The Opening Party on Friday night is the perfect way in. Watch ten live performances, join a Kalbeliya community class with Swapnil, and dance the night away with the Dariya Live Band and DJ @swapkebolly — all for €15. No skills, no costume, no prior knowledge needed.
Three days of immersive Indian dance workshops led by master teachers — from classical expression to vibrant folk traditions. All workshops welcome dancers of every background.
Friday 1 May 2026
12:00 – 16:00
Technique & Tools Lab: Pushing the Boundaries of Rajasthani Folk
✦ Colleena ShaktiStudio Aakash
A deep-dive into the foundational tools of performance — how the body communicates beyond steps. Explore breath, gaze, intention and the distinct vocabulary of Rajasthani folk as instruments of expression.
Rajasthani Folk / Abhinaya
17:00 – 18:30
Bollywood Folk Fusion
✦ Vaishali SagarStudio Art Deco
Where Bollywood meets folk — a joyful fusion blending the energy of Indian cinema dance with the vibrancy of regional folk traditions. High energy, full heart.
Bollywood / Folk
18:30 – 20:00
Garba Choreography
✦ Shampa GopikrishnaStudio Art Deco
The spirited circular dance of Gujarat, traditionally performed during Navratri. Rhythmic footwork, graceful arm patterns, and the profound joy of dancing together in a circle.
Kalbeliya is the serpentine folk dance of the Kalbelia tribe of Rajasthan, recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Fluid, earthy, and deeply alive. Included with your Opening Party ticket — right before the party begins.
Kalbeliya / Rajasthani FolkIncluded with Opening Party
Tamil street dance — high energy, rhythmic, rooted in Tamil cinema and celebration culture. Fast footwork, expressive hand gestures, and unstoppable groove.
Kuthu / Tamil Folk
11:00 – 12:30
The Martial Grace of Mayurbhanj Chhau
✦ Shampa GopikrishnaStudio Art Deco
A semi-classical dance rooted in martial arts and tribal traditions from Odisha. Powerful leaps, warrior postures, and deeply expressive storytelling — movement as mythology.
Mayurbhanj Chhau
13:30 – 15:00
Giddha: The Pulse of Punjab
✦ ManasiStudio Ananta
The folk dance of Punjabi women — lively, expressive, full of wit. Participants perform boliyan (folk verses) and clap in rhythmic patterns, celebrating everyday life with collective joy.
Giddha / Punjabi Folk
15:00 – 15:20 · Spill the Chai — Community Break
15:20 – 16:50
Abhinaya: Training Expression for Dance
✦ Colleena ShaktiStudio Ananta
The ancient art of expressive storytelling — communicating emotion through facial expression, gesture, and the whole body. Learn to inhabit a character and move an audience.
A fusion workshop blending Indian folk aesthetics with the fluid isolations of bellydance — where two ancient traditions meet to create something entirely new.
Indian Fusion / Bellydance
11:00 – 12:30
Desi-Afro Grooves: From Mumbai to Lagos
✦ DesihopStudio Ananta
A genre-defying workshop exploring where Indian and African dance traditions collide — rhythm, groove, and movement that crosses continents.
Desi / Afrobeats Fusion
13:30 – 15:30
Lavani: The Bold Heart of Maharashtra
✦ Swapnil DagliyaStudio Ananta
Lavani is a powerful folk form from Maharashtra — strong rhythms, dramatic expression, and the kind of energy that fills a room without warning. Bold, proud, and utterly captivating.
Lavani / Maharashtrian Folk
15:30 – 15:50 · Spill the Chai — Community Break
15:50 – 17:20
Bamboo Beats: The Rhythms of Cheraw
✦ Vaishali SagarStudio Ananta
Cheraw is the bamboo dance of Mizoram, northeast India — a striking and playful tradition where dancers weave between moving bamboo poles. Precision, rhythm, and pure joy.
Cheraw / Mizoram Folk
17:20 – 18:00 · One Last Gupshup — Closing Circle
Get your ticketsSaturday 2 May 2026 · Shoonya Theatre · Doors 20:00
18 acts, no interval, approximately 90 minutes. Indian dance in all its forms — from guest teachers to ABC company, GIDF students, and special guests from the Opening Party. One stage, one evening, every style.
Date
Sat 2 May
Doors Open
20:00
Show Begins
20:30
Duration
~90 min
No interval
Acts
18
Venue
Shoonya Theatre
Studio Art Deco · 1st Floor
The evening opens with
Five guest teachers take the stage
Colleena Shakti — Rajasthani Folk ·
Desihop — Kuthu ·
Manasi Khanna — Giddha ·
Shampa Gopikrishna — Garba ·
Vaishali Sagar — Bollywood Folk Fusion
Followed by
ABC Company & Swapnil Dagliya
Swapnil Dagliya — Kalbeliya ·
ABC Company — Bollywood × Lavani Fusion ·
ABC Company — Bollywood
Also on stage
GIDF students & Opening Party guests
Bollywood Batch 2 ·
Bollyfolk — Ghoomar & Tippani ·
Bhangra Group ·
Semi-Classical Group ·
Madhuri Dixit Medley ·
three specially invited Opening Party performers
Closing the evening
All 18 performers — one stage, one moment
No interval · ~90 minutes · Shoonya Theatre
Dance styles you'll see tonight
KuthuTamil street dance — rhythm, groove, energy
GiddhaPunjabi folk dance — celebratory and expressive
GarbaGujarati folk dance — joyful and circular
KalbeliyaRajasthani tribal folk — fluid and serpentine
BollywoodIndian cinema dance — expressive and electric
BhangraPunjabi harvest dance — high energy and joyful
Semi-ClassicalClassical Indian form meets modern expression
BollyfolkBollywood meets regional folk traditions
Rajasthani FolkVibrant desert dance traditions
On the night
Doors open 20:00 — show begins promptly at 20:30
Seating in Shoonya Theatre (Studio Art Deco, 1st Floor)
No photography or video filming during the show
18 acts, approximately 90 minutes, no interval
Join the Opening PartyFriday 1 May 2026 · Studio Ananta · From 21:00
GIDF 2026 opens with a night of live performances, music, and community. Ten specially curated performers take the stage — followed by live music from Dariya and DJ @swapkebolly into the night.
