Mangalore : Art is something that has the magnetic force to attract anyone. Particularly, Indian art and culture have always fascinated foreigners since long. One such enthusiast is Dr Alexandra Szoke of Hungary who is passionate about Bharatanatyam and  has even mastered the art.

Alexandra who has learnt Bharatanatyam at Mangalores famous dance school Sanatana Natyalaya will put her skills to test at a Bharatanatyam performance at Sanatana Natyalaya at Ballalbagh on June 22, Saturday. The programme will be inaugurated by eminent dancer Muralidhar Rao who has been honoured with the coveted Shanthala title.

Guru Sharadamani Shekhar of Sanatana Natyalaya and Nrityangann Founder Radhika Shetty, have been instrumental in helping Alexandra learn Bharatanatyam.

Dr. Alexandra Szoke was born in Budapest, Hungary and has completed her PhD in social anthropology from the Central European University in Hungary and the Max Planck Institute in Germany.

She moved to Mangalore 18 months ago along with her husband Ian Cook, who is doing research in Mangalore as part of his a PhD in social anthropology at the Central European University in Hungary.

Once she returns to Hungary, Alexandra will join the University of Vienna as a post doctoral researcher.