cordoba, Argentina<br />
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- Mandapa, Paris<br />
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- Vignale Danza, Italy<br />
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- Estate Fiesolana, Italy<br />
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- International Festival of Dance, Hong Kong<br />
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- Soeterjin, Amsterdam<br />
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- Todi festival, Italy<br />
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- J.A.D.E. 93, Tokyo<br />
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- Congress on Dance Research, Corfù<br />
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- Festival La Versiliana, Italy<br />
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- Invito alla Danza, Italy<br />
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- Festival of Performing Arts, Cleveland<br />
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- PanditJasraj School of Music, Vancouver<br />
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- Aid Australia, Sidney<br />
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- Teatro Olimpico, Rome<br />
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- Sommer Morchen, Kuala Lumpur<br />
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- Roots in Transit, Hostelbro, Denmark<br />
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- Stage centre Workshop, Tel Aviv<br />
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- XIII session I:S:T:A:, (International School of Theatre Anthropology) Seville, Spain<br />
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- XIV session I:S:T:A: Wroclaw, Poland<br />
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- Seoul Institute of Performing Arts, South Korea<br />
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- Kalanidhi International Dance Conference, Toronto<br />
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- Alain Danielou Centenary Celebrations, Rome<br />
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- I have a dream production, Teatro Massimo, Palermo<br />
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- The Bad Boys of Piano, Teatro Nazionale, Rome<br />
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- Nehru Centre, London<br />
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- Indian Cultural Centre, Berlin<br />
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- India @70 celebration of 70years of India Independence, Lisbona, Portugal<br />
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== Major Productions ==<br />
Ileana Citaristi is noted for her innovative choreographic productions in Odissi and Chhau that bring together themes and styles from both the West and the East. In Chhau, some of her notable productions are ‘[[Echo and Narcissus]]' based on the Greek myth in [[Ovid's Metamorphoses]], ‘The Journey' that draws on Japanese [[haiku]], ‘Images of Change' based on the Chinese concept of [[Yin and Yang]] and ‘Still I Rise' based on [[Maya Angelou|Maya Angelou's]] eponymous poem.<ref name="thehindu" /> In Odissi, 'Maya Darpan', '[[Mahanadi]]: and the river flows', about the history and cultural geography of Orissa,<ref name="kalinga" /> 'Karuna', based on the life of [[Mother Teresa]]<ref name="thehindu" /> and Sharanam, a piece on women from three faiths who attain salvation despite their dubious pasts,<ref>{{cite news|title=Oscillating between roles|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/dance/oscillating-between-roles/article101195.ece|access-date=6 November 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=February 5, 2010}}</ref> are some of her notable compositions.<br />
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- Echo and Narcissus, (solo), Bombay, 1985<br />
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- The wreck, (solo), New Delhi, 1988<br />
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- Icarus, (group), New Delhi, 1991<br />
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- Maya Darpana, (group), Bombay 1993<br />
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- Pancha Bhuta, (group), Baripada, 1996<br />
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- The Journey, (solo) New Delhi, 1998<br />
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- Images of Change, (duet), Bombay, 2000<br />
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- Surya Devata, (group), Konarak, 2001<br />
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- Jarjara, (group), Bhubaneswar, 2003<br />
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- Still I rise, (solo), Bhubaneswar, 2005<br />
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- Tantra (duet), Bhubaneswar, 2006<br />
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- Exploration (duet), Bhubaneswar, 2006<br />
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- Karpasa (group), Hyderabad, 2006<br />
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- Ekadasa Rudra , Doordarshan (2006)<br />
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- Saraha (group), New Delhi 2006<br />
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- Bolero (group), Bhubaneswar, 2007<br />
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- Rhydhum, (duet), Bhubaneswar, 2007<br />
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- I have a dream, (group) Palermo, 2008<br />
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- Sparsh, Bhubneswar, (duet)2008<br />
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- Mahanadi…and the river flows, (group) Bhubaneswar, 2008<br />
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-Partha Sarathi (duet), Bhubaneswar 2009<br />
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-Karuna (group) Bhubaneswar 2010<br />
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-Maana Bhanjan (group) Bhubaneswar 2011<br />
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-Kaala-Timebound (group) Bhubaneswar 2012<br />
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-Siddhartha (group) Bhubaneswar 2014<br />
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- Akshara (group) Bhubaneswar 2016<br />
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-Refugee (group) Bhubaneswar 2018<br />
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-Meghadootham (group) 2019<br />
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== Books and Films ==<br />
Besides Yugantar, a Bengali film directed by [[Aparna Sen]] for which she won a [[National Film Award (India)|National Film Award]] in 1996, Citaristi has also choreographed for [[M.F. Hussain|M.F. Hussain's]] ''[[Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities]]'' (2004) <ref>{{IMDb name|1619556}}</ref> and [[Goutam Ghose|Goutam Ghose's]] ''[[Abar Aranye]]'' (2003).<ref>{{cite news|title=A blend of spaghetti and saag|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040411/herworld.htm#1|access-date=6 November 2012|newspaper=The Tribune|date=April 11, 2004}}</ref><br />
