NCPA’s Nakshatra Dance Festival Features Top Classical Artistes

Mumbai: The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, India’s premier arts and culture institution, announces Nakshatra, its flagship dance festival, bringing together some of India’s leading classical dance artistes and their ensembles. Taking place on 27 September, 3 October and 4 October 2026, this year’s edition celebrates the power of collective choreography across Mohiniattam, Sattriya, Odissi, Kathak and Bharatanatyam, offering audiences an opportunity to experience the distinctive traditions, styles and movement vocabularies of each form through group performance.

A significant thread running through this year’s Nakshatra is the guru-shishya tradition, reflected in the participation of Dr. Aruna Mohanty, Pt. Rajendra Gangani and Sharmila Biswas, who are mentors under the NCPA’s Nrityagurukul programme. Launched in 2025, Nrityagurukul seeks to bridge rigorous training and professional performance by placing young dancers in sustained mentorship with established practitioners. With its emphasis on artistic development, performance opportunities and the transmission of knowledge between generations, the programme finds a natural resonance with Nakshatra, where established artistes and their troupes take the stage while young practitioners gain exposure to the professional world of classical dance.

“Nakshatra is a celebration of diverse individuals coming together as part of a group choreography, and this year’s festival brings that diversity to life through the collective energy of the ensemble. We are delighted to present some of the country’s most respected artistes and their troupes across five classical traditions, each bringing its own artistic vocabulary, aesthetic and interpretation to the stage. The ensemble offers a unique space for artistes to explore choreography and movement while retaining the essence of their respective traditions.

The participation of our Nrityagurukul mentors adds another meaningful dimension to the festival. At the NCPA, we believe that the future of classical dance lies not only in preserving its rich legacy but also in creating opportunities for the next generation to learn, perform and develop their own artistic voices. Nakshatra brings this continuum together on one stage, celebrating both the masters and the tradition of learning that sustains the art form,” expresses Dr. Swapnokalpa Dasgupta, Head – Dance, NCPA.

The festival opens on 27 September at the Experimental Theatre with Jayaprabha Menon & Troupe presenting Samaahaaram, followed by Ramkrishna Talukdar & Troupe presenting Sattriya. An accomplished exponent of Mohiniattam, Menon is known for bringing a contemporary aesthetic to the form while remaining rooted in tradition. Samaahaaram is a collection of presentations in the Sopanam style, bringing together nritta, nritya and natya while exploring the kinetic energy and grace of Mohiniattam through Kerala’s percussion traditions and angika abhinaya. Talukdar, an eminent Sattriya dancer, choreographer, teacher and author, presents the rich spiritual and literary heritage of Assam’s classical dance tradition through abhinaya, borgeet, ankiya naat and pure dance, drawing on narratives from the Ramayana, Bhagavata Purana and the ten incarnations of Vishnu.

The festival continues on 3 October at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre with Dr. Aruna Mohanty & Troupe presenting Pallaban, followed by Pt. Rajendra Gangani & Troupe with Ojas – The Inner Fire. One of India’s leading Odissi dancers and choreographers, Dr. Mohanty’s Pallaban presents a symbolic journey through different phases of human existence, drawing on Odissi’s movement vocabulary and the cultural landscape of Odisha. Pt. Gangani, one of the foremost exponents of the Jaipur gharana of Kathak, brings his command over rhythm, intricate bols and expressive choreography to Ojas, a production rooted in the Indian concept of ojas and exploring the inner energy that shapes the human spirit.

The festival concludes on 4 October with Sharmila Biswas & Troupe presenting Chaturvidh, followed by Dr. Sandhya Purecha & Troupe with Sheela. A disciple of Kelucharan Mohapatra, Biswas has spent over three decades exploring the artistic vocabulary of Odissi through Odisha’s traditional performing and visual arts. Chaturvidh is a four-part production inspired by indigenous traditions including Pattachitra, shadow puppetry, Gotipua and traditional processional music, while remaining rooted in the classical marga. Bharatanatyam exponent, scholar and Chairperson of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, Dr. Purecha presents Sheela, a thematic dance-theatre production inspired by the samanya abhinaya chapter of the Natyashastra, exploring different temperaments and dispositions through female characters.

Through its focus on ensemble choreography, the coming together of diverse classical traditions and the connection between established practitioners and emerging dancers, Nakshatra 2026 celebrates the continuing evolution of Indian classical dance while remaining rooted in its rich artistic heritage.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

27 September 2026 | 5:00 PM | Experimental Theatre

Mohiniattam – Jayaprabha Menon & Troupe

Samaahaaram

Sattriya – Ramkrishna Talukdar & Troupe

Tickets: Rs. 270 & 180/- (Members) | Rs. 300 & 200/- (Public)

3 October 2026 | 5:00 PM | Jamshed Bhabha Theatre

Odissi – Dr. Aruna Mohanty & Troupe

Pallaban

Kathak – Pt. Rajendra Gangani & Troupe

Ojas – The Inner Fire

Tickets: Rs. 450, 360 & 270/- (Members) | Rs. 500, 400 & 300/- (Public)

4 October 2026 | 5:00 PM | Jamshed Bhabha Theatre

Odissi – Sharmila Biswas & Troupe

Chaturvidh

Bharatanatyam – Dr. Sandhya Purecha & Troupe

Sheela

Tickets: Rs. 450, 360 & 270/- (Members) | Rs. 500, 400 & 300/- (Public)

Box Office: 9 September for Members | 12 September for Public

Age Limit: 6+