Ohio Heritage Fellowship Awards Ceremony Will Honor Two Ohio Performing Artists
by Ken Emerick
Every year, the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) awards Ohio Heritage Fellowships to acknowledge the valuable impact folk and traditional artists have on the arts in Ohio. Two Ohio international performing artists, Anupama Mirle of Liberty Township, and Sogbety Diomande of Mansfield will be recognized on November 2 and 3 at the 2013 Columbus International Festival, at the Franklin County Veterans Memorial in Columbus, Ohio.
As a Bharathnatyam dancer and choreographer, Anupama Mirle learned her art form from Indian masters starting at the age of six. Mirle came to the U.S. in 1990 and has been involved in performing and teaching Bharathnatyam to students of all ethnic groups. Mirle has studied dance with recognized Indian choreographer-historian Dr. Padma Subramaniam, among other artists of acclaim. Mirle, an OAC Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Master artist, has successfully passed on her art form to a number of apprentices, including her son Vikrant Mirle. Along with teaching and performing she organizes dance events and cultural festivals with nationally and internationally acclaimed artists.
A drummer and dancer from the Ivory Coast, Sogbety Diomande has been playing the traditional drum music of the West African region since his early teens. Diomande began learning by observing drummers in Toufinga, a village in Ivory Coast. During a North American tour with the Ballet National de Cote d'Ivoire in 1994, Diomande played doun doun and djembe. Since moving to the United States in 1997, Diomande has performed with a number of dance companies, including the Mask Dance Company; the Kotchenga Dance Company; Company Kobake; the Djoniba Dance Company; and Tokounou, a Guinean dance and drum company. A resident of Mansfield, Ohio, Diomande shares his art form through artist residencies in schools, universities, correctional facilities and local festivals.
The 2013 Columbus International Festival (CIF) will continue a 58-year tradition of bringing together the diverse cultural community in Central Ohio. The festival is held at the Franklin County Veterans Memorial and will feature more than 800 entertainers and more than 200 vendors and nonprofit organizations representing over 80 nations. CIF is one of the largest community events of its kind in Central Ohio and nationwide. Highlights of the 58th festival include: a Parade of Nations, a Health Fair with World Health Organization updates, hands-on activities for children and families, a global marketplace of arts and crafts, unique culinary demonstrations, and a variety of entertainment, including vocal and instrumental ensembles and dance troupes from across the globe.
The Ohio Heritage Fellowship award ceremony for Sogbety Diomande will be held on Saturday, November 2 at 8:00 p.m. in conjunction with a performance by Diomande and his group immediately following. Anupama Mirle will be receiving her award at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 3 in conjunction with a performance by Mirle and her company.
The Ohio Arts Council's Ohio Heritage Fellowships are awarded to individuals and organizations whose work in the folk and traditional arts has had a significant impact on the people and communities of Ohio. Folk and traditional arts grow out of particular cultures and are recognized as the artistic expressions of ethnic, linguistic, occupational or regional groups. To learn more about the program or to make a nomination to the program, please visit the OAC website at www.oac.state.oh.us
About the Ohio Arts Council:
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.
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