Jaipur Dance Conclave
A unique event on the cultural calendar, the Jaipur Dance Conclave celebrates the timeless beauty and continuing evolution of Indian dance. Rooted in tradition, these art forms come alive in the historic city of Jaipur. This will be the first year of this festival, the only one of its kind in Rajasthan, bringing awareness of India’s varied dance forms to Jaipur audiences.
JDC brings the best of dance from all over India, to Jaipur with performances, workshops and discussions. The festival kicked-off with a special curtain-raiser performance on 5 November at Rajasthan International Centre, by Odissi guru Sharmila Biswas, a Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee (2012), and dancers of Odissi Vision and Movement Centre, Kolkata.
During the main two-days of the festival, to be held on 22 and 23 November at Rajasthan International Centre, audiences will get an opportunity to watch outstanding dance performances, listen to the wisdom and experience of senior gurus, hear from younger artists,and gather for a celebration of dance. The evening performances feature such outstanding artists as Padmashri Madhavi Mudgal (Odissi), Padmashri Leela Samson (Bharatanatyam), and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Prerana Shrimali (Kathak). They will present their innovative group choreographies along with their students. Outstanding young artists, such as Kathak dancer Gauri Diwakar and Mohiniattam dancer Divya Warrier will present their new choreographies.
The festival has a special focus on local talent, including a theatrical folk performance exploring the Meena community of Rajasthan. The performances will also include a folk dance showcase and a classical performance by Jaipur Kathak Kendra. The performance ‘Manthan’ is a collaboration of dance with Kaavad Katha by Akshay Gandhi, a storytelling art form of Rajasthan. Jaipur Dance Conclave offers an opportunity for audiences to deepen their understanding of dance, with seminar sessions in the morning, and workshops in the afternoon. Children will have a chance to join dancer and actor Praachi Saathi in a fun, interactive workshop on 23 Nov based on her work combining Bharatanatyam, Warli art, and storytelling.
Each day offers a rich tapestry of rhythm, expression and movement, reflecting the cultural depth of our dance heritage. The festival is designed to appeal to a range of audiences – from passionate art lovers to curious newcomers and international visitors- creating a unique confluence of heritage and creativity in the historic city of Jaipur. JDC offers an opportunity to watch, learn and celebrate dance together.
Manjot Chawla
Manjot is a gifted art impresario with more than two decades of diverse experience in the areas of cultural research, conceptualisation, curating, planning, production and implementation of national and international events and festivals. She has played a pivotal role in Seher India, one of the premier organisations in the area of the performing and visual arts. Its well-known events include programmes for the UN, the Govt of India and foreign embassies, including the UN Millenium Goals Concert, the cultural programme for US President Barack Obama, for the President of India, the SAARC secretariat and the BBC. Manjot has steered these events with commitment and élan. For the Delhi Govt. She has been instrumental in presenting the renowned Bhakti Utsav, Ananya Dance Festival, Delhi Jazz Festival and Gurbani festivals.
Apart from working on and producing numerous single-day events around classical dance, music, visual art, orchestras, rock and jazz bands and theatre involving hundreds of artistes in Delhi, Manjot has spearheaded international projects under the aegis of Seher: Delhi Day in Dubai; Trafalgar Square Festival, London; Regent Street Festival, London; Fez Sacred Music Festival, Morocco; and Black Arts Festival, Senegal. She has been at the core of conceptualizing some of the recent landmark festivals like the Udaipur World Music Festival, Jaipur Jazz & Blues Festival, Gandhi Utsav, ASEAN India Artist Camp and Music Festival amongst others.
Amrita Lahiri
Amrita Lahiri is a Kuchipudi dancer and choreographer recognized for presenting the form from its classical roots to contemporary explorations. Having trained since childhood and grown up across the United States and India, she brings a distinctive perspective to tradition, craft, and audience engagement.
