Dona Ganguly makes history with first Indian classical dance workshop at Cambridge
The historic halls of Jesus College, University of Cambridge, came alive with the graceful rhythms of Indian classical dance, as internationally acclaimed Odissi exponent Dona Ganguly conducted the university's first-ever workshop on the ancient art form.
In a landmark moment for Cambridge's cultural calendar, the event introduced students, academics, and art enthusiasts to Odissi—one of India's eight recognised classical dance styles, known for its lyrical movements, intricate gestures, and deep spiritual philosophy. Participants were guided through foundational steps and expressions, learning about the dance's 2,000-year-old heritage and its roots in devotion and storytelling.
Held as part of the university's broader push for cultural exchange and diversity, the workshop welcomed individuals from all backgrounds, with no prior dance experience required. For many, it was their first direct encounter with Indian classical dance.
'To share the legacy of Odissi at the University of Cambridge is both an honour and a deeply emotional experience,' said Dona Ganguly. 'This dance form is not just movement, it is meditation, devotion, and storytelling.
I am heartened to see such enthusiastic participation and openness to Indian culture here. This exchange goes beyond performance, it builds bridges of understanding through art.'
The initiative reflects a growing global interest in Indian performing arts and underscores Cambridge's commitment to fostering dialogue between cultures. Encouraged by the enthusiastic response, organisers are already exploring future collaborations to further introduce Indian classical traditions to the university community.
Dona Ganguly, founder of the Diksha Manjari academy and a disciple of the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, has dedicated her career to taking Odissi to audiences worldwide. Her mission, she says, is to spread the beauty and philosophy of the dance to new generations across the globe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Why Aamir Khan's Children Have Non-Hindu Names Despite Hindu Wives? Actor Explains
Last Updated: Aamir Khan says he had no say in naming his children Junaid, Ira, and Azad Khan, revealing that his wives picked the names from Hindu traditions and history. Bollywood icon Aamir Khan, known for his cinematic brilliance and thoughtful storytelling, recently opened up about a deeply personal topic—how his children got their names. In a candid conversation on Aap Ki Adalat with host Rajat Sharma, Aamir delved into the significance behind naming his three children: Junaid, Ira, and Azad. During the conversation, Sharma playfully pointed out that Aamir's first wife was Reena, his second wife was Kiran, and joked that his next could be 'Gauri," referencing Aamir's current partner, Gauri Spratt. The actor blushed and crossed his fingers with a smile, before addressing a long-standing curiosity: Why do all of Aamir's children have names that don't explicitly reflect the religious background of their mothers? Aamir clarified with characteristic honesty, 'The names of my children were chosen entirely by my wives. I had no say in the matter. You're a husband too—you know how it is. Husbands usually don't get to decide. It was Reena who picked the names Junaid and Ira." He went on to share that the name Ira has deep roots in Indian tradition. 'Ira is another name for Goddess Saraswati. Have you heard of Irawati? Ira is a shorter version of that. Reena actually found the name in Maneka Gandhi's Book of Hindu Names." As for Azad, Aamir revealed that it was his second wife, Kiran Rao, who chose the name as a tribute to the legendary freedom fighter Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, from whose lineage Aamir traces his ancestry. 'Maulana Azad made immense sacrifices for our country's freedom. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Nehru, Gandhi, and Sardar Patel. He's a huge inspiration to us, so Kiran suggested we name our son Azad." Aamir emphasized that Azad is a universal name that transcends religious identity. 'Azad isn't a Muslim name. Have you heard of Chandrashekhar Azad? It's a name rooted in the idea of freedom. It doesn't belong to any one religion, and that's why we loved it." For those unfamiliar with Aamir's personal life: he married Reena Dutta in 1986 and had two children with her—Junaid and Ira—before parting ways in 2002. In 2005, he tied the knot with filmmaker Kiran Rao, and the couple welcomed their son, Azad Rao Khan, in 2011. They announced their separation in 2021 but continue to co-parent their child. Aamir is currently in a relationship with Gauri Spratt, whom he publicly introduced during his 60th birthday celebration. First Published:
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Atlee REACTS to allegations of Plagiarism as he talks about his Allu Arjun-Deepika Padukone starrer: 'There's a perception that the films I make...'
