Punyah Dance Festival: Workshops, Performances & Community
Welcome to our space for art. From immersive workshops to grand stage performances, the Punyah Dance Festival is where our community gathers to celebrate dance, learning, and connection.
A view from the stage during rehearsals with my students. Guiding the next generation of dancers is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.
A rehearsal session with my students Akshatha and Vibha. This is where the hard work happens, refining every movement and expression before a performance.
A clip from a Kalinga Narthana workshop I conducted in San Francisco. It's a joy to share the art of Bharatanatyam with students around the world.
Me striking a pose in front of the beautiful mural at The Punyah Theatre. This space is a hub for our dance community, a place to learn, create, and perform.
A quiet moment during rehearsals. The dust particles caught in the light show the energy and movement that fills our studio every day.
A behind the scenes shot at our school, Upadhye School of Dance. A student prepares for a performance, capturing the dedication that dance requires from a young age.
The schedule for Day 2 of the Punyah Dance Festival. We pack the days with performances, workshops, and discussions to create an immersive experience for everyone.
About this collection
When you get a day pass for the Punyah Dance Festival, you aren't just sitting in the audience. You get all-day access from 9 AM to 9 PM, which includes every workshop, lecture-demonstration, and performance on the schedule. It is designed to immerse you in the full cycle of art, from the morning technical sessions to the evening stage shows.
We built the Punyah Dance Festival to be more than just a stage. It is an annual celebration of nritya (dance), kalike (learning), and karma (action). Held at Ravindra Kalakshetra, these two days are packed with intense sessions that aim to break the wall between the artist and the audience.
Whether you are a professional looking to sharpen your technique, a student deep in your training, or just someone who loves watching classical art, this festival is for you. We host workshops led by experienced artists, panels that dissect the nuances of Bharatanatyam, and evening performances featuring the Punyah Dance Company.
The focus is on accessibility and community. We want people to understand that behind every graceful movement on stage, there is a lot of sweat, discipline, and, quite often, a bit of chaos. If you are in Bengaluru and want to see what a thriving arts community looks like, this is where you need to be.
Parshwanath Upadhye
I started the Punyah Dance Festival because I wanted a space that felt less like a stiff stage and more like a home for artists. We bring together dancers, students, and curious minds for two days of non-stop art. It is messy, it is loud, and it is completely real.
Find your space in the dance community
Explore specific workshops, production details, or upcoming festival dates.
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