Bembala.

Nritarutya, one of India’s foremost dance companies, has been constantly innovating and extending the frontiers of dance & choreography. Since its inception, we have worked and collaborated with thousands of artists from diverse backgrounds and art practices from around the country. This experience has equipped us with a deeper understanding of the needs of the art community. We recognize the importance of building an ecosystem in the art world where resources, skills and opportunities are shared, to ensure the growth of both the artists and the art.

Nritarutya is currently envisioning various initiatives to offer infrastructural and financial support in different capacities to individual artists at different stages of their life. We understand that support for an artist could mean different things based on their artistic journey and life circumstances. It could range from financial backing to help bring ideas to life, or it could be mentorship and guidance from experienced individuals. It could mean offering a safe space for experimentation or simply taking care of basic needs to help them sustain.

With the Bembala Scholarship Program, we are hoping to identify and address some of the infrastructural inadequacies in the art field, provide access to resources, and find ways of supporting individual artists to improve their lives and extend their art. Over the next few years, we plan to offer different forms of support to artists, in the space of innovation, education, research, performance, sustenance and entrepreneurship.

In 2025, in the first edition of Bembala Scholarship program we will be focusing on supporting movement artists who are creating innovative and experimental work. The scholarship is open to individual artists(18+) who are at different stages of their professional career. While no formal training in any form is required, a deep sense of curiosity to experiment with movement to create new work is essential. The artist applying for the scholarship program needs to be residing and working in India. Priority will be given to artists who have chosen to engage with any of the movement forms from India (folk, ritual, traditional, classical, martial art etc), in their creative practice. The scholarship focuses on supporting practices that are centered around creating performances with innovation in movement and choreography.