Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Dhvani Kothari’s Vision Expands Ballet Education Across India
Dhvani Kothari started learning ballet when she was 13 years old.
She worked hard and eventually chose dance over continuing at MICA.
After dancing and teaching, she created the National Ballet School of India.
The school helps children learn ballet in India instead of traveling to other countries.
It now has 12 centres in Mumbai.
Dhvani believes ballet teaches discipline, confidence and creativity.
She also wants more women to lead organisations without having to prove they deserve their success.
Her next plans include opening centres in more cities and improving teacher training.
Dhvani Kothari began ballet at 13 and left MICA to pursue it full-time.
Her experience as a ballerina and teacher led her to found the National Ballet School of India.
NBSI operates across 12 centres in Mumbai and aims to expand to other cities.
Kothari challenges the idea that ballet is merely a hobby or incompatible with business leadership.
She hopes to strengthen teacher training, international collaborations and ballet productions in India.
- Who
- Dhvani Kothari, an internationally recognised ballerina and founder of the National Ballet School of India.
- What
- Kothari is expanding ballet education and opportunities for young dancers in India.
- When
- She began ballet at 13; the articles do not specify dates for founding or expansion plans.
- Where
- NBSI has 12 centres in Mumbai, with planned expansion to Bhopal, Goa and other cities.
- Why
- Kothari wanted to create a world-class ballet platform for gifted children in India and reduce the need to study ballet abroad.
- Founder
- Dhvani Kothari
- Organisation
- National Ballet School of India
- Current centres
- 12 centres in Mumbai
- Ballet start
- Kothari began ballet at age 13
- Planned locations
- Bhopal, Goa and other cities
- Future priorities
- Teacher training, international collaborations and ballet productions
- Leadership message
- Women should be able to build institutions and pursue ambitious careers without diluting their femininity