Where To Catch A Traditional Indian Dance Show In Mumbai

Mumbai has plenty of public and private institutions that regularly showcase the country’s rich performing arts, so you have quite a few options for watching a traditional dance performance. Here’s a roundup of the city’s top spots to catch a show, from a remote folk dance to a classic Bharatanatyam performance.

National Center For Performing Arts

Theater

Founded in 1969, the National Centre For Performing Arts (NCPA) is the country’s largest performing arts center, with more than 700 events hosted here each year. Built to preserve and promote India’s cherished artistic heritage in the fields of music, dance, theater, film, literature and photography, the NCPA frequently hosts some of the country’s best and most promising emerging dancers. The Mudra Dance Festival, held every April, consistently presents a rich program with traditional dances from around the country. The NCPA Nakshatra Dance Festival, held every October, features troupe performances led by prominent figures in Indian classical dance.

Sri Shanmukhananda Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Auditorium

Established in 1959 with the aim of promoting fine arts in the city, Shanmukhananda is among Mumbai’s premier arts institutions. This legendary auditorium frequently showcases dance performances and festivals and has hosted everyone from Lata Mangeshkar to Ustad Zakir Hussain. The annual dance and music festival features folk and traditional dances from remote corners of the country.

Ravindra Natya Mandir

On the ground floor of the P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy—set up in 2002 to celebrate and promote Marathi theatre, music and arts—is the Ravindra Natya Mandir Auditorium, yet another venue that consistently showcases quality traditional dance performances. Recent shows at this venue have included Kathak, Odissi and Bharatanatyam performances, as well as workshops on relatively more remote folk dance forms.

Ninad Center for Performing Arts

Founded in 2006 to preserve, promote, and propagate Indian classical art forms, the Ninad Center for Performing Arts trains dancers of all ages and frequently hosts performances with a focus on Kathak,making it an ideal venue for anyone interested in this particular traditional dance form.