Newsletter January 2026

January marked a fresh start for all of us. After an incredible performance night on December 14 a vibrant celebration of movement, expression, and creativity. Students and faculty from multiple batches came together on stage, presenting dynamic pieces across styles like Hip-Hop, Locking, Breaking, Afro, and Open Style. Each performance reflected the passion, and artistic growth of our dancers, shaped under the guidance of instructors and shared in front of family, friends, and the wider ARDS community.

CULTIVATE

 We resumed the studio with our foundation batch CULTIVATE , familiar faces returning to the floor and new faces with fresh energy in the room, and a shared intention to start the year 2026 right.

Hip-Hop foundation with Shiva, Pradeep, and Sushan set the rhythm for the month.

Open Style with Swaroop and Wehzan encouraged exploration and energy.

Afro foundation with Swady and Dev brought strong musical vibes.

Breaking with Likith pushed strength and flow across levels.

Locking with Somaiah and Mode Femme by Divya added character and expression.

Kids Cultivate, led by Aarushi and Tishara, continued to grow with joy and enthusiasm.

Workshops 

January also featured a mix of style focused workshops including :

Two Bhangra workshops with Charankamal, bringing rhythm to the studio,

the Animation freestyle workshop with Aanimo  pushed 

creative exploration and added a unique creative flavour to 

January’s training sessions

 We also hosted two international artists at ARDS through Original Streetdance. UKI THE RETRO led a Hip-Hop workshop, and Mavinga led a House workshop bringing global street dance perspectives and authentic movement practices into the studio.

Community Sunday

Community Sunday is an ARDS initiative created to nurture a healthy, growing dance environment where the community comes together as one. It’s a space to learn, share, connect, and grow bringing dancers together beyond regular classes.

Each edition is thoughtfully curated to offer something new, making every gathering unique while staying rooted in collective energy, expression, and togetherness. Community Sunday is primarily for the ARDS community, with select sessions occasionally opening up to a wider audience.

Looking forward

As January wrapped up, the studio felt alive not just with movement, but with shared momentum.

Looking ahead, February continues this rhythm with a series of events designed to bring learning, performance, and community together.

On Feb 1 we begin with Community Sunday. This edition features a choreography workshop by Pradeep, followed by an open cypher.

On Feb 6, we host a Contemporary Dance Workshop led by Sarah Elsworth and Somya Kautia, inviting dancers to explore movement and expression through contemporary practice.

Feb 7 brings TO–MOULD, a contemporary dance performance evening, accompanied by a live sound performance by musician and composer Anita Clark, an immersive experience blending movement and sound.

On Feb 14 and 15 we have two days of choreography workshop with Taneesky:

Day 1 — Sooraj Dooba Hai

Day 2 — Dracula

Each day offers a distinct choreographic experience, encouraging dancers to explore more.

From returning to foundation to expanding into new experiences, January set the base and February builds forward. We’re excited for what’s unfolding next.

Keep dancing!

Team ARDS India