Award-winning playwright Mahesh Dattani will bring his latest production, Dance Like a Goddess, to Australian audiences this August, with four performances scheduled at NIDA Playhouse in Sydney.
Presented by Saba Zaidi Abdi and Mahesh Dattani, the play explores the relationship between art, power, family and social change through the story of Lata, a celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer approaching retirement. As she grapples with questions about legacy and the future of her art form, tensions emerge within her family over competing visions of culture, identity and political expression.
Lata’s son is involved with an anti-caste theatre movement whose values challenge the traditions that have shaped her career. At the same time, her husband’s rising political profile places further pressure on her work as she watches artistic and religious expression become entangled with public life. The story follows the family’s struggle as personal loyalties, artistic convictions and political realities collide.
Written and directed by Dattani, one of India’s most respected contemporary playwrights, the production continues his long-standing interest in examining social issues through intimate human stories. His work has frequently addressed questions of identity, gender, family and social change. In 1998, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award, becoming the first English-language playwright to be honoured by India’s national academy of letters.
The Australian staging has been curated and produced by Adakar Artistic Director Saba Zaidi Abdi, whose career spans theatre, film and television. A National Award-winning director, producer, designer and actor, Abdi said the project has been years in development and reflects a sustained effort to bring Dattani’s work to Australian audiences.
The production features Aparna Tijoriwala, Mayur Vikram, Aryan Nanda, Neelam Singh, Mittal Bhavsar and Smarajit Dey.
The play is expected to appeal to theatre audiences interested in contemporary drama that engages with questions of tradition, artistic freedom and social change. Organisers say tickets went on sale on 22 June, with performances scheduled for 1 and 2 August at NIDA Playhouse.
Tickets for Dance Like a Goddess can be purchased via Ticketek
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
