‘Ballet is for every body type’: Indian ballerina Dhvani Kothari challenges stereotypes
Dhvani Kothari, founder of the National Ballet School of India, is working to challenge stereotypes surrounding body types and age in ballet. Despite a non-traditional start to her own training, she has expanded her school to 12 centers across Mumbai.
Why it matters
This story highlights the growth of niche performing arts in India and the efforts to make classical dance forms more inclusive and accessible.
There is a fair amount of chaos in the ballet class. Little girls, in leotards and tutus twirl around the room, chatter among themselves and occasionally lose their balance. Some cling to the barre, the rail used for support, while others stretch, wobble and try to hold their positions. A few casually drop into splits as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Then the music changes. Feet turn out, backs straighten, arms rise and slowly the chaos falls into place. Watching from the side is Dhvani Kothari, founder of the National Ballet School of India. Across 12 centres in Mumbai, she now teaches more than 250 students, ranging from three-year-olds to a 44-year-old mother of two.
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