Neela Dance Academy brings Nritya Arpan, an evening of classical Indian dance, to the Jamaica Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public.

An offering through dance

Nritya Arpan translates as an offering through dance, and the program is built around two classical Indian forms, Kathak and Kuchipudi, with choreography the academy describes as shaped by years of rigorous training.

The dancers are students of the academy across several generations, with a range of ages and experience. Several of them will be performing on stage for the first time.

Live music

Rather than dancing to recordings, the company performs with live Carnatic and Hindustani ensembles of professional musicians. The two ensembles cover the classical music traditions of southern and northern India.

Who is behind it

The evening is directed by Neela Zareen, artistic director of Neela Dance Academy, a Kathak and Kuchipudi school in New York City. The academy is a Community Arts Grantee of Flushing Town Hall, and the concert is supported by Flushing Town Hall and Glow Cultural Center.

How to go

When: Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at 6 p.m.

Where: Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica.

Cost: Free and open to the public.

Getting there: The E, J and Z trains stop at Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer, about two blocks away, and the Long Island Rail Road's Jamaica station is a short walk south on Sutphin Boulevard.

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