Dance through India with Krishna, Lola, Aadi, Tishya, Tarini, Ananya, Anoushka, Saanvi, Shankar, and Angela, and experience the magic of India’s classical dances: from the refined colors and costumes to the enchanting temples and sculptures that inspire these dances!
Catch a glimpse of the magnificent dance festivals in Khajuraho and Chidambaram, as well as the unique life of the Sattras in Assam. Discover life in Indian villages and cities, cherish close friendships, and embark on new discoveries! All seen through the eyes of a curious child introduced to the world of dance alongside a loving parent.
Jaya Mehta’s Nritya Katha: The Book of Indian Dance Stories for Children is a collection of tales about the vibrant world of Indian dances. India is the dance capital of the world, with eight classical dance forms and hundreds of regional styles. Through the intimate and magical journey of a child, the stories reveal the fascinating contexts of each dance form: its art, architecture, costumes, and crafts.
The dance stories and beautiful illustrations immerse us in the world of today’s children: a whirlwind of vacations, relocations, watching performances, learning new art forms, and discovering how technology and culture come together. Explore India like never before—through its incredible dance traditions!
Jaya Mehta is an internationally renowned Odissi dancer, poet, educator, chat show host, and mother of two. She has published and performed her dance poems, conducted innovative dance workshops for children, performed at festivals around the world, and teaches Odissi to young, promising dancers.
The cover and full-page illustrations in this book are creations by Suruba Natalia from Moldova.
Nritya Katha – Indiase dansverhalen voor kinderen • Jaya Mehta • Illustrations by Suruba Natalia • Sampreshan: Zoetermeer 2025 • ISBN 9789083345116 • hardcover • 80 pages
(Originally published as Nritya Katha – Indian Dance Stories for Children, 1st edition 2022, National Book Trust, India)
For more information about this book, visit the author’s website: https://jayamehta.in/nrityakatha/
© 2025 Illustrations/Photos: Sampreshan/Jaya Mehta
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Book Presentation and Dance Performance by the Author Jaya Mehta (April 14 – 25, 2025)
Date and location to be announced. Would you like to attend this event and/or stay informed? Please share your name and mobile number via info@sampreshan.com; the publisher will add you to the specially created WhatsApp broadcast list Indian Dance Stories.
Special for Dance Schools: If you would like to sponsor this publication (with your name and logo included in the book), please contact the publisher Radjin Thakoerdin (info@sampreshan.com).