The fourth Natyatarang Festival of Arts will take place Sunday, May 18, from 3 to 6 pm, in The Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street.

This year Natyatarang brings together two disciplines within the Odissi Classical Dance under one roof. Two artists — Rahul Acharya and Anindita Nanda — who have gained popularity in their own genres, will be performing their individual styles side by side and will be collaborating on some pieces which brings those two styles together.

The dance recital will have solo and duet performances set to traditional Odissi classical music.

Natyatarang is the brainchild of Ms Nanda, a classical artist and performer. She felt that there was a need for a platform to promote the classical arts and bring it closer to the community she lived in. There were many shows happening in NY and the tri-state area, but none that catered to the greater Fairfield area. That was her prime motivation to host this classical arts project in the Fairfield County.

 Each festival so far has showcased something different and new each time.

 This year Natyatarang will bring together two disciplines within the Odissi Classical Dance. Two artists who have gained popularity in their own styles will be performing their individual styles side by side, and will also be collaborating on some pieces to bring the two styles together.

The dance recital will have solo and duet performances set to traditional Odissi classical music.

Rahul Acharya is a popular Odissi soloist. Since the age of 4, he has been training under Guru Durga Charan Ranbir in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, and tours the world extensively.

He was the first male Odissi dancer to be awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi. Mr Acharya was also the recipient of a Junior Scholarship and Senior Scholarship from the Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Government of India.

Anindita Nanda is a rare combination of dancer, classical vocalist, choreographer, teacher and scholar. She is an accomplished artist of the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra gharana of dancing and is a known name with in the Odissi genre.

She has been learning, performing and teaching Odissi classical dance and Hindustani Vocal for over two decades in India and currently in the USA, where she lives at present. She is an award-winning dancer who has represented her home state in India several times, on the national level.

While in India she has represented her state several times on National level. She was recognized for her contribution to music and dance when she performed for the All India Dance Festival Organized by the Sangeet Natak Academy and at youth festivals held by the Government of India. She was recently awarded a Human Greatness Award from Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, for her contribution to the local community through her dance and music, and for those she has touched through performances, workshops and teachings.

In addition to being a classical dancer and a musician, Ms Nanda is a biochemist.

Tickets are $20, $50 for VIP (premium seating and artist access), and $10 for ages 6-10. Children ages 5 and under will be admitted for free.

Additional information and tickets are available by calling 203-885-5088.

For more information on the festival, visit www.soortaal.org/natyatarang.