Bhubaneswar:18/8/20: The prestigious academic institution, Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Bhubaneswar celebrated Independence Day 2020 in its campus on 15th August 2020. The Nodal Officer of the institute, Dr.Sabir Hussain hoisted the flag and spoke about pledging ourselves anew to uphold the ideals of the great freedom fighters. The undergraduate and post-graduate students organized a colorful cultural program on the zoom platform.
Later in the day, the third Culture and Tourism Webinar web talk series was organized featuring eminent Odissi & Chhau dancer, Ileana Citaristi. The Co-coordinator of the program, Dr. Adyasha Das, elaborated on the topic, “Dance as a tourism activity: My life experiences as a dancer” stating that Dance tourism is a component of cultural tourism as it provides opportunities for a cultural experience to tourists who wish to enjoy an authentic experience through their participation in dance events at the area of their place of destination.
Ileana Citaristi is an Italian-born Odissi and Chhau dancer, and dance instructor based in Bhubaneswar, India. She was awarded the 43rd National Film Awards for 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.