Included with paid museum admission; free for members
Immerse yourself in the vibrant sounds and rhythms of India.
Supported by the India Association of Phoenix and Sampradaya Dance of India
Programming supported in part by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture and Arizona Commission on the Arts
Saturday Sunday Monday
Each day’s schedule is different—click to see exciting activities on Saturday, Sunday and Monday!
Craft: Ghungroo 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. South El Río Make your own ghungroo ankle bell bracelet so you can play along with performances throughout the day!
Instrument Spotlight: Sounds of India 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. El Río Stop by MIM’s Instrument Spotlight table to sample traditional musical instruments of India. Try your hand at plucked, drummed, and strummed instruments representing a variety of styles in Indian folk and classical music.
Photo Booth 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. El Río Have your picture taken in our hands-free photo booth! Digitally share your pictures and tag us with #MIMphx for a chance to be featured on our social media.
Performance: Arathi School of Dance Phoenix 9:30–10:00 a.m. North El Río Witness the 3000-year-old classical art form of bharata-nātyam in this immersive performance by Arathi School of Dance Phoenix students under the direction of founding director Kalasri Asha Gopal. Observe intricate foot work, facial expressions, and hand gestures that tell the stories of Hindu gods and goddesses and ancient cultures of India.
Curator Talk: What’s Unique About Indian Classical Music? 10:30–11:00 a.m. Event Room 2 Join curator Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu for exploring the key concepts of melody and rhythm in Indian classical music. This talk will highlight how these intertwined concepts shape musical expression, structure, and performance in one of the world’s most distinctive classical musical traditions.
Carnatic Vīṇā Ensemble Performance: Dr. Sheila Sudhakar 11:30 a.m.–noon North El Río Enjoy Southern Indian Carnatic melodies with talented local vīṇā musician Dr. Sheila Sudhakar.
Classical Indian Rhythms Workshop: Abhishek Basu and Chiradip Sarkar 12:15–1:00 p.m. Event Room 2 Learn the basics of classical Indian rhythms in this illuminating interactive workshop led by internationally acclaimed tablā maestro Abhishek Basu and santoor maestro Chiradip Sarkar.
Performance: Sampradaya Dance of India 1:15–2:00 p.m. North El Río Witness graceful bharata-nātyam dance routines from Southern India performed by Sampradaya Dance of India students under the direction of internationally renowned artist Nita Mallya.
Bharata-Nātyam Dance Workshop: Sampradaya Dance of India 2:30–3:00 p.m. Event Room 2 Take part in this special classical Indian dance workshop led by Sampradaya Dance of India.
Santoor and Tablā Performance: Abhishek Basu and Chiradip Sarkar 3:15–4:00 p.m. North El Río Enjoy the captivating rhythms of India with internationally renowned santoor maestro Chiradip Sarkar and tablā maestro Abhishek Basu.
Sitār Performance: Seema Gulati 11:30 a.m.–noon North El Río Expand your knowledge and appreciation of Hindustani music, the classical style of Northern India, with local sitār musician Seema Gulati.
Youth Pop-Up Performance: SPK Academy of Music 12:45–1:00 p.m. Central El Río Enjoy melodic compositions performed by students of the SPK Academy of Music, directed by sitār virtuoso Seema Gulati.
Carnatic Vocal Performance: Dhivyadhwani School of Music 3:15–4:00 p.m. North El Río See students from Dhivyadhwani School of Music perform classical Indian vocal pieces under the direction of music director Chithra Vaidyanathan.
Carnatic Percussion Pop-Up Performance: Dhivyadhwani School of Music 12:45–1:00 p.m. Central El Río Enjoy a demonstration of classical Indian percussion by students from Dhivyadhwani School of Music, directed by Vaidyanathan Krishnamoorthy.
Performance: Padma School of Odissi Dance 3:10–3:45 p.m. North El Río Be transported to Eastern India and enjoy this demonstration of India’s oldest surviving dance form, directed by local artist Rajul Shah.
Lunch at Café Allegro Offered daily 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Enjoy a menu of delicious global cuisine with fresh entrées, salads, soups, and grill items showcasing local produce and flavors from around the world.
Shop the Museum Store Celebrate the vibrant culture of India with our selection of beautiful jewelry, colorful handbags, and melodious handmade wind chimes, as well as CDs, books, and instruments.
Members save 10% on most items in the Museum Store and online. Every purchase benefits MIM and its programs.
Saturday, August 30, 20259:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 31, 20259:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Monday, September 1, 20259:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
