Grand opening of Five-Day Festival of New Choreographies – Kala Yatra 2026

New Delhi (14/01/2026): It was a moment of cultural significance for the National Capital when the much-awaited Festival of New Choreographies – Kalayatra, 2026, was ceremoniously inaugurated on 13 January, 2026 at Kamani Auditorium, heralding a five-day national celebration of India’s living classical dance traditions. Conceived and curated by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh, the festival brings together ten eminent dance institutions from across Bharat, presenting powerful new choreographic works rooted in civilisational wisdom and artistic rigour.

Jointly presented by the Department of Art, Culture & Languages, Government of NCT of Delhi, and the Centre for Indian Classical Dances (Kamakhya Kalapeeth), the festival marks a rare confluence of governance, Guruship and creative vision, reiterating Delhi’s position as a vibrant cultural capital of India.

The inauguration witnessed the presence of senior government officials and distinguished dignitaries, cultural leaders, iconic artists such as Uma Sharma, Malini Awasthi, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Vanashree Rao, Geeta Chandran, Wasifuddin Dagar, Sharon Lowen, Saswati Sen, Ranjana Gauhar, among others. The packed auditorium bore testimony to the deep resonance that classical dance continues to hold in the cultural consciousness of the city and the nation.

Stating that the Delhi Government is proud to jointly present this unique Festival of New Choreographies, “Our Hon’ble Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is committed to positioning Delhi as a global cultural hub. For the first time, the Delhi Government’s Department of Art, Culture & Language has partnered with internationally-renowned cultural icon Dr. Sonal Mansingh and her institution. Culture is a key priority for the Delhi Government, and the number of cultural events in 2025 has doubled under this vision.” K. Mahesh, Secretary, Department of Art, Culture & Language, Government of NCT of Delhi, said during his address.

The grand cultural show celebrating India’s performing arts started with the opening performance – Amruth-Manthan. Conceptualised, choreographed and directed by Dr Sonal Mansingh, the CICD repertory depicted an episode from the ancient holy Hindu scriptures -the great churn of the cosmic ocean for nectar- Amrut. The many-layered presentation depicted multiple aspects of society – good and bad, right and wrong that has prevailed since eons. Ultimately, righteousness prevails. The outstanding presentation with massive props was a work of art by itself that took months of preparations and rehearsals to bring alive the moment of each character and the period of those times. Convincing in their respective roles the dancers lived their roles. As the curtain downed, the pin-drop auditorium burst into rapturous applause with a standing ovation to the Diva of Indian dance, Dr Sonal Mansingh, and the dancers as well.

Reciprocating her gratitude, Dr. Sonal Mansingh, said, “I deeply value the support of the Government of Delhi in recognising classical dance as a civilisational responsibility. When governance and culture walk together, platforms like the Festival of New Choreographies become possible—where tradition is honoured and creative thinking is encouraged.” Elaborating why FoNC bears significance, she said, “Every new choreography carries the weight of tradition and the courage of renewal. This festival stands for that delicate balance—where our past is remembered with reverence and the present is expressed with responsibility. Also, the Guru’s role is not to preserve art as a museum piece, but to allow it to breathe, evolve and respond to society. The Festival of New Choreographies is a collective offering by Gurus who understand this sacred duty.”

The second and last performance of the day-Athijeevanam, was a Kathakali presentation by the International Kathakali Centre, Delhi. Directed by the veteran Guru T.B. Jagadeesan, the choreography is themed on saving the earth from human avarice. The dance narration addressed the importance of preserving nature for sustainability of life, failing which, the annihilation of mankind and the planet, is certain. The 400-year-old traditional art form of God’s Own Country, Kathakali, literally means story-telling through drama, which the group performed brilliantly. The performance depicted the years of dedication that goes behind such a nuanced classical performance by the artists. Audience lapped it all be it the colourful costumes, elaborate make-up, theme and music, which evoked an awareness to respect shared resources and space on earth for future generations and posterity. The artists of the International Kathakali Centre were felicitated after their performance.

As the curtain downed on the first day of the five –day FoNC, more new choreographies are to unveil in the coming dates of 14th, 15th and 28th and 29th of January at Kamani Auditorium.

About the Festival

The Festival of New Choreographies – KalaYatra 2026 is being held on 13th, 14th, 15th & 28th, 29th January 2026, opening every evening at 6:30 PM at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi. The festival welcomes all rasikas, art lovers and general audiences.

KalaYatra, in its true essence, is a unique presentation of ten new choreographies, each created and presented by eminent dance institutions of India led by their Gurus. Curated by Dr. Sonal Mansingh, the festival reflects India’s civilisational soul through narratives drawn from history, philosophy, social consciousness and lived cultural memory, expressed through varied classical dance forms. Dr. Mansingh celebrates the cultural ethos with her unique thinking, scholarly vision, contributions and creative reinvention of the myriad facets of dance, music, choreography and visual aesthetics, transcending boundaries of land, language, and cultural diversity.

