Reimagining Legacy Through Choreography
The Dr. Maya Rao Kathak & Choreography Conference (DMRKCC), under the aegis of UNESCO, returns in its fifth edition with a renewed focus on choreography as a living, evolving practice. Led by Madhu Nataraj, daughter of legendary Kathak exponent Dr. Maya Rao, the conference is hosted by the Natya Institute of Kathak & Choreography (NIKC)—India’s premier institution for contemporary classical dance.
Scheduled to take place on 31 January and 1 February 2026 at Sabha BLR, Bengaluru, the conference brings together leading dancers, scholars, cultural thinkers, philanthropists, and audiences for two days of performances, conversations, and immersive archival encounters.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Dr. Maya Rao Kathak & Choreography Conference (5th Edition) |
| Theme | Choreographing Continuum |
| Dates | 31 January & 1 February 2026 |
| Venue | Sabha BLR, Bengaluru |
| Host Institution | Natya Institute of Kathak & Choreography (NIKC) |
| Conference Lead | Madhu Nataraj |
| Curators | Dr. Anita Ratnam, Shoba Narayan |
| Format | Performances, panels, workshops, illustrated talks, archival experiences |
Choreographing Continuum: The Fifth Edition
Titled Choreographing Continuum, the 2026 edition centres on a pressing question: How do we carry legacy forward without fossilising it? The conference approaches tradition as a dynamic process rather than a fixed inheritance, examining how choreographic thinking responds to contemporary concerns such as climate change, artificial intelligence, healing, identity, and social transformation.
Through performances, panels, workshops, and illustrated talks, the conference positions choreography as an active mode of inquiry—one that moves fluidly across time, disciplines, and lived realities.
Curatorial Vision and Participants
The 2026 edition is curated by Dr. Anita Ratnam, a trailblazing performer-scholar, and Shoba Narayan, award-winning author and journalist. Together, they shape a programme that balances intellectual rigor with artistic experimentation.
The conference features an eminent line-up of participants, including Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, Rohini Nilekani, Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Ashish Vidyarthi, Dr. Amit Wanchoo, and Madhu Nataraj, each contributing perspectives that bridge performance, policy, philosophy, and social engagement.
Dr. Maya Rao: Architect of Modern Indian Dance Thought
View this post on Instagram
Often described as the “Mother of Indian Choreography,” Dr. Maya Rao was among the first to systematise choreography in India as a discipline distinct from solo performance. Trained in Kathak under masters such as Shambhu Maharaj, she brought an analytical and dramaturgical lens to dance-making.
Her vision foregrounded structure, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the dancer as a thinking artist. Dr. Rao also played a pivotal role in shaping national arts policy and mentoring institutions across the country. The annual conference honours not only her legacy, but her insistence that tradition must continually question itself.
NIKC: A Living Institution
Founded in 1964 by Dr. Maya Rao and cultural visionary Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, the Natya Institute of Kathak & Choreography was conceived as a radical bridge between classical discipline and contemporary imagination.
Over six decades, NIKC has trained generations of dancers, built one of India’s most significant dance archives, toured its ensemble to over 39 countries, and positioned choreography as a tool for education, social dialogue, and cultural diplomacy. Under Madhu Nataraj’s leadership, the institution continues to remain both rooted and future-facing.
Conclusion: Legacy as Living Practice
The Dr. Maya Rao Kathak & Choreography Conference 2026 stands as a vital platform for rethinking how tradition survives—not through preservation alone, but through inquiry, adaptation, and dialogue. By treating choreography as a continuum rather than a relic, the conference reaffirms the relevance of Indian classical dance in addressing contemporary realities. In doing so, it honours Dr. Maya Rao’s enduring belief that legacy lives only when it is allowed to evolve.
