The Indo-American Arts Council is set to bring a major celebration of Indian performing arts to New York City with the 18th annual Erasing Borders Dance Festival. The two-day event will take place on September 19 and 20, 2026, at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, showcasing artists representing some of India’s most celebrated classical and contemporary dance traditions.
Widely regarded as one of New York’s leading festivals dedicated to Indian dance, Erasing Borders creates a platform for internationally recognized performers and artists from the Indian American and South Asian diaspora. The program will feature performances inspired by Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam and contemporary dance.
The opening evening will include a Bharatanatyam duet by Ganesh Vasudev and California-based artist Nitya Narasimhan. Audiences will also see a Kuchipudi solo by Sreelakshmy Kallungal Govardhanan, a Kathak performance by Shila Mehta, Salonee Satagar and Sanchita Dighe, and a contemporary presentation by choreographer Preeti Vasudevan. Radhe Jaggi and her team will also present a performance bringing together Bharatanatyam and the martial art tradition of Kalaripayattu.
The second evening will continue the festival’s exploration of India’s diverse artistic traditions. The lineup includes a Kathak solo by Radha Varadan, a Mohiniyattam group presentation led by Dr. Neena Prasad and her musicians, and a performance by Aparna Sindhoor and Anil Natyaveda that combines Sindhoor Natya and Navarasa traditions. Odissi artists Arushi Mudgal and Sawani Mudgal will also take the stage.
Beyond the performances, the festival brings together dancers, choreographers, scholars and musicians with extensive experience in preserving and reimagining Indian artistic traditions. Several participating artists have performed internationally, received major awards or contributed significantly to dance research and education.
The celebrations will continue after the festival with the fifth annual Dr. Sunil Kothari Lecture on September 24 at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Renowned Bharatanatyam artist Rama Vaidyanathan will deliver this year’s lecture, exploring dance as a path toward balance and inner stillness.
Through Erasing Borders, the Indo-American Arts Council continues its mission of promoting Indian performing, visual and literary arts while connecting traditional artistic forms with new audiences across the United States. The festival reflects the growing influence and visibility of Indian cultural traditions within America’s diverse arts landscape.
