About
Lok Chhanda
Lok Chhanda Cultural Unit is a performing arts collective committed to the preservation, promotion and contemporary presentation of India’s traditional dance traditions. Led by Maitreyee Pahari, rooted in research and deep engagement with the country’s diverse cultural heritage, Lok Chhanda creates dynamic stage productions that celebrate rhythm, movement and storytelling.
With over three decades of artistic practice, the organisation has conceptualised and presented numerous large-scale cultural productions and multidisciplinary performances, collaborating with leading institutions such as the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Sangeet Natak Akademi, various Ministries of the Government of India, State Governments, corporate organisations and educational institutions. Its productions have been showcased across India and internationally at major festivals, cultural summits and special state events.
Lok Chhanda functions as a vibrant creative platform that nurtures collaboration, innovation and artistic excellence, while remaining deeply committed to preserving traditional knowledge systems and empowering artistes.
Lok Chhanda is truly a collective — by the artistes, for the artistes.
Director’s Note
Artistic Vision & Philosophy
Dance is not merely a performance; it is a living expression of our cultural memory, identity and collective spirit. Lok Chhanda Cultural Unit was founded with the vision of preserving, practising, and presenting India’s traditional dance forms with integrity and artistic commitment.
Lok Chhanda serves as a professional platform for the dance community, where artistes come together to learn, create and grow. Through training, mentorship and performances, we strive to nurture disciplined and thoughtful artistes who are deeply rooted in tradition while engaging with contemporary expressions.
We aim to support artistes as professionals who can sustain their art with dignity and economic stability, while continuing to strengthen and celebrate the rich heritage of Indian performing arts.
Founder / Director
Maitreyee Pahari
Maitreyee Pahari is a choreographer, cultural curator, and founder of Lok Chhanda Cultural Unit, dedicated to the preservation and creative presentation of India’s diverse dance traditions. A gold medalist from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, in Manipuri Dance, she further trained at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, under the guidance of Vaswati Misra and Pandit Birju Maharaj as a National Scholarship recipient.
Her artistic journey has taken her deep into rural India, researching and engaging with traditional communities to celebrate and reimagine their cultural expressions through performance. Maitreyee is known for conceptualising and directing large-scale dance productions and cultural spectacles, bringing together multiple dance traditions with striking visual design, elaborate costumes, vibrant music and dynamic stagecraft.
She has choreographed and coordinated numerous national and international cultural events for organisations such as ICCR, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and various Ministries of the Government of India. Her productions have been presented at major platforms including international festivals, cultural summits, and global events across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States.
Maitreyee Pahari is a recipient of the Exceptional Women of Excellence Award (Women Economic Forum, 2019) and the Charles Wallace Fellowship awarded by the British Council.
Our
Team & Dancers
Our team comprises approximately 60 dedicated dancers and a vast network of thousands of artists with whom we have collaborated nationwide. We are supported by experienced teachers across diverse Indian classical dance forms, primarily Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Chhau. Our Directors, Choreographers, and Advisors bring a rich spectrum of production and presentation styles. We also have in-house designers specialising in sets, costumes, lighting, and props, alongside skilled musicians and composers, a strong team of performers, practitioners from various performing arts disciplines, and efficient managers who ensure seamless execution of all our endeavours.
Our
Performances and Collaborations
Lok Chhanda Cultural Unit is known for large-scale cultural productions that seamlessly blend tradition with contemporary vision. With decades of experience, the institution has collaborated with leading cultural bodies and represented India on prestigious national and international platforms.
Lok Chhanda has conceptualised and choreographed major productions in collaboration with institutions such as ICCR, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and various Government Ministries—including Culture, Tourism, Education, Defence, Commerce, and External Affairs.
These works have been featured at significant global and national platforms, including G20 and ASEAN Summits, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav, and World Expo presentations. The institution has also been entrusted with specially commissioned performances for state occasions and international dignitaries.
Lok Chhanda has an extensive record of collaborations with State Governments across India, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the Northeastern states. The institution has been regularly engaged for State Foundation Day celebrations and other major cultural events over the years.
International Tours
Lok Chhanda has presented its productions across the world, showcasing India’s cultural diversity through powerful visual narratives.
The repertory has toured extensively across the USA, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, China, South Africa, Ghana, Turkey, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Cyprus, and Reunion.
Major appearances include the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Regent Street Festival (London), India@60 New York, World Expo Shanghai, and Dubai Expo 2021, along with cultural exchanges across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
