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Nakshatra Dance Festival

Name: Nakshatra Dance Festival
Start: 2026-09-27
End: 2026-10-04
Location: Mumbai

The Nakshatra Dance Festival is a flagship event hosted by The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai, India. Scheduled for September 27, October 3, and October 4, 2026, the festival celebrates collective choreography across various classical Indian dance forms such as Mohiniattam, Sattriya, Odissi, Kathak, and Bharatanatyam, featuring leading artistes and their ensembles.

Date: Sep 27 - Oct 4, 2026
Location: Mumbai
Status: Starts today

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Event summary

Highlights

Celebration of collective choreography across Mohiniattam, Sattriya, Odissi, Kathak, and Bharatanatyam
Features leading classical Indian dance artistes and their ensembles
Emphasis on the guru-shishya tradition, with participation from NCPA's Nrityagurukul mentors
Performances by Jayaprabha Menon, Ramkrishna Talukdar, Dr. Aruna Mohanty, Pt. Rajendra Gangani, Sharmila Biswas, and Dr. Sandhya Purecha

This annual dance festival, presented by the NCPA, focuses on the power of group choreography within India's rich classical dance traditions. The 2026 edition offers audiences an opportunity to experience the distinctive styles and movement vocabularies of each form through ensemble performances.

A key theme for this year's Nakshatra Festival is the guru-shishya tradition, with several mentors from the NCPA’s Nrityagurukul programme participating. Launched in 2025, the Nrityagurukul programme aims to bridge rigorous training with professional performance, connecting young dancers with established practitioners. The festival serves as a platform for both masters and emerging talents.

Performances include Jayaprabha Menon & Troupe presenting Mohiniattam (Samaahaaram) and Ramkrishna Talukdar & Troupe presenting Sattriya on September 27. On October 3, Dr. Aruna Mohanty & Troupe will present Odissi (Pallaban), followed by Pt. Rajendra Gangani & Troupe with Kathak (Ojas). The festival concludes on October 4 with Sharmila Biswas & Troupe presenting Odissi (Chaturvidh) and Dr. Sandhya Purecha & Troupe with Bharatanatyam (Sheela).

Practical details

Location described by the source: National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA); www.deccanchronicle.com
Area for browsing nearby events: Mumbai

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.