Ankur Ballal

🪔 About

Ankur Ballal is a prominent Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and teacher specializing in Odissi and Kathak. He received extensive training in Odissi from Guru Jhelum Paranjape at Smitalay, Mumbai, for over 30 years, including at the Nalanda Dance Research Centre. His lineage in Odissi traces back to Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, followed by Ratikant and Sujata Mohapatra. Ballal also pursued studies at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, where he earned a Nritya Visharad in both Odissi and Kathak. He further holds a Master of Performing Arts (Odissi) from Nalanda Dance Research Centre's Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya, affiliated with the University of Mumbai, which he received on July 13, 2026. As a graded artist of Doordarshan, Ankur Ballal has performed in numerous prestigious festivals across India, including the Mukteshwar Festival, Hampi Festival, Mahabalipuram Festival, Surya Festival, Kalaghoda Festival, Sur Singaar's Haridas Sammelan, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Ceremony, Guru Pankaj Charan Das Festival, and Odissi International Festival. His international performances include shows in London and Dubai. Notable performances include "Dasavatar" from Jayadeva's Gita Govindam and an Odia Abhinay on the 17th-century poet Salabega, both choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra with music by Pt. Bhubaneshwar Mishra. He has over 100 performances to his credit. Ballal serves as a teacher at Smitalay and is a Visiting Faculty at Nalanda Nrityakala Mahavidyalaya. He has taught Kathak at Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya for 15 years and Odissi at Smitalay for 21 years. He also conducts Odissi dance classes in Lower Parel, Mumbai, and works with special needs children. Additionally, he has worked as an assistant choreographer to Guru Jhelum Paranjape at Smitalay and has collaborated with notable personalities like Hema Malini for the Commonwealth Games and Jaya Prada in the ballet "AMRAPALI". He has also been involved in movies, dramas, and television serials. Awards & Honours: Dr. P. V. Paluskar Award, Yuvak Biradari Awards, 1st prize in dance competitions, 1st prize in dance competitions, 1st position in solo and group dance competition.