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Ten Live Performances
An eclectic mix of music, dance, and performance curated to open the festival with intention and joy.
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Dariya Live Band
Live music from Dariya follows the performances, setting the tone for an unforgettable opening night.
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DJ @swapkebolly
From 22:00 and into the late hours — DJ @swapkebolly keeps the energy going.
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Community Class: Kalbeliya
Included with your Opening Party ticket — join Swapnil for Kalbeliya from 20:15 – 21:00 before the party begins. No experience needed.
Passes & Prices
Choose the pass that fits your festival — from a single workshop to the full three-day experience. All passes include Rise & Riyaaz, Spill the Chai & One Last Gupshup.
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Gala Showcase tickets are almost sold out — don't wait. Get yours →
⭐ Best Value
Full Festival Pass
€220
€200
Early bird was €180 – €200
Includes
All main workshops Friday – Sunday
Community Class: Kalbeliya (Friday)
Opening Party (Friday night)
Rise & Riyaaz, Spill the Chai & Gupshup
Foundation
Discovery Pass
€125
5 foundation workshops across Sat & Sun
Includes
Mayurbhanj Chhau — Shampa Gopikrishna
Giddha — Manasi
Abhinaya — Colleena Shakti
Desi-Afro Grooves — Desihop
Bamboo Beats: Cheraw — Vaishali Sagar
Friday
Friday Pass
€65
Friday workshops + Opening Party entry
Includes
Bollywood Folk Fusion — Vaishali Sagar
Garba Choreography — Shampa Gopikrishna
Community Class: Kalbeliya — Swapnil Dagliya
Opening Party entry
Saturday
Saturday Pass
€110
All 4 Saturday workshops
Includes
Kuthu: The Heartbeat of the Streets — Desihop
The Martial Grace of Mayurbhanj Chhau — Shampa Gopikrishna
Giddha: The Pulse of Punjab — Manasi
Abhinaya: Training Expression for Dance — Colleena Shakti
Sunday
Sunday Pass
€110
All 4 Sunday workshops
Includes
Indian Fusion Bellydance — Colleena Shakti
Desi-Afro Grooves: From Mumbai to Lagos — Desihop
Lavani: The Bold Heart of Maharashtra — Swapnil Dagliya
Bamboo Beats: The Rhythms of Cheraw — Vaishali Sagar
Single Workshops
Book individual workshops — online prices are lower, so book ahead.
Workshop
Online
On the day
90-minute session
e.g. Bollywood Folk Fusion, Giddha, Abhinaya, Chhau…
€30
€35 on the spot
120-minute session
Kuthu, Lavani, Indian Fusion Bellydance…
€40
€45 on the spot
Individual Event Tickets
Not part of any pass — buy separately.
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Technique & Tools Lab
€60
Friday 12:00–16:00 · Colleena Shakti With live music by Hameed Khan 'Kawa' Not included in any pass
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Opening Party
€15
Friday from 21:00 · Studio Ananta Includes Costume Workshop, Community Class, Live Band & DJ
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Gala Showcase
€20
Almost sold out — book now Saturday 2 May · Shoonya Theatre
Please note: The Gala Showcase and the Technique & Tools Lab are not included in any pass — including the Early Bird Festival Pass — and must be booked separately. All passes include Rise & Riyaaz (daily morning class), Spill the Chai (community breaks), and One Last Gupshup (Sunday closing circle). Single workshop prices are higher on the day: 90-minute sessions cost €35 on the spot (€30 online) and 120-minute sessions cost €45 on the spot (€40 online) — book in advance to save.
Practical Info
Everything you need before you arrive at Shoonya Dance Centre for GIDF 2026.
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Venue
NameShoonya Dance Centre
CityGhent, Belgium
Gala StageShoonya Theatre (Studio Art Deco · First Floor)
Not at all. Every workshop at GIDF 2026 welcomes complete beginners. Come curious, open, and ready to move — no previous experience needed.
Yes — spaces are limited and some workshops are selling fast. Single workshop prices are also higher on the day (€35 vs €30 for 90-min, €45 vs €40 for 120-min), so booking online saves you money too.
Comfortable clothing you can move freely in. Dance shoes, socks, or bare feet — no street shoes on studio floors. Bring a water bottle and a small towel.
Dress to celebrate — smart casual to festive. The Gala is an evening show at Shoonya Theatre. Doors open at 20:00, show begins at 20:30. No photography or video during the performance.
Yes, all workshops are conducted in English.
The Opening Party (Friday night) is a social celebration — live performances, the Dariya Live Band, and DJ @swapkebolly. The Gala Showcase (Saturday evening) is a seated theatrical performance with 18 acts across ~90 minutes.
Absolutely. Day passes are available for Friday (€65), Saturday (€110), and Sunday (€110). You can also book individual workshops without a pass.
A morning warm-up class with Swapnil to start the day — Saturday 08:45–09:00, Sunday 09:15–09:30. Included with all passes. Not on Friday.