Living the Dance
Come to a place where dance is lived.
Where each day unfolds in rhythm,
and the body listens, as much as it moves.
At Nrityagram, practice becomes a way of being -
held gently by earth, time, and attention.
The Summer Workshop at Nrityagram is a residential immersion in the foundational principles of Odissi, as developed and practised within our community.
More than a training programme, it offers a glimpse into a way of living, where practice, discipline, and daily life are inseparable.
Here, dance is approached as a continuous, embodied inquiry - unfolding through rhythm, repetition, and attention.
Faculty
Odissi training is led by Surupa Sen, Artistic Director of the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, and Pavithra Reddy, Director of Educational and Outreach Programmes. Both have lived, studied, and practised at Nrityagram for over three decades, carrying forward its evolving pedagogy with depth and continuity.
Yoga sessions are conducted by Jaya Chakravarty, a practitioner and teacher with over twenty years of experience, and founder of The Practice Room, Bangalore.
Training
Days are rigorous and immersive. Participants engage in over five hours of daily practice, entering a rhythm that is both demanding and sustaining.
The training includes:
- Foundational Odissi technique
- Yoga and physical conditioning rooted in traditional practices and the Natyashastra
- Rhythmic structures specific to Odissi
- Study of classical texts such as the Abhinaya Darpana
In the spirit of the Gurukula, learning extends beyond the studio. Participants share responsibility for daily life - caring for their spaces, maintaining the environment, and attending to the rhythms that support collective living.
Living at Nrityagram
Set across a ten-acre campus on the outskirts of Bangalore, Nrityagram is both a place of study and a living, breathing artistic home.
Here, architecture rests lightly on the land. Studios open into trees, pathways follow the contours of the earth, and silence is as present as sound. The space invites a different pace - one that allows attention to deepen.
To live here, even briefly, is to experience how the environment shapes practice, and how practice, in turn, begins to shape the self.
Food
Meals are vegetarian, simple, and nourishing - prepared with ingredients sourced from our gardens and nearby farms.
While we are unable to accommodate specific dietary preferences, the food is designed to support the physical demands of training: balanced, wholesome, and lightly spiced.
The Nrityagram Ensemble
Nrityagram is an active residential community of dancers, teachers, and long-term students engaged in sustained practice.
During the workshop, participants may have the opportunity to observe rehearsals of the ensemble and resident students. These moments offer a closer view into the discipline, precision, and evolving artistic process that shape the work. Access may be requested with the faculty.
Workshop Details
- Dates: 30 June - 11 July 2026
-
- Arrival: 29 June (before 3 PM)
- Departure: 11 July (after 3 PM)
- Classes begin: 30 June (start date is fixed)
- International participants requiring early arrival are requested to inform us in advance.
- Fee
-
- Residents of India: INR 30,000
- Non-Resident Indians & South-East Asian countries: USD 900
- All other countries: USD 1250
- Fees are determined by the country of the participant’s current passport.
- Application Process
- To be considered, applicants must submit:
-
-
Online Application Form
Including personal details, movement background, and a brief statement of intent. -
Video Submission (max. 5 minutes)
A clear recording of the applicant dancing. This may be a practice session or informal work. -
Passport Copy
A scanned image of a valid passport.
-
Online Application Form
- Application Deadline: April 30, 2026
- Once we've reviewed all applications, we will send you an update by email.
- Enrolment & Payment
-
- A 50% advance payment is required to confirm participation (non-refundable unless the workshop is cancelled).
- The remaining 50% is due on or before the first day of registration.
- Fees remain unchanged irrespective of attendance duration.
- Upon acceptance, participants will receive:
-
- Payment link
- Registration form
- Detailed preparation guidelines
- Important Note
-
- Any changes to the programme or terms will be communicated in advance.
- For any inquiries please contact: pavithra@nrityagram.org
- Reaching Nrityagram: Directions