Mysore/Mysuru: The 40th International Nirantara Kalemane Festival of Kumar Performing Arts Centre (KPAC), Mysuru, was held at its Kalemane Sabhaangana in Hebbal 2nd Stage on June 23.

The ceremony was initiated by chief guests and eminent dance gurus who lit the lamp and began the dance performances. More than 60 artistes participated in this Festival and the auditorium was filled with art enthusiasts.

The chief guests of the evening were Guru Vijay Shanker, Kuchipudi & Kathakali exponent, art critic, Mumbai; Prof. Sapna Shivakumar, Principal, School of Architecture, Mysuru; Dr. V. Balaji, Associate Professor, Mysore School of Architecture; Ar. Harish Kumar, Asst. Professor, Mysore School of Architecture.

The evening featured Bharatanatyam dance programme by six renowned dance gurus from Bengaluru and their teams — 1. Guru Kanya Ramachandra Tayalia, Artistic Director, Natyapriya, Bengaluru, and her disciples; 2. Guru Bhavana Venkateshwara, Artistic Director, Sadhana Dance Centre, Bengaluru, and her disciples; 3. Guru Prof. Asha Hemaraju, Artistic Director, Natyaanjana – School of Dance and Music, Bengaluru and her students; 4. Guru Shubha Hegde, Artistic Director, Niranthara Bharatanatyam, Bengaluru and her students; 5. Guru Amrutha Shashank, Founder of Kaarunya Nritya Academy, Bengaluru and her students; 6. Guru Pruthvi Parthasarathy, Artistic Director, Srujana – Centre for Performing Arts, Bengaluru and his students.