Since the start of my artistic journey, I have had the opportunity to engage and collaborate with thousands of artists from all walks of life, industries, and disciplines across the country. In conversations with them and hearing out their struggles and challenges, I often found myself wondering, “what is the answer?”.

At first, I thought the answer was money. Financial insecurity is a reality, and it impacts artistic expression significantly. But over time, I realized that the answer cannot be so one-dimensional. And the support cannot be one-size-fits-all.

For some, it is financial stability during a fragile phase. For others, it is access to space. For someone else, it may be mentorship, research time, music collaboration, or simply the freedom to experiment without commercial pressure. I have seen artists struggle for basic necessities. I have also seen senior artists quietly transition into entirely new lives after dance. Each journey revealed that meaningful support must be responsive, personal, and humane.

And thus Bembala took shape. Bembala is just a small step in the direction of strengthening our artistic community. Though the scholarship may begin modestly, it is a sincere beginning. A gesture of reaching out — to hold, to encourage, to acknowledge, and to celebrate the work artists are doing.

Bembala supports individual movement artists at various stages of their artistic journeys. It is built on the understanding that growth looks different for everyone. The scholarship offers financial assistance, mentorship, access to resources, and, when needed, simply a safe space to explore and take risks. So, if you are creating new work, researching an idea, strengthening your artistic practice, or entering a new phase in your journey, Bembala is here to walk alongside you.

The scholarship is open to individual artists (18+) at different stages of their professional careers who are living and working in India. While no formal training in any form is required, a deep sense of curiosity to experiment with movement to create new work is essential. Priority will be given to artists who have chosen to engage with any of the movement forms from India (folk, ritual, traditional, classical, martial art etc), in their creative practice. The scholarship focuses on supporting practices that are centered around creating performances with innovation in movement and choreography.

The inaugural edition of the Bembala Scholarship Program (2025) received an overwhelming response, showing how deeply this kind of support is needed in India’s dance community. We received 62 applications from across the country, representing a wide range of movement practices — classical, contemporary, folk, martial, ritual, and experimental. The ideas were powerful and diverse, reflecting the many ways artists are exploring identity, body, community, and innovation.

Through Bembala we try to trace each artist’s journey. We remain connected, curious about how the support has shaped their work, and we share their evolving stories in our own small little way. In doing so, the scholarship becomes more than funding — it becomes a point of connection.

Bembala is an evolving initiative. As it grows, so will the ways in which we can support artists. But at its heart, it remains simple: a commitment to stand with artists as they grow, experiment, transform, and continue shaping the cultural landscape around us.

Bembala returns in 2026. Click here to apply – https://forms.gle/s1oq8y9PnRiaNpWV7

Nritarutya, one of India’s foremost dance companies, has been constantly innovating and extending the frontiers of dance & choreography. Since its inception, we have worked and collaborated with thousands of artists from diverse backgrounds and art practices from around the country. This experience has equipped us with a deeper understanding of the needs of the art community. We recognize the importance of building an ecosystem in the art world where resources, skills and opportunities are shared, to ensure the growth of both the artists and the art.

Nritarutya is currently envisioning various initiatives to offer infrastructural and financial support in different capacities to individual artists at different stages of their life. We understand that support for an artist could mean different things based on their artistic journey and life circumstances. It could range from financial backing to help bring ideas to life, or it could be mentorship and guidance from experienced individuals. It could mean offering a safe space for experimentation or simply taking care of basic needs to help them sustain.

With the Bembala Scholarship Program, we are hoping to identify and address some of the infrastructural inadequacies in the art field, provide access to resources, and find ways of supporting individual artists to improve their lives and extend their art. Over the next few years, we plan to offer different forms of support to artists, in the space of innovation, education, research, performance, sustenance and entrepreneurship.

In 2025, in the first edition of Bembala Scholarship program we will be focusing on supporting movement artists who are creating innovative and experimental work. The scholarship is open to individual artists(18+) who are at different stages of their professional career. While no formal training in any form is required, a deep sense of curiosity to experiment with movement to create new work is essential. The artist applying for the scholarship program needs to be residing and working in India. Priority will be given to artists who have chosen to engage with any of the movement forms from India (folk, ritual, traditional, classical, martial art etc), in their creative practice. The scholarship focuses on supporting practices that are centered around creating performances with innovation in movement and choreography.