The Bagri Foundation is delighted to support “Mehek,” a dance performance by Aakash Odedra and Aditi Mangaldas. This captivating presentation explores the depths of the human heart, unraveling its desires, courage, and resilience. Aakash Odedra and Aditi Mangaldas, renowned South Asian dancers, skillfully breathe life into a poignant, overlooked love story between a mature woman and a younger man, challenging societal norms and redefining the essence of love.
Titled “Mehek,” derived from the Hindi word for fragrance, the performance alludes to the enduring power of memory and the essence of love itself. Aditi Mangaldas, in her first-ever duet after a 50-year career, and Aakash Odedra skillfully weave a narrative that celebrates love in its raw, authentic, and infinitely resonant forms.
About Aakash Odedra Dance Company
Aakash Odedra Company was founded in Leicester in 2011 and named after our Artistic Director Aakash Odedra. Aakash was born in Birmingham, UK and lives in Leicester. He is a globally recognised and award-winning dancer and choreographer. 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.
About Aditi Mangaldas
Aditi Mangaldas is a leading dancer and choreographer in the classical Indian dance form of Kathak. With extensive training under the leading gurus of Kathak, Shrimati Kumudini Lakhia and Pandit Birju Maharaj, Aditi is today recognised for her artistry, technique, eloquence and characteristic energy that mark every performance. Considered a maverick in India, she has consistently broken ground, unafraid to confront social and present day concerns
Besides dancing and choreographing classical productions, both solo and group, she has broken new ground by using her knowledge and experience of Kathak as a springboard to evolve a contemporary dance vocabulary, infused with the spirit of the classical.
Photo: Angela Grabowska
