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Aakash Odedra

Choreographer; Performer; Artistic Director, Aakash Odedra Company

Aakash Odedra is an internationally acclaimed contemporary dancer and choreographer based in Leicester, UK. Known for his unique synthesis of classical Indian dance form Kathak with contemporary dance, Aakash has gained significant recognition, including the Bessie Award, the Amnesty International Award for Freedom of Expression, the British Empire Medal (BEM) awarded by HRH Queen Elizabeth II in 2020 and the most recent “Best Show”at the Edinburgh International Festival. Trained under renowned gurus like Nilima Devi, Asha Joglekar, Chitraleka Bolar, and Chhaya Kantaveh, Aakash seamlessly blends the intricacies of classical dance with modern sensibilities. His works, such as Rising, Murmur, Echoes, #JeSuis, Samsara, Mehek, and Songs of the Bulbul, have been performed globally to critical acclaim. He has collaborated with distinguished artists like Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Russell Maliphant, Aditi Mangaldas, Rani Khanam, Sabrina Mahfouz, and David Poznanter. A frequent headliner at major international festivals, Aakash continues to create evocative and thought-provoking performances that resonate with audiences worldwide.

Aakash Odedra

Dancer and Choreographer

Aakash Odedra was born in Birmingham, UK and lives in Leicester. He is a globally recognised and award-winning dancer and choreographer. He trained in bharatanatyam and kathak, then moved to India as a student of the renowned Bollywood choreographer Shiamak Davar. Aakash Odedra’s work forms the heart of the company and as a soloist he has performed over 300 full length performances in 40 countries in the past decade. His choreography pushes boundaries, responding to and drawing inspiration from contemporary issues. As a British-Asian, Aakash Odedra uses his voice to translate ancient and contemporary movement languages to tell new stories

Awards include the Amnesty International Award for Freedom of Expression; Best Dance at the Eastern Eye ACTA Awards 2018; a nomination for Best Stage Production at the 2019 Asian Media Awards for #JeSuis; and in 2021, Aakash was a awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours for his services to dance. Notable commissions include James Brown: Get on the Good Foot (Apollo Theater, NY). In 2017 Aakash choreographed the Royal Opera House production Sukanya composed by the late great Pt Ravi Shankar and was movement director for Curve Theatre’s Pink Sari Revolution.

As a solo performer his awards include: Danza&Danza award (Italy); Dora performance award (Canada); Audience Award Dance Week (Croatia); Infant Award (Serbia); Bessie Award New York (Best Male Performer); and a Sky Academy Arts Scholarship.

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