Kuchipudi Versus Odissi performance with dancers Arunima Kumar and Katie Ryan

Experience a visual feast on Saturday 19th June as Kala Sangam serves up two contrasting flavours of classical Indian dance in an amazing spectacle of music, colour and movement. Kuchipudi versus Odissi is a special event that brings together two star performers, Arunima Kumar and Katie Ryan, who will be performing two of India’s most ancient dances.

These two female performers will provide an evening of classical dance in styles less well known to UK audiences. A leading performer in her field, Arunima Kumar brings us her consummate rendition of Kuchipudi, a dance that combines both energy and lightness and hails from the south eastern state of Andhra Pradesh. Its neighbour to the north, the state of Orissa is home to Odissi: young British dancer Katie Ryan captures the beauty of this style noted for its sculpture-like poses and rounded quality. Tickets for the performance are free, and can be obtained by calling 01274 303 340 or emailing info@kalasangam.org.

Ajit Singh, Kala Sangam’s programme co-ordinator, said: “We’re really excited. This is a rare chance to see two very special dances performed by two amazing dancers on the same night. It’s going to be spectacular!”

Both dances were traditionally performed in order to tell stories. Kuchipudi dancers use graceful movement, intricate footwork and facial expression to convey different moods. Odissi, on the other hand, employs symbolic hand positions in a manner similar to the Hawaiian hula dance to narrate a tale. One of India’s oldest surviving dance styles, it was originally a temple dance and was suppressed by the British Raj. Both Kuchipudi and Odissi dancers are meticulously trained by gurus for many years to achieve performance level.

Originally from Delhi, Arunima Kumar is a dancer who displays technical clarity, rhythmic precision and depth of expression as well as vivacity and grace in abundance. These qualities, combined with extensive performance experience at major Indian festivals as well as at venues in 17 countries, have helped to shape a confident performer and ambassador of her style. Since moving to London in 2009, Arunima has pursued performance and teaching opportunities and has already notched up notable appearances at the Southbank Centre and Royal Opera House with Akademi, as well as performances at The Lowry in Salford, Wolverhampton Arena, Cardiff Festival Hall and the Nehru Centre, London.

Multi-talented Arunima is also an academic who has taught at London school of Economics, an actress who has appeared in a number of TV shows, adverts and films, and a skilled pistol shooter who has won medals in national championships in India!

Trained mainly in the UK under Sanjeevini Dutta and Guru Shankar Behera, Katie has also travelled to India to learn from Smt. Madhavi Mudgal – most recently after being awarded the 2009 Milapfest Travelling Scholarship. A graduate of London Contemporary Dance School, Katie presented her Manch Pravesh (debut as an Odissi performer) at the Bhavan, London in 2009. Katie has performed in Akademi’s Daredevas at the Southbank Centre and for its regional tour, as well as presentations at the Hat Factory, Luton and the Centre in London. A budding performer, Katie’s dance style displays energy, fluidity and grace.
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