Amrita has studied with eminent gurus, notably Leela Samson, Kuchipudi gurus Anuradha Nehru and Jaikishore Mosalikanti, and has worked with Sharmila Biswas on new choreographic pieces. Beyond performance, she has led dance curation and programming at the National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, teaches Kuchipudi, and conducts workshops and lecture demonstrations for diverse audiences.
Over the last two decades she has performed to critical acclaim in India and abroad, including at Esplanade Singapore, Dancing the Gods New York, Museum Rietberg Zurich, and across Southeast Asia for ICCR. In India, her appearances include leading venues and festivals such as The Music Academy Madras, India International Centre, India Habitat Centre, Kamani Auditorium, Birla Sabhagar Kolkata, Sangeet Natak Akademi festivals, Nishagandhi, NCPA, and NMACC.
Her recent productions have been noted for freshness and inventive staging: ‘Mandala’ with vocalist Chandana Bala Kalyan, Call of the Flute with painter Shan Bhatnagar, ‘Converse’ with Bharatanatyam artiste Pavitra Bhat, and ‘Ananta: Unlimited Women’, a solo with four musicians.
Jas Chawla
Jas is the producer of the Jaipur Dance Conclave and someone who has spent years behind the scenes of some of India’s most respected cultural festivals. Having worked with Seher, he has been part of landmark events such as the ASEAN-India Music Festival, SAARC Music Festival, Ananya Dance Festival, Udaipur World Music Festival, and several artist camps, residencies, and special cultural programs at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He has also contributed to large international collaborations like Bonjour India – The Festival of France in India.
What sets Jas apart is the way he works with artists. He is known for his sensitivity, his ability to understand their needs, and the care he brings to every detail of production. His approach blends calm planning with a genuine respect for the creative process, resulting in experiences that feel thoughtful, smooth, and artist-centric.
With a strong grounding in cultural events and a deep love for the performing arts, he brings intention, clarity, and emotional intelligence to the Jaipur Dance Conclave — shaping it as a space where art feels supported and audiences feel connected.
- About JDC
-
Jaipur Dance Conclave
A unique event on the cultural calendar, the Jaipur Dance Conclave celebrates the timeless beauty and continuing evolution of Indian dance. Rooted in tradition, these art forms come alive in the historic city of Jaipur. This will be the first year of this festival, the only one of its kind in Rajasthan, bringing awareness of India’s varied dance forms to Jaipur audiences.
JDC brings the best of dance from all over India, to Jaipur with performances, workshops and discussions. The festival kicked-off with a special curtain-raiser performance on 5 November at Rajasthan International Centre, by Odissi guru Sharmila Biswas, a Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee (2012), and dancers of Odissi Vision and Movement Centre, Kolkata.
During the main two-days of the festival, to be held on 22 and 23 November at Rajasthan International Centre, audiences will get an opportunity to watch outstanding dance performances, listen to the wisdom and experience of senior gurus, hear from younger artists,and gather for a celebration of dance. The evening performances feature such outstanding artists as Padmashri Madhavi Mudgal (Odissi), Padmashri Leela Samson (Bharatanatyam), and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Prerana Shrimali (Kathak). They will present their innovative group choreographies along with their students. Outstanding young artists, such as Kathak dancer Gauri Diwakar and Mohiniattam dancer Divya Warrier will present their new choreographies.
The festival has a special focus on local talent, including a theatrical folk performance exploring the Meena community of Rajasthan. The performances will also include a folk dance showcase and a classical performance by Jaipur Kathak Kendra. The performance ‘Manthan’ is a collaboration of dance with Kaavad Katha by Akshay Gandhi, a storytelling art form of Rajasthan. Jaipur Dance Conclave offers an opportunity for audiences to deepen their understanding of dance, with seminar sessions in the morning, and workshops in the afternoon. Children will have a chance to join dancer and actor Praachi Saathi in a fun, interactive workshop on 23 Nov based on her work combining Bharatanatyam, Warli art, and storytelling.
