The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), India’s premier cultural institution, proudly announces the Spectrum Dance Festival, a three-day showcasing dances from around the world. Set against the backdrop of Mumbai’s cultural landscape, this year’s festival weaves together classical Indian heritage with contemporary European expressions, creating a tapestry of movement that transcends boundaries. The festival will unfold across three carefully curated evenings – February 7, 16, and 28.
This year’s festival will be a masterful dialogue between heritage and innovation. Bharatanatyam soloist Vaibhav Arekar, whose choreography stretches to the edges of tradition without breaking its threads, will open the festival with “Naama Mhane…” – a spiritual exploration inspired by Sant Namdev. Sharing the evening will be the Tanusree Shankar Dance Company, whose work “NRITYAVYVIDHYAM” embodies their philosophy of being “Indian in origin, modern in presentation.” The festival will then pivot to the avant-garde with Luxembourg’s As We Are (AWA) company, whose groundbreaking production “Shoot the Cameraman” reimagines the boundaries between performer and lens. The grand finale will bring together two extraordinary collaborations: Odissi maestro Sujata Mohapatra’s graceful artistry that speaks to both tradition and transformation, followed by the electric synergy of Kathak exponent Aditi Bhagwat and Flamenco virtuoso Bettina Castaño, whose partnership has birthed a new movement language that transcends cultural boundaries.
“Spectrum 2025 will capture the dynamic spirit of contemporary dance while celebrating its timeless roots,” says Dr. Swapnokalpa Dasgupta, Head of Dance Programming at NCPA. “When you watch Vaibhav Arekar interpret Sant Namdev through classical Bharatanatyam or see a live camera moving among dancers in ‘Shoot the Cameraman,’ or witness the rhythmic conversation between Kathak and Flamenco, you will be experiencing how artistes are reimagining the possibilities of dance. This festival will demonstrate that tradition isn’t a fixed point in history—it’s a living, breathing force that continues to inspire new forms of expression.”
The festival will be held at NCPA’s Tata Theatre and Experimental Theatre. Tickets are priced at ₹450 & ₹270 (Members) and ₹500 & ₹300 (Public) for performances at Tata Theatre, while the Experimental Theatre show is priced at ₹360 & ₹270 (Members) and ₹400 & ₹300 (Public). The performances of Vaibhav Arekar and Sujata Mohapatra are supported by Voltas under its CSR initiative as part of the NCPA Nrityagurukul. For more information, visit the NCPA website or bookmyshow or contact the Box Office.
