The Absence of PRESENCE: Aditi Mangaldas and Symphony Orchestra of India Unite

What happens when the world witnesses suffering but stays silent? That difficult question lies at the heart of The Absence of PRESENCE, an ambitious new production bringing together acclaimed Kathak dancer and choreographer Aditi Mangaldas and the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) for a powerful exploration of conflict, humanity and hope.

Commissioned by the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, the interdisciplinary production will premiere on October 31 and November 1, 2026, at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre. Combining live symphonic music, contemporary dance rooted in Kathak, poetry, and visual art, the approximately 75-minute performance turns its attention to children affected by conflict and the consequences of society’s silence in the face of violence.

Rather than focusing on one war or political situation, the production confronts a universal question: what happens to our collective humanity when we look away from suffering?

A Powerful Artistic Response to Children Caught in Conflict

At its core, The Absence of PRESENCE examines the vulnerability of children exposed to violence while recognizing their extraordinary capacity for resilience. The production aims to encourage audiences to confront uncomfortable realities without losing sight of compassion and the possibility of hope.

For Aditi Mangaldas, the project grew out of questions about the world’s response to brutality and the moral implications of staying silent.

The choreographer said she wanted to create a work that would not allow audiences to look away, while ensuring they were not left with despair alone. Dance, music, poetry and visual art come together to create space for reflection, empathy and a renewed sense of human responsibility.

The Absence of PRESENCE – Aditi Mangaldas and Symphony Orchestra

Symphony Orchestra of India Takes on an Original Creation

The production represents an important creative step for the Symphony Orchestra of India, which has spent two decades interpreting works from the classical repertoire. With this collaboration, the orchestra becomes part of an original interdisciplinary work rather than simply accompanying it.

NCPA Chairman and SOI Co-Founder Khushroo N. Suntook described the project as an ambitious artistic undertaking that reflects the realities of a world capable of both compassion and cruelty.

He emphasized the importance of bringing different artistic traditions together to create work that is original, relevant, and capable of staying with audiences long after the performance ends.

The collaboration also reflects the NCPA’s commitment to commissioning new work and creating meaningful exchanges between Indian and international artistic practices.

Rushil Ranjan Blends Indian and Western Classical Traditions

Rushil Ranjan, an Indian-origin British composer and multidisciplinary artist, composed music for The Absence of PRESENCE, with work spanning concert music, film, dance, and cultural storytelling.

His original score brings Hindustani and Western classical traditions into conversation, creating a musical framework for the meeting of symphonic orchestration and Kathak-inspired movement.

Musicians Faraz Ahmed and Ashish Gangani, both connected to a multigenerational Indian classical music tradition, contribute another dimension to the production’s musical identity.

The creative team also includes sculptor Manish Kansara, whose visual contribution expands the work beyond the stage languages of dance and music. Poetry forms another important part of the production’s conceptual framework.

The performance will feature the Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company alongside the Symphony Orchestra of India, with Melvin Tay conducting.

Aditi Mangaldas Pushes Kathak Into New Creative Territory

Internationally recognized for combining classical Kathak with contemporary movement, Aditi Mangaldas has built a reputation for productions that connect India’s dance traditions with modern themes and global audiences.

Trained under legendary gurus Kumudini Lakhia and Birju Maharaj, she has developed a distinctive choreographic language that balances classical technique with experimentation.

Her collaboration with Ranjan and the SOI has opened up new creative possibilities, bringing the movement vocabulary of Kathak into dialogue with the scale and emotional range of symphonic music.

The result is designed as a collective artistic statement, shaped by performers and creators working across different disciplines and cultural backgrounds.

Could the Production Travel to International Stages?

Beyond its Mumbai premiere, The Absence of PRESENCE is being developed with touring in mind. The collaboration could create opportunities to present the Indian production at international venues and festivals, extending its message to audiences beyond India.

The work is expected to run for approximately 75 minutes without an intermission. Its choreography, score, staging, and structure continue to evolve through experimentation and rehearsal.

For the NCPA, the project represents more than a new performance. It demonstrates how an Indian cultural institution can bring together established artistic traditions and contemporary concerns to create original work with international potential.

The Absence of PRESENCE

The Absence of PRESENCE: Dates, Venue and Tickets

The world premiere of The Absence of PRESENCE will take place on October 31 and November 1, 2026, at 6 pm, at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, National Center for the Performing Arts, Mumbai.

The NCPA commissioned the production, and the Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company and The Drishtikon Dance Foundation produced it. Tickets are available through BookMyShow and the NCPA box office.

By bringing together Kathak, symphonic music, poetry, and visual art, The Absence of PRESENCE aims to make a challenging subject impossible to ignore. Its central message is both simple and unsettling: silence in the face of suffering is not merely an absence of action, but a question about who we choose to be.