HYDERABAD: The 25-hour-long dance marathon aimed at creating a Guinness record kick-started with a dance ballet Chitrangada at the Ravindra Bharati here on Wednesday. The Rabindra Nrityotsav, which will go on till Thursday evening, will have artists performing on four dance ballets and 150 songs. All the 125 artists looked geared up with all their costumes and music ready. The dance was accompanied by live music, that added an extra tinge to the ambiance. The ballet Chitrangada will be followed by Chadalika and Shyama and Bhanu Singher Padavali, with a mix of contemporary dance from French dancer Lelan.
Rabindra Nrityotsav was organised by the Sonali Academy of Fine Arts in collaboration with the AP State Cultural Council, Department of Culture and Shilparamam and South Zone Cultural Centre in Nagpur and Thanjore.
The artists have come from seven countries, including France, Belgium, Nepal, Japan and Sri Lanka. Vatti Vasantha Kumar, Minister for Tourism and Culture inaugurated the festival. RV Ramana Murthy, chairman, AP State Cultural Council, K Jatindra Singh, Vishwabharati, Shantiniketan, GN Rao, special officer, Shilparamam and Bengali actress Debashree Roy were present.