A full house audience at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Janpath, was left awestruck as 108 dancers of Delhi came together in a historic tribute to mark the centenary of “Mr. Dance of India” — Prof. Mohan Khokar (1925–2025). Conceived, curated, and conducted by ace dance icon Ashish Khokar, the evening was a celebration of heritage, scholarship and fraternity in Indian dance.
The evening was illuminated by the towering presence of Trustees Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh and Dr. Bharat Gupt – IGNCA Trustee and Vice Chairperson of NSD along with Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi – Member Secretary, IGNCA whose words and blessings resonated deeply with the gathering. Their long and cherished association with the Mohan Khokar Dance Collection lent the occasion a rare gravitas, uniting generations of dancers under the spirit of legacy and learning.
Renowned Classical Dancer Dr. Sonal Mansingh shared her thoughts as, “I first met Mohan ji in 1966 at the Sangeet Natak Akademi, introduced by my mother. From the very beginning, I saw in him a man of discipline and unwavering ethics, with a heart of gold. I feel truly dhanya to be part of this centenary celebration. His remarkable collection is a treasure of our cultural history, and I sincerely hope it finds expression in a dedicated film so that it reaches many more people beyond the sangrahalay.”
Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secratary, IGNCA) emoted his views as, “There can be no presence more divine than this — with the world’s most renowned personalities, such vibhutis, gathered together at once. Even the gods would envy such a moment, wishing themselves to be born on Bharat Bhoomi. It is for this very reason that the world of music and dance continues to flourish here. My deepest gratitude to Ashish Khokar for bringing together this galaxy of stars. It is a matter of great honor for IGNCA that the Mohan Khokar Dance Collection now finds its home here. We are proud that this priceless collection is the true shaan of our Kendra. I salute the entire team that transported it with not a single speck missing, and we hope to soon nominate this collection for UNESCO Heritage.”
On the occasion veteran patron-scholar Dr. Karan Singh said, “I am delighted to witness such a grand celebration in honour of Mohan Khokar ji. Having known him personally, I can say that what he achieved single-handedly — in so many roles — to preserve our heritage and culture is truly commendable. It is heartening that his entire collection now rests with IGNCA, an institution most deserving of this responsibility and honour.”
The evening opened with a vibrant ceremonial performance by 25 dancers of the Indian Revival Group, along with disciples of leading acharyas. Legendary names Yamini Krishnamurthy and Pt. Harish Gangani graced the line-up of gurus, alongside rising artistes Rahul Varshney, Proma Mukherjee, Rashmi Khanna, Vishawdeep Sharma, Marie Elangovan, Nancy Sahu’s team and Rohan Bhutaiya — presenting Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam, Manipuri and Kathak.
The showcase The A to Z of Indian Dance – Vignettes of Veterans brought alive rare posters, press clips, artefacts, costumes, and books from the Mohan Khokar Dance Collection (MKDC). Audiences also witnessed the premiere screening of Mr. Dance of India, a short film on Prof. Khokar was created by Filmkarigar and the Jamini Roy family.
A galaxy of Padma Shri awardees and SNA gurus including Shovana Narain, Ranjana Gauhar, Madhavi Mudgal, Vanashree Rao, Kiran Segal, Pratibha Prahlad, Nalini Kalini and Geetha Mahalik joined in person to honour the occasion. Luminaries such as Sharon Lowen, Rajendra Gangani, Ambika Panikar, Malati Shyam, Vidha Lal, Rani Khanum, Papiha Desai, Sayoni Chakraborty, Arushi Mudgal, Sangeeta Chatterjee, Nisha Mahajan, Ravi Yadav and many more also marked their solidarity in a rare moment of fraternity.
The celebrations included the Third Memorial Lecture by veteran patron-scholar Dr. Karan Singh, and the much-awaited launch of the Silver Jubilee edition of AttenDance (2025) with the theme “Indian Dance in France.” Edited by Sonya Wynne Singh of Montpellier, France, the landmark volume features 70 dancers, institutions and more. The book was launched by Prof. (Dr.) Bharat Gupt, IGNCA Trustee, with Aman Nath, Chairman Neemrana Group, receiving the first copy. The publication is supported by GoBrahma, ArtHub and co-published by Shubhi.
Ashish Khokar, curator of the MKDC and son of the legendary scholar, remarked, “This centenary is not just about remembering my father, but about celebrating the history of Indian dance that he so painstakingly preserved for generations. His vision was to give dancers, scholars and future lovers of the arts a permanent archive — a place where the spirit of dance could be experienced beyond performance. Through IGNCA’s support, that dream has found a rightful home.”
Prof. Mohan Khokar’s unparalleled contribution as a scholar, curator, critic and chronicler continues to inspire generations. The MKDC gallery at IGNCA — India’s first dance museum and archive — remains open to the public until December 30, 2025. The centenary celebration stood as a testament to Prof. Khokar’s lasting legacy and the unity of India’s dance fraternity — a night when Delhi’s dance world came together in awe, reverence and joy.
