Masako Ono does India proud, to perform Odissi dance at Japan’s National Theatre
Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) India. Masako Ono (小野 雅子 Ono Masako), the Japanese Odissi dancer from Bhubaneshwar – the capital city of the east Indian state Odisha, has done India proud yet again as she is all set to lead an Odissi dance troupe to Japan to perform Indian classical dance at the National Theatre, Tokyo on May 25.
It is for the first time ever in the history of Japan that country’s iconic theatre where events related to Japanese Emperor, Prime Ministers and others of high repute happen, is going to host Indian classical dance performance. And it’s a sold-out show.
Living in India since 1996, Masako Ono is taking a 13-member troupe of Odissi dancers, musicians, singers and instrument players to Japan to perform at the National Theatre.
“It’s a matter of pride for India and me that National Theatre is hosting, for the first time ever, Indian classical dance performance. It’s a totally all-tickets sold-out show in the 1700-seater National Theatre,” said Masako Ono in an exclusive interview with Asian Community News (ACN) Network at her MOPA (Masako Ono Performing Arts) center in Bhubaneshwar where she nurtures the future Odissi dancers. In 2017, MOPA was impaneled with ICCR.
Having performed for the events in the presence of former Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, she has also performed for both the prime ministers of India and Japan, Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe in Varanasi in 2015.
While explaining about the National theatre event, Masako Das said that the theatre will have Japanese traditional dance before Odissi dance.
“Our is going to be a 30-minute performance for which we are all working very hard and rehearsing day and night with a break. After our performance follows the Turkey dance and contemporary Japanse dance,” she added.
Living in India since 1996, Masako Ono is the resident of Bhubaneshwar now where she got married to Manas Das, who is also part of the troupe heading for Japan.
“All the members of our troupe be it Odissi dancers, musicians, singers or instrument players, are very excited about the performance happening at the National Theatre on May 25. The dance would be performed by four people including Masako Ono while others are musicians and instrument players. Sangeeta Gosai is going to be the lead classical singer,” Das said.
Masako Ono who has endless achievements to her credit was selected as one of the 100 most respected and outstanding Japanese in the world in their respective fields by the Japanese issue of a news magazine of India in 2008 and was featured in a documentary series, First Japanese.
