NCPA Dance Gurukul Festival in Pune on Sept 10, 11

Pune : The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, will bring its Dance Gurukul  Festival to Pune on September 10 and 11. The festival is part of the NCPA Dance Gurukul, a structured training initiative based on the traditional Guru-Shishya (teacher-student) tradition, aimed at nurturing the next generation of classical dancers.

The two-day program will feature Kathak and Manipuri dance, with participation from Pune-based Nadroop Kathak Institute.

The festival will open on September 10 at 10am at the Jyotsna Bhole Auditorium, Hirabaug Chowk, Tilak Road, with a lecture-demonstration by renowned Manipuri dancer, guru and researcher Preeti Patel, a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Patel will also be felicitated by Nadroop on the occasion.

On September 11 at 6pm, the Dance Gurukul Festival will be held at the M.E.S. School Auditorium, Mayur Colony. Nadroop students Pramod Wagh, Shraddha Mukhade, Nayan Kohale and Shreya Kulkarni will present Trimiti, a Kathak performance. Students of Guru Preeti Patel – Mayanglambam Nongdambi Chanu, Nivedita Pukhrambam and Ningthoujam Henthoi, will present Priye Charushile, based on Manipuri dance.

Senior Kathak guru and Nadroop founder Shama Bhate, shared “the Dance Gurukul goes beyond conventional dance training by introducing young dancers to areas such as sound, lighting, artist documentation and grant applications, alongside traditional training”

The initiative provides promising artists, particularly those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, with training in dance, technique, philosophy, choreography and performance, as well as professional skills to help them build sustainable careers.

Swapnokalpa, head of NCPA’s Dance Department and a noted Odissi dancer, will also be felicitated by Nadroop on September 11th

Both the programs, supported by Bank of America, are free and open to all. Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.