Director Atlee, after receiving an honorary doctorate, addressed plagiarism claims, citing inspiration from real-life figures like Jeppiaar for his characters. He also unveiled details about his upcoming film with Allu Arjun and Deepika Padukone, produced by Sun Pictures. The film is poised to be one of India's most expensive, incorporating cutting-edge technology, with the release date pending final budget approval. Director Atlee recently received an honorary doctorate from Sathyabama University in Chennai. While accepting the honour, the filmmaker not only opened up about his much-anticipated project with Allu Arjun and Deepika Padukone but also addressed long-standing plagiarism allegations—offering rare insight into his creative process and vision for Indian cinema's future. Atlee addressed the ongoing perception that scenes and characters in his films are borrowed or inspired by other works. Acknowledging the criticism, he noted that many believe his films resemble existing ones. However, he urged the audience to look deeper and offered a personal example from his own life to help them better understand his creative journey. Atlee cited Vijay's character Michael Rayappan from his 2019 film Bigil—a gangster-turned-football coach—as an example, revealing that it was inspired by Jeppiaar, the founder and chancellor of Sathyabama University. Reflecting on the moment his Mersal theme played during the ceremony, Atlee said he believes he earned the honorary doctorate through honesty and love, and pledged to continue making the country proud. This statement from Atlee comes just two months after netizens drew attention to the striking resemblance between the poster of his upcoming film AA22 X A6, starring Allu Arjun, and the Hollywood sci-fi hit Dune. When the poster was unveiled in April, social media was quick to compare it to the Dune artwork featuring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, reigniting discussions around originality in Atlee's work. Speaking about his upcoming untitled film with Allu Arjun and Deepika Padukone, Atlee revealed that it is being produced by Kalanidhi Maran of Sun Pictures. He described the project as one of the most expensive films ever made in India, with plans to incorporate cutting-edge technology. Currently in the budgeting stage, the release date will be finalised by the producer. Atlee shared that the film is being produced by Kalanidhi Maran of Sun Pictures and is set to be one of the most expensive Indian films to date. With plans to use advanced technology, he revealed that the project is still in the budgeting stage. He added that the release date will be determined by the producer.
Pink Villa
an hour ago
- Pink Villa
Are Karisma Kapoor's kids getting a share of Sunjay Kapur's wealth? Find out who might take over his Rs 31,000 crore business empire
Sunjay Kapur's untimely demise shook the film industry and business world. The billionaire took his last breath on June 12 (Thursday) due to a heart attack while playing polo in the UK. Soon after his sudden passing, the question arises who will lead his Rs 31,000 crore business empire and whether Karisma Kapoor's kids will get a share of his wealth. Sunjay Kapur's wife Priya Sachdev to inherit his Rs 10,300 crore estate Reportedly, Sunjay Kapur had a personal wealth of around USD 1.2 billion (Rs 10,300 crore) at the time of his passing. A Hindustan Times report suggests that his estate management will now pass to his current wife, Priya Sachdev, with whom he lived in the UK. However, the billionaire had already made plans to support all his children. Reportedly, Sunjay had already gifted bonds worth Rs 14 crore to his children, Samaira and Kiaan, whom he shares with his ex-wife, and actor Karisma Kapoor. In addition, they will continue to withdraw Rs 10 lakh each as monthly income. For the unversed, the actress was given an alimony of Rs 70 crore during the time of their divorce, as per The Times of India. Who will take over Sunjay Kapur's Rs 31,000 crore worth business empire? Sunjay has three children, Samaira (20) and Kiaan (14) with Karisma Kapoor and Azarias (6) with his third wife Priya Sachdev. Since none of his children are part of the company, none is competent to take over the leadership, at least at this point. Though there is no official confirmation, reports that Sunjay Kapur's sister might take over his bona fide billionaire empire. Reportedly, Sunjay was the chairman of Sona Comstar, which is an Indian automotive technology company. Founded by his father Surinder Kapur, it was Sunjay who expanded the family firm to the global markets after joining the company as Chairman in 2015 following his father's unfortunate demise. As per Bloomberg, the global market cap of Sona Comstar stands at nearly USD 4 billion (Rs 31,000 crore). Sunjay Kapur's sudden demise shook the market, and a drop of over 7% in the company's shares was registered when it opened on Friday, as per Business Today.