Each day offers a rich tapestry of rhythm, expression and movement, reflecting the cultural depth of our dance heritage. The festival is designed to appeal to a range of audiences – from passionate art lovers to curious newcomers and international visitors- creating a unique confluence of heritage and creativity in the historic city of Jaipur. JDC offers an opportunity to watch, learn and celebrate dance together.
- The Team
-
Manjot Chawla
Manjot is a gifted art impresario with more than two decades of diverse experience in the areas of cultural research, conceptualisation, curating, planning, production and implementation of national and international events and festivals. She has played a pivotal role in Seher India, one of the premier organisations in the area of the performing and visual arts. Its well-known events include programmes for the UN, the Govt of India and foreign embassies, including the UN Millenium Goals Concert, the cultural programme for US President Barack Obama, for the President of India, the SAARC secretariat and the BBC. Manjot has steered these events with commitment and élan. For the Delhi Govt. She has been instrumental in presenting the renowned Bhakti Utsav, Ananya Dance Festival, Delhi Jazz Festival and Gurbani festivals.
Apart from working on and producing numerous single-day events around classical dance, music, visual art, orchestras, rock and jazz bands and theatre involving hundreds of artistes in Delhi, Manjot has spearheaded international projects under the aegis of Seher: Delhi Day in Dubai; Trafalgar Square Festival, London; Regent Street Festival, London; Fez Sacred Music Festival, Morocco; and Black Arts Festival, Senegal. She has been at the core of conceptualizing some of the recent landmark festivals like the Udaipur World Music Festival, Jaipur Jazz & Blues Festival, Gandhi Utsav, ASEAN India Artist Camp and Music Festival amongst others.
Amrita Lahiri
Amrita Lahiri is a Kuchipudi dancer and choreographer recognized for presenting the form from its classical roots to contemporary explorations. Having trained since childhood and grown up across the United States and India, she brings a distinctive perspective to tradition, craft, and audience engagement.
Amrita has studied with eminent gurus, notably Leela Samson, Kuchipudi gurus Anuradha Nehru and Jaikishore Mosalikanti, and has worked with Sharmila Biswas on new choreographic pieces. Beyond performance, she has led dance curation and programming at the National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, teaches Kuchipudi, and conducts workshops and lecture demonstrations for diverse audiences.
Over the last two decades she has performed to critical acclaim in India and abroad, including at Esplanade Singapore, Dancing the Gods New York, Museum Rietberg Zurich, and across Southeast Asia for ICCR. In India, her appearances include leading venues and festivals such as The Music Academy Madras, India International Centre, India Habitat Centre, Kamani Auditorium, Birla Sabhagar Kolkata, Sangeet Natak Akademi festivals, Nishagandhi, NCPA, and NMACC.
Her recent productions have been noted for freshness and inventive staging: ‘Mandala’ with vocalist Chandana Bala Kalyan, Call of the Flute with painter Shan Bhatnagar, ‘Converse’ with Bharatanatyam artiste Pavitra Bhat, and ‘Ananta: Unlimited Women’, a solo with four musicians.
Jas Chawla
Jas is the producer of the Jaipur Dance Conclave and someone who has spent years behind the scenes of some of India’s most respected cultural festivals. Having worked with Seher, he has been part of landmark events such as the ASEAN-India Music Festival, SAARC Music Festival, Ananya Dance Festival, Udaipur World Music Festival, and several artist camps, residencies, and special cultural programs at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He has also contributed to large international collaborations like Bonjour India – The Festival of France in India.
What sets Jas apart is the way he works with artists. He is known for his sensitivity, his ability to understand their needs, and the care he brings to every detail of production. His approach blends calm planning with a genuine respect for the creative process, resulting in experiences that feel thoughtful, smooth, and artist-centric.
With a strong grounding in cultural events and a deep love for the performing arts, he brings intention, clarity, and emotional intelligence to the Jaipur Dance Conclave — shaping it as a space where art feels supported and audiences feel connected.