People in China had a taste of Indian classical and contemporary dance in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, a fusion of Indian classical, folk, and modern dance, mesmerising the audience. The Indian-Australian dance group, Chakras Performing Arts, based in Newcastle, New South Wales, was behind this big cultural effort at the Gannat International Art Festival – China Edition, from 1 to 8 October 2025.
Led by Savitri Naidoo, a Bharatanatyam exponent and founder of Chakras Performing Arts, representing both Australia and India. Their participation was facilitated by Dr Vikrant Kishore, Associate Prof. at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, who has been instrumental in promoting Indian performing arts globally and played a key role in connecting Chakras to the festival.
The Gannat International Folklore Festival, established more than 50 years ago in Gannat, France, is one of the world’s most respected celebrations of cultural diversity. It brings together performers from across continents to share artistic traditions through dance, music, and craft. The China Edition, launched in Taiyuan in 2023, carries that legacy forward, hosting over 260 artists from 15 countries in this year’s edition.
Reflecting on the experience, Savitri Naidoo said, “This has been a wonderful opportunity for my students and me. Coming from South Africa, where I used dance to build bridges during apartheid, being here in China feels like completing a full circle. The workshops and exchanges have given us freedom to create, learn, and grow — and we’re taking back a wealth of knowledge to Australia to share with the rest of Chakras.”
Festival Chairman, Yachao Zhao, expressed both pride and gratitude saying, ” Dr Vikrant and I have worked together to develop this festival, and I’m proud of what our team has achieved. For three years now, our vision has been to make the Gannat International Art Festival in China a true global platform — one where cultures meet and respect each other. Seeing artists from fifteen countries perform together shows that our hard work is paying off. We want this festival to continue to grow, to welcome more artists, and to make Taiyuan known internationally as a city of culture.”
Hemant, a parent who travelled with his daughter and family, described the experience as transformative, “We’re thankful to the organisers and to Dr Vikrant for helping us represent Newcastle and Australia here. The children performed with teams from Malaysia and Peru, learning about diverse traditions and forming friendships beyond borders.”
Another parent, Mrinalini, who assisted as costume coordinator, added: “It’s been a brilliant platform for the children. They not only performed but learned empathy, teamwork, and the beauty of cultural exchange. They’ve made friends for life.”
Festival Dance Director, Wei Jianyong, praised the Chakras team, “The Indian-Australian dancers were highly professional and creative. Their performance beautifully blended Indian and Australian styles, and the Chinese audience loved it. Their energy and artistry made a lasting impression, and we look forward to welcoming them again.”
The participation of Chakras Performing Arts reflects the growing bonds between India, Australia, and China through art and culture — celebrating unity in diversity and the shared language of dance.
