Ileana Citaristi: The dancer who tamed a hippie

Ileana Citaristi reveals how an Italian rebel became one of India’s foremost classical dancers in her autobiography, A Tale of Two Births

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Ileana Citaristi and her book cover.

An exponent of Odissi and Mayurbhanj Chhau, Ileana Citaristi recently visited Goa for a performance, and an image stirred her memory. “I saw myself as a young person running almost nude amid the sand, the sea and the sky to discover nature some 40 years ago on Anjuna beach. I imagine it was me, because it was my previous life,” she says. Citaristi is the other famous Italian woman, who made India her home long ago.

On June 1, 1979, she arrived here with Odissi guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s name scrawled on a bit of paper. That day bisected her life into before- and after- phases. How a wild-haired hippie smelling of flower power moulded herself to fit the rigorous mores of classical training makes up her autobiography My Journey: A Tale of Two Births (Manohar Publishers; Rs 950). It will be launched by Kapila Vatsyayan at India International Centre, Delhi, today, in an event organised by Kri Foundation. An interview with the Padma Shri and National Award-winning dancer.

Time Travel

I wrote the book while travelling. We dancers travel a lot and I sleep badly on trains. I took my laptop and, on every journey, I wrote a new portion. Ever since I came to India, it has been only dance and all my love stories and romances belong to my Italian past. All my male loves are described in the first part. In the second part, I didn’t allow love to happen because I wouldn’t move from my dance so I didn’t give it space. Sometimes, it is difficult for me to realise that I am the same person. The two births in the title actually mean a big, big jump.

The Guru and I

I first met guru Kelucharan Mohapatra dressed in a sleeveless ganji and with my hair all wild. Guruji was bold enough to accept me. He was a tough teacher and I was greedy for knowledge. There were things I couldn’t do in his house, like go in the puja room or the kitchen. I justified all this with my analytical mind and previous anthropological studies. I changed slowly. One day, I gathered my hair — it was a lot of hair, wild and curly — and guruji said, ‘Oh, finally I can see your face”.

Rebel without a Pause

My family was very Italian, orthodox and Catholic. My father was a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party. I was docile till 15. The first rebellion was against the church. Then, against the family. My first boyfriend was a wild rebel and he liberated me. When I was 17-18, I joined a theatre group. Parallel to that, I was studying Eastern Philosophy, which brought me close to Japanese Taoism, Buddhist philosophy and Indian mythology. So, one way was a search of physical expression through theatre while the other way was the life of philosophy through eastern thoughts. The two things came together when I came to India.

Stage Presence

I had to crack many obstacles in the performance line and that also, I have written about. In Orissa, I was not accepted much in group performances because of my height. I could have done male roles but that didn’t happen, which was a blessing in disguise because I started on solo programmes much before my contemporaries. My first solo was in April 1981, two years after I began learning. It was a full performance, with guruji dressing me up because I didn’t know what to do, and playing the pakhavaj for me.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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