Event Profile
Mamallapuram Dance Festival is organized at the coastal town of Mamallapuram, situated at a distance of approximately 58 km from the capital city of Chennai. Once the ancient port of Pallavas, the town now plays host to a dance festival that lasts four weeks. Monolithic rock sculptures, cave and stone temples, 7th and 8th century Pallava carvings and amazing beaches make this town a famous tourist attraction. Also, it has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
However, what takes the cake is the Dance Festival of Mamallapuram, which takes place from early January to the first week of February. The venue of the festival is the site of 'Arjuna's Penance', a bass-relief sculpted on the face of two enormous adjacent rocks. Participants of the festival include distinguished people from the field of classical dances like Bharat Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Kathakali, etc.
The Mamallapuram Dance Festival is organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu. All the programs of the festival take place in an open-air stage, with the splendid Pallava rock sculptures serving as the backdrop. Apart from the classical performances, one can also see artists performing numerous folk dances. Artists form all over the country come to this town to take part in this amazing dance festival.
