24 August 2026 | 9:00 PM | Hvar Theatre
As part of The World Meets Hvar programme, India comes to Hvar Theatre on 24 August with an evening dedicated to Kathak, one of India’s major classical dance traditions.
The audience will have the opportunity to experience the Shovana Narayan Kathak Dance Ensemble, led by one of India’s most distinguished artists and leading authorities on classical Kathak dance.
An Evening of Indian Classical Dance in Hvar
Over a career spanning almost seven decades, Shovana Narayan has earned international recognition as a dancer, choreographer, teacher and researcher, performing on major stages and at festivals around the world.
She is the recipient of the prestigious Indian Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, as well as more than 80 national and international honours for her contribution to the arts.
Her work brings together the centuries-old tradition of Kathak and contemporary artistic expression while preserving its distinctive narrative and rhythmic character.
When Bells Ignite the Soul
The programme When Bells Ignite the Soul presents an evening of Kathak through storytelling, devotion and dance virtuosity.
Kathak combines expressive storytelling and subtle gestures with complex rhythmic patterns, intricate footwork and characteristic turns. The sound of the ghungroos – the small bells worn around the dancers’ ankles – becomes an integral part of the rhythm and expression of the dance.
The programme takes the audience through a range of themes and emotions, from devotion and spirituality to strength and different aspects of human experience, culminating in the dazzling rhythmic virtuosity for which Kathak is renowned.
Set within the historic Hvar Theatre, the performance offers a special opportunity to discover one of India’s great classical dance traditions in Hvar.
Event Information
The World Meets Hvar: India
When Bells Ignite the Soul – An Evening of Kathak
Date: 24 August 2026
Time: 9:00 PM
Location: Hvar Theatre, Hvar
Performers: Shovana Narayan Kathak Dance Ensemble
