KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — Malaysia’s legendary Indian classical dance choreographer and dancer Datuk Ramli Ibrahim turns 65 next month.

Age, being just a number to the recipient of India’s fourth highest civilian award, the ever prestigious Padma Shri award, the iconic dance sensation is simply not showing signs of slowing down.

The man does not intend to stop promoting the Indian classical dance internationally anytime now.

Ramli, who was bestowed the award in recognition of his 40-year career as a classical Odissi dancer and trainer, and showcasing his acclaimed Odissi dance production Ganjam in four Indian cities early this month, is set to fly again to promote the dance.

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He told Bernama he would be heading to China to teach the Odissi to 90 Chinese, besides participating in a variety of workshops and performances the world over, including in Singapore and Odisha, India.

On the Padma Shri award, he said: “It’s a great honour. The award came as a surprise for me. I received a call from the Indian High Commission in Malaysia who said  that India was giving me the Padma Shri award.

“Are you going to accept it,? asked the person on the other end. Of course I will, I replied.”

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The Padma Shri is awarded to the country’s citizens in recognition of their distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity, including the arts, science, education, industry, literary, sports and medicine. It has also been awarded to distinguished individuals who were not citizens but had contributed in various ways to India.

On the Sutra Dance Theatre and the Sutra Foundation, Ramli said the Sutra Gallery would be organising a  photography exhibition, ‘Cave of the Heart’ by Chennai-based A. Prathap who captured images of Ramli in Ellora, Maharashtra, India, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes in the world.

The exhibition will be held from May 20 to June 13 June.

According to Ramli, in conjunction with the upcoming French Festival, Alliance Francaise and the French Embassy in Malaysia, in association with the Sutra Foundation, there will be a photography exhibition, ‘Once Upon A Time Tomorrow’ by France’s Chris Morin-Eitner at the Sutra Gallery from April 20 to May 6.

For three days, beginning April 27, Ramli said the Sutra Foundation would feature a traditional Indian dance of Odissi, the Serentak, performed by four classically-trained dancers, Harenthiran, Gauthami, Vickneswaran and Vanizha.

So, how does the legendary Penang-born dancer keep fit?

“I dance all the time, exercise, do yoga every morning, walking, gardening and I don’t take a lot of food, especially carbohydrates and junk food.”

Shall we dance? — Bernama