Drishti: The Gaze of the Beloved
A look that leads the attention to a point in space or a beat of the drum, the radiant and powerful gaze of a goddess, a sensual exchange of glances between lovers: the gaze is the window to the soul.
Odissi dancers Elena Catalano and Katie Ryan use the power of the gaze, the drishti to take the audience on a journey through varying emotional states from the awe of the divine to the playfulness of rhythm patterns, erotic pleasure to renunciation. The full gamut of human experience is explored. The dancers like the sun and moon have contrasting qualities that adds layers to an evening of variety and enjoyment.
The timeless choreography of odissi pioneer Kelucharan Mohapatra will be the backbone of the program which opens with an evocation to goddess Saraswati - the patron of art and music. A classic abstract dance item Mohana Pallavi displays the intricate technique of Odissi. Kuruyadu Nandana powerfully expresses the lyrics of Jayadev’s Gita Govinda - a 12th Century epic illuminating the union of Radha and Lord Krishna, seeped in eroticism and devotion. Ragamalika is an exposition of the distinguished choreographer Madhavi Mudgal who adeptly explores the intricacies of tala and raga with architectural skill. Two short improvisations by the dancers punctuate the program, allowing for a more personal exploration of poetry and the dancing form. The programme culminates with Moksha - a climactic composition ending with the upward gaze of the dancers, reaching for enlightenment.
Bios
Elena Catalano
Elena has established herself as one of the finest Odissi dance artists in the UK and her performances have been described as 'riveting' (Solo, Odissi Ensemble tour in Bradford 04/17). Her solo commission 'Dakshina' (ACE – Akademi, April 2018, Richmix) was sold out and her dance was described by critic Donald Hutera as 'bright, quick and richly detailed' (Pulse). In October 2017, she received the Nritya Yuva (Young Dancer of the Year) National Indian Arts Award.
Since 2015, she has been a core member of the Odissi Ensemble, the only professional Odissi Company in the UK, which toured 'Gods and Mortals' and 'Sacred Shapes' produced by Kadam and funded by ACE and recently produced (2021) ‘Songs of the Heart/ Ariadne’.
She is also the founder of Bhumi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw2ksex4m_8), the first Odissi Dance Academy in the UK.
Elena holds a PhD from Durham University on Odissi training practices and works part-time as a senior dance lecturer at Kingston University since 2014
She choreographed ‘No Idle Hands’ as part of the project Re-Rooted a peer mentored dance collective which she initiated. The work explores the relationship between women, the craft of knitting and storytelling. She also choreographed a piece based on the mythological figure of Ariadne. The piece has been presented as a digital work at the Hat Factory (Luton) in November 2021.
She is currently part of Sadler’s Wells South Asian Artist Development Programme.
Katie Ryan
Katie Ryan is a dance artist specialising in the classical Indian dance style of Odissi. A graduate of London Contemporary Dance School, Katie has had the opportunity to train in the UK and India under teachers such as Guru Shankar Behera, Madhavi Mudgal and Ileana Citaristi. Aiming to engage contemporary audiences through the medium of classical Indian dance, Katie is a member of Odissi Ensemble, productions supported by Kadam include: Shades of Love(2012), Gods and Mortals (2016-17), Sacred Shapes / Sacred Fires(2018-19) and work in progress Songs of the Heart. With Akademi’s support, Katie has choreographed This Wicked Desire (2012) in a project by Opera Holland Park and English National Ballet, and received the Marion North Choreography Mentoring Award in 2017-18, with a year of mentoring by leading bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer Seeta Patel. Katie has worked as Movement Director on Opera Holland Park’s production of Les Pêcheurs de Perles (2013) and created and performed in My Soul is Alight (2014-2016) and Saheli
(2016). Recently Katie created a short dance film The Place to Face What Must Be (2020) with Kadam, which was selected for screening at the Akademi Dance Film Festival 2021. Katie works as a Physiotherapist and continues to pursue opportunities to dance, teach and create.
