Conference Schedule 

Conference Schedule: 

Friday May 1 2026 (Virtual Only): Registration

9:00 am EST: Research Lab I: Odissi's Tangled Histories 

Odyssey/Odissi 2026 is proud to begin featuring artrepreneur/ artivist/ scholar Dr. Arshiya Sethi in Conversation with artist/ scholar/ educator/ activist Sheema Kermani   Dr. Arshiya Sethi is an independent scholar, contributing articles, chapters and columns on the Arts. She has been dance critic, curator, a popular media presenter, and an institution builder in the arts. Her doctoral research has been on the intersection of politics and patronage  case of the Sattras of Assam. She has served as Arts Consultant and Advisor with Doordarshan, the National Television Broadcaster for Dance and Culture and on various committees of the Government of India. In 2012, she was a Post Doctoral Fulbright – Nehru Fellow from India, attached to the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.  

Sheema Kermani (also spelled Kirmani) (Urdu: شیما کرمانی; born 16 January 1951) is a Pakistani classical dancer, actress and social activist. She is the founder of Tehrik-e-Niswan Cultural Action Group (Women's Movement). Kermani is known as a renowned classical dancer, choreographer, dance guru, theatre practitioner, performer, director, producer, and TV actor based in Karachi, Pakistan. She advocates on culture, women's rights, and peace issues. Her pioneering contribution to the promotion of culture and theatrical performances in Pakistan since 1978 have led to international acclaim. Kermani identifies as a feminist and Marxist. She started a movement called 'Tehrik-e-Niswan' (Women's Movement) and raised her voice for their rights, health issues, education and equality.

10:30 am EST: Lineage Histories

12:30 pm EST: Dance Studies Discourse

2:00 pm EST: Writing Workshop

6:00 pm EST: Honors Induction/ Keynote Lecture

Saturday May 2 2026 (In-Person Only): Registration

9:00 am EST: Artist Lab/ Research Lab: Moving Images

2:00 pm EST: Plies and Pirouttes: Box-Office

7:00 pm EST: Spiraling Echoes: Box-Office

Sunday May 3 2026 (In-Person Only): Registration

9:00 am EST: Artist Lab/ Research Lab: Grounded Nimble

2:00 pm EST: Moving Praxis: Box-Office

7:00 pm EST: Transforming Worlds: Box-Office

For Questions: Contact Kaustavi Sarkar at ksarkar@charlotte.edu/ +1 (980) 263-1471