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Centre for Indian Classical Dances

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Dr. Sonal Mansingh established Centre for Indian Classical Dances in 1977 at Delhi.

The Centre for Indian Classical Dances (CICD) was established in 1977 at Delhi to enliven the dormant cultural scene and nourish the art sensitivity of the citizens, when the Capital hardly had any. The guiding spirit of CICD and its founder President, Dr. Sonal Mansingh, has relentlessly built and sustained this charitable institution during the last four decades. Its credibility and reputation stands on the merit and quality of dance education imparted, activities undertaken, its emphasis on holistic and socially integrated presentations of dance and other art forms of India. It continues to impart training in dance and disseminate knowledge and cultural traditions of India. The Centre’s hallmark lies in its all round development of the students by emphasizing on the teaching of music, yoga, Sanskrit slokas and many aspects of Indian cultural traditions. The focus has been on creating solo dancers with special emphasis on their stamina, abhinaya and anga-shuddha (clean and powerful body lines). With the result CICD has given India a number of solo Bharatnatyam and Odissi dancers, who have made a name in India and abroad.

26/09/2026

SWARNIKA Sanskriti Samvaad | Guru Vachan

What kind of student are you? A stone, a sieve or a sponge?

At the second edition of SWARNIKA Sanskriti Samvaad, held on 5 September, Padma Vibhushan Guru Dr. Sonal Mansingh shared her profound wisdom with the Mohiniyattam students of Guru Jayaprabha Menon, director of International Academy of Mohiniyattam.

Some students, she says, are like a stone, with everything slipping away. Some are like a sieve, retaining some while letting the rest pass through. And then there are those who are like a sponge, absorbing what they learn and eventually pouring it all into their performance. A simple analogy, yet a profound lesson on how we receive, absorb and transform learning into art.

A few words of wisdom from Guruji at the second edition of SWARNIKA Sanskriti Samvaad. 🪷

23/09/2026

From the CICD Archives | 1983

As part of SWARNIKA, the Golden Jubilee year celebrations of CICD, we revisit a chapter from the institution’s early years.

In May 1983, CICD’s Sixth Annual Dance Festival brought together three distinct classical dance traditions and some of their distinguished practitioners: Smt. Chitra Visweswaran in Bharatanatyam, Kalamandalam Gopi and Sadanam Balakrishnan in Kathakali, and Dr. Sonal Mansingh in Odissi.

The coming together of Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and Odissi on one festival platform reflected the expansive vision with which CICD was creating spaces for India’s classical traditions to meet, interact and reach audiences together.

For five decades, CICD has been a space where established artists and emerging practitioners have come together, where classical traditions have shared the same platform, and where performances have found companionship in seminars, conversations, workshops and artistic exchange. The archives capture this continuing story of an institution committed to keeping the arts alive through learning, dialogue, performance and the meeting of generations.
Sonal Mansingh
Centre for Indian Classical Dances

18/09/2026

From the CICD Archives | 1982

The journey of CICD was unfolding through recitals, festivals and collaborations that brought together different forms of Indian classical arts.

The year featured a Kathak recital by Rashmi Vajpeyi at the Shri Ram Centre for Art and Culture, marking another chapter in CICD’s artistic journey.

In May, CICD’s Fifth Annual Festival, Avartani, brought together Dr. Sonal Mansingh (Bharatanatyam), Padatik Dance Theatre, Calcutta (Shakuntakam) and Smt. Kishori Amonkar (Meera: Musical Opera) — bringing dance, theatre and music together on one platform.

These glimpses from 1982 reflect CICD’s continuing efforts to create spaces for diverse artistic traditions, artists and forms to come together.

As CICD celebrates golden jubilee year SWARNIKA, we revisit these chapters from its journey and the moments have shaped it.
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16/09/2026

SWARNIKA Sanskriti Samvaad | Guru Vachan

“When you begin learning classical dance, what does it take for it to become a part of your personality?”

A young dancer puts this question to Padma Vibhushan Guru Dr. Sonal Mansingh during the first edition of SWARNIKA Sanskriti Samvaad, featuring students of Smt. Sindhu Mishra.

Guruji responds by recalling the training of her first student and what she looked for in a disciple: discipline, dedication, patience and passion.

Many may learn dance, but classical dance asks for something deeper. It demands sustained attention, total dedication and a willingness to learn its nuances, until the art moves beyond technique and becomes a part of who you are. Listen to Guruji’s answer. 🪷
Sonal Mansingh

11/09/2026

SWARNIKA Sanskriti Samvaad | Glimpses

Questions, conversations, laughter, new ideas and plenty to take back home. 🪷

The first edition of SWARNIKA Sanskriti Samvaad brought around 90 students of Smt. Sindhu Mishra, along with their parents, to CICD for an afternoon of interaction with Padma Vibhushan Guru Dr. Sonal Mansingh.

