Hyderabad will witness an evocative evening of Indian classical dance as Dvi Dance Festival III takes place on December 20, 2025, at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Auditorium, Basheerbagh. Curated with a clear artistic vision, the festival continues its mission of bringing world-class, narrative-driven classical dance performances to the city.
Launched in 2024 by Kuchipudi dancer, designer, and curator Sravya Subramanyam, Dvi has steadily grown into one of Hyderabad’s anticipated cultural events. The festival is recognised for its thoughtful curation and commitment to honouring classical traditions while engaging with contemporary themes and expressions.
The first edition of Dvi featured noted dancers Shreema Upadhyaya and Harinie Jeevitha, leaving audiences impressed by their technical excellence and emotive storytelling. The second edition, held in March 2025, raised the bar with performances by Pritam Das in Bharatanatyam and Sai Venkata Gangadhar in Kuchipudi. The event drew over 250 attendees and received wide appreciation for its artistic integrity and aesthetic sensibility.
The third edition brings together two internationally respected female soloists whose work represents strong contemporary voices in Indian classical dance.
USA-based Kuchipudi exponent Archana Raja is known for her commanding stage presence, technical precision, and dramatic sensitivity. Trained extensively in Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam, she has been praised internationally for blending classical form with contemporary narrative choices. At Dvi Dance Festival III, she will present The Accidental Goddess, a reinterpretation of the myth of Renuka–Yellamma. The performance traces themes of betrayal, survival, transformation, and the fierce emergence of the Divine Feminine.
Sharing the stage is UK-based Bharatanatyam artiste Divya Ravi, regarded as one of the most compelling contemporary voices in classical dance today. Known for her poetic abhinaya and research-driven choreography, Divya presents Sahaja – Innately Poetic, an experiential work based on multilingual poetry written by women across time and geography. Through themes of desire, defiance, introspection, and faith, the performance foregrounds feminine voices that are intimate, courageous, and deeply human.
Together, the two performances offer an evening of contrast and convergence, bringing together mythic intensity and lyrical subtlety, and celebrating the feminine spirit in its many dimensions.
Dvi Dance Festival III will be held on December 20, 2025, from 6.30 pm onwards at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Auditorium, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad. Tickets are priced at Rs 549. For bookings and enquiries, contact 9701360546.
The festival is curated by Sravya Subramanyam, a Kuchipudi dancer, visual designer, and arts educator from Hyderabad. A gold medallist from the University of Hyderabad, she is a graded Doordarshan artiste and a double Junior Research Fellowship awardee. Her practice is enriched by her study of the Natyasastra and Karanas under Dr Padma Subramanyam. She is currently pursuing doctoral research in dance and runs Adhyay – The Dance Chapter, where she mentors young dancers while continuing to perform, teach, and curate artistic experiences.