Citaristi is also the author of three books. In 2001, she published ''The Making of a Guru: Kelucharan Mohapatra, his Life and Times'' in 2012 the ''Traditional Martial Practices in Orissa'' and in 2016 ''My Journey, a Tale of Two Births''.<ref name="thehindu" /><ref name="narthaki" /><br />
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[[File:The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting Padma Shri to Dr. Ileana Citaristi, for her contribution to Odissi dance, at investiture ceremony in New Delhi on March 29, 2006.jpg|thumb|The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting Padma Shri to Dr. Ileana Citaristi, for her contribution to Odissi dance, at investiture ceremony in New Delhi on March 29, 2006]]<br />
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== Awards and Honours ==<br />
Citaristi is a ´Top´ grade artist of [[Doordarshan]]. She was conferred the title of ´[[Léonide Massine|Leonide Massine]] for the art of dance' in 1992. In 1996, she won the [[National Film Award for Best Choreography]] for her work in [[Aparna Sen|Aparna Sen's]] Bengali film ''[[Yugant]]'' (1995).<ref name="43rdaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm43thNFAAward.aspx|title=43rd National Film Awards|publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215065528/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm43thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=2013-12-15|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="43rdawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/43rd_nff_1996.pdf|title=43rd National Film Awards (PDF)|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]}}</ref> She is empanelled as ‘outstanding artist’ in ICCR.<ref>http://www.iitbbs.ac.in/old/profile.php/ileana5/</ref><br />
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She is also a recipient of the ´Raseshwar Award' given by the Sur Singar Sansad, Mumbai.<ref name="kalinga" /><ref name="narthaki" /> For her contributions to Odissi, she was conferred the [[Padma Shri]] by [[Government of India]] in 2006.<ref name=pdma>{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954-2009) |publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] |url=http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/LST-PDAWD.pdf |quote=..state:orissa;Country India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510095705/http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/LST-PDAWD.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-10 }}</ref> The Italian government made her a member of the [[Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity]] in 2008.<ref name="kalinga_a" /><br />
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- Leonide Massine for the Art of Dance, Italy, 1992<br />
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- Rasehswar, Bombay, 1994<br />
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- Cine Critic Association Award, Calcutta, 1995<br />
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- National Award for Best Choreography for film Yugant, New Delhi, 1996<br />
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- Prananath Patnaik Award, Bhubaneswar, 2005<br />
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- Padmashree award, New Delhi, 2006<br />
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- Sanskiti Siromani, Mumbai, 2006<br />
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- Desharatna by Bharati Foundation Trust, Bhubaneswar (2007)<br />
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- Lalithakala award by Sri Lalithakala Academy Foundation, Mysore, 2007<br />
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- Pandit Jasraj Award for Cross Cultural Understanding, from Rotary Club, Hyderabad, 2009<br />
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- Order of Star of Italian Solidatiety (OSSI), from President of Italy, New Delhi 2008<br />
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-Odisha Women Leadership award from Odisha Yuve Sanskrutik Sansad, Bhubaneswar, 2012<br />
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-Showcase Odisha from Prelude, Bhubaneswar, 2014<br />
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-Nalco Karavela Award from Nalco, Bhubaneswar, 2016<br />
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-Bhavan Samman by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bhubaneswar, 2018<br />
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-Mutthiral Pathistha Vithakar by Karur Natyanjali Trust, Karur (Tamil Nadu) 2018<br />
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-Suresh Balabantaray Samman, Bhubaneswar 2018<br />
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-Saptashajya samman by Devanshi Dance Academi, Dhenkanal (Odisha) 2018<br />
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- Odisha Excellence (Dance) by Odia Media, Bhubaneswar 2019.<br />
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==Works==<br />
* ''The Making of a Guru: Kelucharan Mohapatra, His Life and Times'', Published by Manohar Pub., 2001. {{ISBN|81-7304-369-8}}.<br />
*Traditional Martial Practices in Odisha, Subhi Publications, New Delhi, 2012<br />
*My Journey, a Tale of Two Births, Manohar Publication , New Delhi, 2016<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist|2}}<br />
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{{Commons category|Ileana Citaristi}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* [http://www.kalinga.net/ileana/index.htm Ileana Citaristi's Website]<br />
*[https://odialive.com/maana-bhanjan-a-traditional-raas-leela-in-odissi-style-releasing-on-3rd-may-2020/ Maana Bhanjan]<br />
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{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}<br />
{{National Film Award Best Choreography}}<br />
{{Padma Award winners of Odisha}}<br />
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{{authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Citaristi, Ileana}}<br />
[[Category:Odissi dancers]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:People from Bergamo]]<br />
[[Category:Teachers of Indian classical dance]]<br />
[[Category:Italian emigrants to India]]<br />
[[Category:Italian female dancers]]<br />
[[Category:Italian actresses]]<br />
[[Category:Indian female classical dancers]]<br />
[[Category:Performers of Indian classical dance]]<br />
[[Category:Indian classical choreographers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian film choreographers]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]<br />
[[Category:Artists from Bhubaneswar]]<br />
[[Category:People who lost Italian citizenship]]<br />
[[Category:People with acquired Indian citizenship]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women choreographers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian choreographers]]<br />
[[Category:Women educators from Odisha]]<br />
[[Category:Educators from Odisha]]<br />
[[Category:Indian dance teachers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women artists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]<br />
[[Category:Best Choreography National Film Award winners]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century women educators]]</div>imported>WikiCleanerBot