Dance Theatre Adaptation of Panchatantra Tales to Premiere in Hyderabad

Hyderabad will host a distinctive dance theatre presentation drawing from India's classical fables on July 3, 2026. Guru Padma Shri Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant, a celebrated dancer and choreographer, will stage "Dancing Tales – Panchatantra" at Ravindra Bharati, commencing at 6:45 PM.

The production is mounted by Shankarananda Kalakshetra with backing from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, through its scheme supporting cultural organisations with a national footprint.

Dr. Jayant has both choreographed and directed the work, which will feature more than 20 performers drawn from Hyderabad and Bangalore. The cast includes prominent Bangalore-based dancer Mithun Shyam in a principal role, alongside Aditi Rao Ashtaputre and senior company dancers from Shankarananda Kalakshetra.

The 78-minute production brings five celebrated Panchatantra narratives to the stage through movement and visual storytelling. The selected tales encompass the clever hare who triumphs over the forest's lion ruler, the hapless monkey whose tail becomes trapped in a wedge, the crane and tortoise encounter, the treacherous crocodile and monkey episode, and the doves' liberation.

Themes woven through these narratives—camaraderie, courage, ingenuity, folly, governance, and liberty—form the conceptual backbone of the work.

Composer and musician Prema Ramamurthy has created the score for this dialogue-free production. Jayant Dwarkanath provides English narration that anchors the storytelling. The visual and technical dimensions include costume design by Ganesh Nallari and Deepa Krishnamachari, digital design by Gunjan Ashtaputre, and lighting design by Surya Rao.

Speaking about the production, Dr. Jayant explained that the Panchatantra tales possess enduring philosophical and moral dimensions that remain pertinent to contemporary audiences navigating psychological and spiritual challenges. He noted that the fables distil centuries of accumulated wisdom into compact, humorous narratives that resonate universally. According to Dr. Jayant, these parables function as dual mirrors—reflecting both individual and societal truths—while delivering their philosophical content through entertaining storytelling.