25 November 2025:
Nritya Fest 2025: Celebrating 15 Years of Classical Dance in Delhi
Join Nrityalaya’s NRITYA FEST 2025 on 30 Nov—commemorating its 15th anniversary, the evening promises a luminous journey through heritage, artistry and timeless tradition, at the Karthiayani Socio Cultural Complex, Mayur Vihar Phase I, New Delhi.
The celebration begins at 4:00 pm with a Kathakali lecture-demonstration by Guru Thiruvattar Jagadeesan Nair, Principal of The International Centre for Kathakali. This interactive session will immerse audiences in the expressive depth and technical brilliance of one of India’s most iconic dance traditions.
At 5:00 pm, Nrityalaya’s dedicated students take the stage with a Bharatanatyam recital, guided by Guru Dr. Kanaka Sudhakar and Acharya Aparajita Sarama. Their performance reflects discipline, devotion and the cultural commitment that defines the institution’s journey.
The evening culminates at 6:30 pm with a special Margam presentation by acclaimed Bharatanatyam exponent, musician and educator Dr. Rajashree Warrier (KSNA Awardee). Her refined artistry will be the highlight of the festival, offering audiences a soulful journey through the classical repertoire.
Day 2: A Symphony of Traditions
On 1 December 2025, the second evening of the 8th Edition of NRITYA FEST unfolds with a vibrant showcase of Indian classical dance, reaffirming Nrityalaya’s vision of nurturing excellence and sustaining timeless traditions.
The stage will glow with diverse presentations—Kathak by Gauri Diwakar Sanskriti Foundation, Kuchipudi by Foundation for Developed India, a Kathak solo by Akshar Tekchandani, Bharatanatyam by Nrityabharati, and an Odissi duet by Vaishali Kala Kendra. Adding depth, “Sammohana: The Dance of Longing” by Rakshita Raghunathan and Ragini Iyer will explore emotion and grace in duet form.
The evening’s highlight features Shubhi Johari, Kalasreshtha Awardee 2025, in a live Kathak performance of refined artistry. The brilliance of the Yuva Kalasreshtha Awardees 2025—Saradyuthi Vadlamani, Deepshikha Upreti, Revathi R. Nair and Sahil Suresh—will further illuminate the promise of the next generation.
CELEBRATING LEGACY AND NEW TALENT
Concluding the night, the felicitation ceremony will honour Gurus with the Guru Samman, contributors with the Sanskriti Seva Samman, and celebrate this year’s Kalasreshtha and Yuva Kalasreshtha Awardees, marking a memorable tribute to the classical arts.
