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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (March 28, 2026 - April 3, 2026) April 3, 2026 8 Community Upcoming Nritya Darpan 2026 Dance Festival Celebrates Art, Culture, and Community T he Indian Heritage & Cultural Association–NJ (IHCA-NJ), a nonprofit organization based in New Jersey, USA, announced one of its flagship events – Nritya Darpan 2026, a dance festival to be held on April 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the New Bruns- wick Performing Arts Center, New Brunswick, NJ. Now in its third year, Nritya Darpan celebrates emerg- ing and established artists from the Indian diaspora, showcasing innovative dance dramas that blend Indian classical forms such as Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and Kuchipudi withWestern dance styles. The festival is the brainchild of Dr. Ashok Chaudhary, Founder and President of IHCA-NJ, with the vision of promoting exceptional local talent and using performing arts as a medium to engage communities in meaningful dialogue on social issues such as women’s empowerment, mental health, human trafficking, and LGBTQ+ aware- ness. This year, five outstanding dance productions have been curated by renowned artist Maya Kulkarni-Chheda, following a highly competitive nationwide selection pro- cess, organizers said in a press release. Featured Performances “Gajar” Presented by Dr. Kaustavi Sarkar, an accomplished Odissi dancer, scholar, and Assistant Professor, along with Dr. Deepa Mahadevan, this piece draws from the devotional traditions ofWestern India dedicated to Lord Vitthal. Meaning “chant” or “invocation,” Gajar unfolds through evocative storytelling, embodying divine narra- tives across earthly and celestial realms, and evoking the collective spirit of pilgrimage. “ROGUE GESTURES / FOREIGN BODIES” By Nava Dance Company (California)—featuring Nadhi Thekkek, Sruthi Abhishek, and Vertika Srivas- tava—this interdisciplinary work blends Bharatanatyam, experimental movement, and live music. Inspired by oral histories of Indian immigrant nurses following the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, the piece explores iden- tity, resilience, and belonging in the United States. “TheWhiteWhale” Choreographed by Kasi Aysola, Artistic Director of Prakriti Dance (Maryland), this Kuchipudi-based work draws inspiration fromMoby-Dick. It examines obses- sion, desire, and the human cost of relentless pursuit, reflecting the tension between aspiration and surrender. “Who Am I” Created and performed by Aishwarya Madhav, a New York-based Bharatanatyam dancer and educator, this introspective work traces a woman’s journey through life stages—childhood, marriage, motherhood, and old age— culminating in a profound dialogue with the inner self. “Desert Myths” Presented by IMGE Dance Company (NewYork), founded by Ishita Mili and IMGE dancers, this multi- disciplinary work blends Mayurbhanj Chhau, hip-hop, Bharatanatyam, and Kathak. It explores themes of illusion, survival, and transformation within a shifting landscape shaped by memory and myth. Organizers said Nritya Darpan places no restrictions on dance styles, music, or language, offering artists complete creative freedom. “This openness results in a rich tapestry of performances where diverse styles merge seamlessly into compelling storytelling,” they added. About IHCA-NJ Founded in 2013, IHCA-NJ is a volunteer-driven 501(c) (3) nonprofit with the goal of promoting local talent and preserving Indian cultural heritage in the United States through performing arts. The organization is also known for its multilingual short play festival Natya Darpan, which brings socially relevant theater across languages including English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, and Gujarati. By a StaffWriter North American Bengali Conference 2026 Promises A Curated Bengali Cultural Experience L overs of Bengali culture will be able to soak up Bengali literature, music, dance and theater along with Bengali films and filmmusic at the fourth North American Bengali Conference (NABC) July 2, 3 and 4 at theWestches- ter Country Center, White Plains, NY, organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal. The Conference will feature an array of pop and classical music, theater, dance, food, fashion, shopping, and socializing. Cultural program will showcase specially curated group productions, including daily performances from US artists, the- atrical productions from Kolkata, special programs, a pre-NABC musical night, and a Bollywood music concert finale.US Im- migration Services Pre-Conference – A Kumar Sanu music concert, The Magical 90s, will kick off the three day celebration of Bengali culture with popular film songs by the singer. Opening Day – The Opening Ceremony will feature a multimedia extravaganza titled Ekatvam, presenting India’s tradi- tional dance forms and classical music. Kathak Rockers of Kumar Sharma will be part of the opening day, presenting a fusion of classical Kathak and Bollywood dance. Kathak Rockers is an internation- ally acclaimed pioneer in Kathak fusion. Tributes to Legendary Personalities – The three day Conference will pay tributes to two legendary Bengali film personalities, Uttam Kumar and Rahul Dev Burman or Pancham. Tributes will take the form of music and dance and theater presenta- tions. Tribute will also be paid to Bengals philosopher poet Rabindranath Tagore. 100 Years of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar will pay tribute to the legendary actor of Bengali cinema. A music and dance tribute to the actor will be paid by his grandson Gaurab Chatterjee and grand daughter-in-law Devlina Kumar. Artists and dignitaries will talk about Uttam Kumar’s legacy, his life and films. Attend- ees will also participate. The tribute will also feature an exhibition of the actor’s photographs, memorabilia and artifacts at an exhibition.India Business News Magic of Pancham will pay a musical tribute to the pioneer of fusion of Indian classical, folk and western music, R.D. Burman. Vocalists including Aneek Dhar, Chandrika Bhattacharya, Manasi Ghosh, Trisha Chatterjee will present Pancham Da’s songs. The concert will also feature saxophone player Kishore Sodha who played with Pancham. Pujarini, a dance drama inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s works Pujarini and Natir Puja, will present a timeless story of devotion. Plays – Daybaddha – The Conference program will include the poignant and thought provoking play, Daybaddha, di- rected by Aritra Bannerjee and written by Chandan Sen. The play incorporates the meaning of fatherhood, parenthood and human bonds beyond blood. Pankh, a music and dance production, will be part of the Conference program. Conceptualized and composed by the renowned Shantanu Moitra, Pankh is a group of special stories from everyday life, rendered by Kaushiki Chakraborty. Yodhini, a performance featuring a fusion of music and classical, folk and contemporary dance theater, will present a musical play. With concept and chore- ography by Sanchita Bhattacharya and music by Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya, Yodhini will celebrate India’s fearless women free- dom fighters. Conference Finale – Bollywood Sunday Dhamaka, a music concert will be the finale of the three day cultural programs, featuring music composers Vishal and Shekhar with their select compositions. NABC International Film Festival and Awards – A very special feature of the Conference will be the NABC International Film Festi- val featuring screenings of films inspired by Bengali tradition, culture, literature, and history. Films will include full length features, shorts, documentaries and OTT releases. This year’s Brand Ambassador will be famous actor Rituparna Sengupta. The NABC film festival offers a platform for filmmakers, producers, directors, ac- tors, writers, and technicians from across the globe, especially for Bengali films. Filmmakers desiring screenings and entries can contact special representatives listed at https://nabcapp.com/film_fes- tival. The NABC IFFA Awards, the Golden Eagle Film Awards, will be presented in a special star studded award show. Closing Ceremony – The Conference clos- ing ceremony will feature a presentation of An AwakenedWorld: United in Love and Peace by Bikram Ghosh. Directed and choreographed by Sunrita Kainth, this powerful musical dance form will explore humanity’s shared spiritual roots and binding harmony. Registration for the convention is open online at https://nabcapp.com/ online_registration. Hotels can be booked directly. A shuttle bus will be provided to transport to the venue from the hotels. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:SCREENSHOTFILE PHOTO Asst. AG Harmeet Dhillon speaking in a video posted on X @AAGDhillon Feb. 25, 2026.