From reflections on Bharatiya arts and classical dance to thoughts on life and learning, the interaction unfolded as an open exchange between Guruji and a room full of young minds.

These photographs capture some of the moments from the very first Samvaad, a space envisioned to bring Gurus, students and ideas together, and to keep conversations around our arts and culture alive.

One Samvaad has begun. Many more conversations await.

Sonal Mansingh Sindhu Mishra Centre for Indian Classical Dances Aayam Institute
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09/09/2026

From the CICD Archives | 1981

The story of CICD in its early years was one of curiosity, exchange and an expansive view of Indian classical dance.

In 1981, the Fourth Annual Dance Festival brought together diverse traditions and practitioners. The programmes featured a Manipuri dance recital from Imphal, a Kuchipudi recital by the celebrated Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma, and a Kathakali recital from Kerala, offering audiences an opportunity to encounter distinct classical traditions from across Bharat.

The festival was accompanied by a seminar that posed a remarkably contemporary question: “Is Classical Dance Becoming Populist?”

The year also marked the Arangetram of Kumari Rita Sharma, a disciple of Dr. Sonal Mansingh.

Later in the year came Meghayani, a three-day festival of young dancers at Triveni Garden Theatre, New Delhi, featuring young practitioners including Darshini and Shubha Desai, Leela Samson, Aruna Devi, Ram Mohan, Bharati Shivaji and Nithya Krishnaswamy, representing Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohini Attam.

These archival glimpses reveal something significant about CICD’s early years: a young institution already creating a meeting ground for established artists, emerging dancers, diverse traditions and important conversations around Indian classical dance.
Sonal Mansingh

05/09/2026

Reflections from the August Dance Residency 2026 | NCPA, Mumbai

These reflections from participants capture their experiences of the two-day Masterclass on Geeta Govind with Padma Vibhushan Guru Dr. Sonal Mansingh at NCPA, Mumbai.

From Bhava and expression to the poetry, texts and mudras, the participants experienced an immersive process of learning and artistic exploration, guided by Guruji’s detailed training and insights.

Here, they share what made the Masterclass a meaningful and transformative experience.
Sonal Mansingh

04/09/2026

नन्द के आनंद भयो, जय कन्हैया लाल की। 🦚
श्रीकृष्ण... जिनकी बाल-लीलाओं में वात्सल्य है, जिनकी बाँसुरी में माधुर्य है, और जिनके जीवन-दर्शन में कर्म, प्रेम और धर्म का संदेश है। भारतीय शास्त्रीय नृत्य की परम्परा में श्रीकृष्ण भक्ति, भाव और अभिव्यक्ति के अनन्त स्रोत हैं।

सेंटर फॉर इंडियन क्लासिकल डांसेज़ (श्री कामाख्या कलापीठ) परिवार की ओर से सभी को श्री कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ। कान्हा की कृपा, प्रेम और आनंद सभी के जीवन को आलोकित करें। 💙🙏
Sonal Mansingh

01/09/2026

Catch in these snaps some glimpses from the Dance Residency by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh in August at NCPA, Mumbai.

The two day residency featured a Masterclass on Geeta Govind, a Lecture Demonstration, an Archival Video Viewing and Reflections Talk. A special exhibition on SWARNIKA, celebrating 50 glorious years of the Centre for Indian Classical Dances (Shri Kamakhya Kalapeeth), was also organised on both days, offering audiences an opportunity to revisit different chapters of the artistic and institutional journey.

Special gratitude to acclaimed Manipuri exponent Smt. Darshana Jhaveri ji for her kind words on Dr. Mansingh during the Archival Reflections.

Heartfelt thanks to NCPA, Smt. Swapnokalpa Dasgupta and her team for their support and for bringing together this special initiative. 🪷 Stay tuned for more updates.
Sonal Mansingh

27/08/2026

From the CICD Archives | 1980

The early years of CICD were marked by a growing culture of learning, exchange and artistic exploration.

In 1980, Swati Gupte, the first disciple of Dr. Sonal Mansingh, presented her Arangetram, marking an important moment in the journey of Guru and Shishya.

The year also saw a seminar that brought together a remarkable group of young dancers, many of whom would go on to become important names in Indian classical dance.

Then, CICD's Third Annual Dance Festival brought diverse traditions and distinguished artists together.

These glimpses from 1980 reveal an institution taking shape: nurturing students, encouraging dialogue and creating spaces where India's classical dance traditions could meet and grow.
Sonal Mansingh

Address

Centre For Indian Classical Dances
Delhi
110016

Opening Hours

Monday	6am - 8pm
Tuesday	6am - 8pm
Wednesday	6am - 8pm
Thursday	6am - 8pm
Friday	6am - 8pm
Saturday	6am - 8pm
Sunday	6am - 8pm

Website

http://www.sonalmansingh.in/

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