Aakash Odedra is a rising star of British South Asian dance. He began his beloved vocation of at the age of 8 with Smt. Nilima Devi at the Centre of Indian Classical Dance (CICD) in Leicester. Training initially in Kathak, he later studied other dance styles including Bharat Natyam, Indo-Jazz and Contemporary.
He has trained with acclaimed dancers such as Chitraleka Bolar in the UK and Asha Joglekar and Chhaya Kanvateh in India. Over the years Aakash has performed with many companies and artists including Pagrav Dance Company, Nilimadevi Dance Company and Raju Mali. He performed in Recipies for Curry, a co-production between sampad South Asian Arts (Birmingham) and indance (Toronto); Asian Spring an annual event of South Asian youth dance produced by sampad; and Daredevas 2008, Akademi’s showcase for young British and international talent at the the Southbank Centre.
Desi Masti and Curve (Leicester) asked Aakash to choreograph a piece for the opening of Curve’s new theatre in November 2008. He titled this piece Flight. So impressed were Curve, Aakash’s piece was the only one invited to perform for HRH The Queen on her visit to the Theatre in December 2008. In 2008, Aakash was awarded a development grant by Arts Council England where Aakash attended workshops at Alvin Ailey, New York, Impulz Tanz, Vienna and trained at Kadamb with Kumudini Lakhia, Ahmedabad. He was also awarded a 2-year choreographic bursary by Akademi to develop his choreographic skills and will begin in December 2009.
In November 2009, Aakash was invited by Akram Khan to perform at the Svapngata Festival at Sadler’s Wells. This 30 minute solo titled Mati Re was choreographed by Smt. Kumudini Lakhia.
AAKASH ODEDRA
Dance Artist
aakash@aakashodedra.com
Article credit: http://www.bde2010.co.uk/contributor/aakash-odedra