Dhvani Kothari, Founder of National Ballet School of India

Dhvani Kothari is the founder of National Ballet School of India (NBSI), a pioneering institution dedicated to bringing world-class ballet education to India. As India’s first and only international award-winning ballerina, she has represented the country on global stages across eight different nations. Her journey is rooted in a lifelong passion for movement, which began in Mumbai and eventually took her to Europe for extensive training in Croatia and Hungary.

After a brief stint at MICA following her graduation, Dhvani realized that her true calling lay in dance. She made the bold decision to leave behind a traditional career path to fully commit to ballet, a discipline that provided her with a sense of freedom and identity that she hadn't found elsewhere. This personal experience of finding space and confidence through ballet became the bedrock of her mission.

Dhvani's journey into ballet began at the age of 13- an age widely considered late in a world where most dancers take their first pliés before they can read. At a time when classical ballet had little to no institutional presence in India, she pursued the art form with unwavering discipline and purpose. Just eight years later, at the age of 21, she founded the National Ballet School of India, laying the foundation for a new generation of ballet dancers in the country. She named the school to firmly place India on the world ballet map, a goal she pursued by lobbying international organizations to recognize India as a legitimate participant in the art form. Today, NBSI is a rapidly growing school with around 12 centers in Mumbai and additional presences in Bhopal and Goa, supporting over 250 students and seven coaches.

Dhvani’s work is characterized by a push for systemic change. She has had to navigate significant challenges, including widespread misconceptions about what ballet is ranging from confusion with belly dancing to the stereotype that it is only for young girls. Through NBSI, she works to shift these perceptions by demonstrating that ballet is a holistic, inclusive discipline that benefits students of all ages. Under her leadership, the school has become a hub for excellence, hosting workshops with elite institutions like the Royal Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre, while also helping Indian students gain placement in top global dance programs.

Beyond the studio, Dhvani has successfully bridged the gap between niche art and mainstream visibility. She has collaborated with a wide array of high-profile clients, including luxury brands like Gucci, corporate giants like OnePlus and Flipkart and cultural institutions like the Nehru Center. Looking ahead, her goal is to build a sustainable ballet ecosystem in India, developing teacher training programs, expanding into new cities and creating performance platforms that offer Indian dancers the same caliber of opportunities found anywhere else in the world.