Bhilai’s Aadya Pandey wins national dance competition

 

Aadya Pandey, a 15-year-old student from Bhilai, has made her city proud by winning first place in the senior category at the prestigious All India Dance Competition “Antarang Utsav 2025.” The event was held in Mumbai at the renowned “Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Natya Gruh Auditorium” on April 23. The competition was organised by the All India Dancers Association (AIDA) in collaboration with Abhibhavak Kala Academy, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Aadya showcased her exceptional skills in Indian classical dance, particularly Bharatanatyam, impressing the judges and audience alike.

 

This win marks her 24th national-level award, along with one international award, and she is also a recipient of the prestigious CCRT (Centre for Cultural Resources and Training) scholarship awarded by the Government of India. She has been honored with several titles such as Nritya Manjari, Nritya Pratibha, Nritya Shrestha, and Nritya Bharat Samman-2025 for her consistent excellence in classical dance. Aadya is currently a student of Class 10 at DPS-Risali, Bhilai. She has been learning Bharatanatyam under the guidance of her guru Dr. G. Ratish Babu, a renowned dance maestro honoured with the title Natyachoodamani and recently awarded the Senior Fellowship by CCRT. He trains students through his dance institute, Nrityati Kalakshetram, which has become a nurturing ground for classical dance enthusiasts. Aadya’s father, Dinesh Pandey, works at Merchant Mill of BSP.