13th Jan, 2026 – Day 1:
1) Amrut-Manthan, a magnum opus production directed and choreographed by Dr. Sonal Mansingh. It will feature repertory artistes of CICD, established in 1977, and among the earliest cultural institutions of Delhi.
2) Athijeevanam, directed by Guru T.B. Jagadeesan, International Kathakali Centre, Delhi, on the theme of preserving nature.

14th January, 2026 – Day 2:
1) Naadaswarupaam Devim Maami – a presentation by Prof. Deepti Omchery Bhalla, Trikalaa Gurukulam, Delhi.
2) Girija Kalyana (Shiva-Parvati Vivaha), in Yakshagana style of Karnataka, directed by Guru Keremane Shivananda Hegde.

15th January, 2026 – Day 3:
1) Karna – Bound by Fate by Guru Vaibhav Arekar and repertory of Sankhya Foundation.
2) Sita Bibaha Bihar – a presentation by Guru Bhabananda Barbayan and Group.

28th January, 2026 – Day 4:
1) Duryodhana, directed by Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, Srjan, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
2) Chakravyuha, a choreography by Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, New Delhi.

29th January, 2026- Day 5:
1) Saugandhikaharnam, a presentation by Chidakash Kalalay Centre of Art and Divinity, Kolkata. Directed by Piyal Bhattacharya.
2) Matrika, a choreography by professional LGBTQ+ group — Rainbow Dance Troupe, Barasat. Directed by Ratri Das.

CICD Canvas of almost Five Decades (1977-present)

The foyer of Kamani Auditorium will showcase the 49-year journey of Kamakhya Kalapeeth, Centre for Indian Classical Dances (CICD), through a pictorial exhibition of rare photographs, vintage memories and major milestones. Dr. Sonal Mansingh established CICD in 1977 in Delhi, envisioning a sanctuary for training, research and perfomances with special emphasis on addressing social issues. CICD prepares students with a deep understanding of coordination between body, mind and spirit, fostering excellence not only in art but also in character, instilling discipline, focus and resilience, preparing them not only to become outstanding performers but also to carry the message of harmony, beauty and peace in a world challenged by violence and aggression. Today, CICD stands as a beacon of preserving, propagating and disseminating a deep understanding of holistic education that transcends all man-made boundaries like religion, language and values.

About Dr. Sonal Mansingh

Padma Vibhushan awardee, Dr. Sonal Mansingh, is India’s iconic cultural personality, whose life long work as Guru, choreographer, cultural philosopher, scholar, author, motivational speaker, kathakar and social activist among the many facets has brought laurels from countries across the world. She is acclaimed for her ability to interlink cultural interpretations of philosophy, literature, sculpture and mythological parables with their influence on India’s socio-cultural fabric.
As a celebrated dancer, Dr. Mansingh has uniquely used her art to address significant issues such as ecological imbalance, environmental protection, women empowerment, social justice, Jail Reforms, River Pollution etc. Her creative contribution has led to path-breaking choreographies that have inspired audiences globally. Dr. Mansingh has performed, lectured and conducted workshops in over 90 countries.

Her vibrant creativity has redefined traditional Indian repertories through her innovative work. She revived the ancient art form of Natya-Katha, blending her singing, narrative skills and abhinaya to create a captivating experience for audiences, where stories from history, literature and social themes are brought to life creating a tapestry.

Among many of her renowned choreographies solo & group) such as Devi Durga, Draupadi, Indradhanush, Manavata, Pancha-Kanya, Aatmaayan, Satyameva Jayate, Mukti, When the Gods Meet, Karmyogi, Bhava-Ganga, Deva-Katha and Amrut-Manthan etc, each reflecting her deep engagement with Bharat’s time-honoured wisdom and its timeless resonance in today’s world.

As the Founder-President of the Centre for Indian Classical Dances (est. 1977), Dr. Mansingh has trained thousands of performers who continue to carry the message of Indian cultural ethos worldwide. Her institution remains one of the most respected cultural centres for classical dance, music and yoga education in India. In 2003, Dr. Mansingh was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award, by the Government of India.

In July 2018, Dr. Mansingh was nominated by the President of India to the Rajya Sabha, Upper House of Parliament, marking a historic moment as the first classical dancer to receive this honour. She was also selected as one of the Navaratnas for the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014.

She was conferred the prestigious Srimanta Sankardeva Award 2023 by the Assam government in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cultural heritage of Assam. Dr. Mansingh has also served as Chairperson of the National Sangeet Natak Akademi, and is currently serving her second term as Trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). She is a Visiting Professor at IIT Kharagpur and a member of the Society of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.

Her life and work have been the subject of books and also a documentary:
1) Devapriya, biography in Hindi by Yatindra Mishra
2) Sonal Mansingh: A Life Like No Other in English by Sujata Prasad.
1) 3)Incredible India – Classical Dances of India in English by Dr. Sonal Mansingh
3) A ZigZag Mind in English by Dr. Sonal Mansingh
4) SONAL – a documentary in Hindi by Prakash Jha.

Dr Sonal Mansingh looks forward to presenting many more meaningful events to the discerning young generations of India.

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