Soorya Performing Arts welcomes students, Gurus, parents, and patrons to the

17th American Natya Festival

This will be held on June 12, 13, 14, 2026 

at Lindbergh Performing Arts Center, 5000 Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63126

More details of festival will be coming soon.

Come to Natya Idol. Command the Stage. Receive Insight from Legends. Triumph. Go Global.

Everyone other than registered participants, must purchase tickets to enter the competition venues.   Early bird - $5 per person  /  At the gate - $10.

The following cities are open for registration

NATYA IDOL - NATIONAL

June 13, 14 2026 - at

17TH AMERICAN NATYA FESTIVAL

SAINT LOUIS, MO - USA

POSSIBLE SCHEDUELDING IS AS FOLLOWS.
ADVANCE, INTERMEDIATE, INTERMEDIATE GROUP, ADVANCE GROUP WILL BE PLANED FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2026
JUNIOR, JUNIOR GROUPS, ADULTS, SENIOR ADULTS WILL BE PLANNED ON SUNDAY FOR JUNE 14 2026
BE AWARE , THE NATYA IDOL IS STILL GOING IN SEVERAL CITIES. SCHEDULE MIGHT CHANGE. PLEASE BOOK YOUR TRAVEL FOR ALL THREE DAYS AND ENJOY TEH 17TH AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL AND TAKE PART IN THE NATIONALS.

VENUE:  Lindbergh Auditorium, 5000 Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63126

Why Participate in American Natya Idol?

Grow alongside like-minded peers who are deeply committed to excellence, passion, and disciplined artistry.

Receive expert guidance and insightful feedback that help you recognize your strengths and identify meaningful areas for growth.

Become part of a distinguished network of young dancers, with opportunities to perform and gain recognition across the USA and India.

Experience true transparency through open and detailed scoring. American Natya Idol is among the first classical dance competitions to share complete evaluation scores, empowering participants to clearly understand where they stand and how to improve.

At American Natya Idol, only the dancer’s ability and dedication matter. Our commitment is to honesty, growth, and artistic excellence—nothing else.

Together, let us build a lasting infrastructure—by dancers, for dancers—one that preserves and presents our ancient arts to future generations with passion, integrity, and wisdom.

American Natya Idol Finalists and their scores

American Natya Idol – Performance Opportunities in India (2025)

In 2025, American Natya Idol proudly provided the following international performance opportunities to its winners in India:

Performed in Bengaluru December 28,29,30 - 2025 – International Classical Dance Festival

  • Aditya Subramanya — 1st Place in Advanced Category 2025

  • Manasi Ganesh — 1st Place in Houston Regionals

  • Meera Rathnagiri — Special Mention, Advanced Finals (2025)

Performed in Mumbai -Jan 4th, 2025 – Aneka Dance Festival

  • Samanvita Kasthuri — Winner, Advanced Category (Natya Idol 2018)

  • Meera Rathnagiri — Special Mention, Advanced Finals (2025)

In addition, several 2024 winners were invited to perform at multiple prestigious venues across the United States, further expanding their national and international exposure.

Upcoming Performances of Natya Idol winners in the USA

Tampa Natyotsava - Feb, 28th, 2026
Akshainie Kamma (Winner in Advanced level in 2025 Finals, from Austin, TX)
SWATHI SHARMA (Winner in Adult Category in 2025 Finals )
Aditi Sriram (Winner of St. Louis Natya Idol)

Seattle"Rising Star" - March 22nd, 2026
Bharathanatyam by Mansi Ganesh (Houston, TX) - Winner of Houston Advanced Natya Idol - 2025
Bharathanatyam Nipra Varma (Seattle, WA) - Winner of Nationals Adult category
Mohini Attam by Reshmee Rajeev (Seattle, WA) - Winner of National Adult Category
Manipuri by Guru Sanjib Bhattacharya (San Jose, CA) - Invited Guest

Houston "Rising Star" - March 28th, 2026
Bharathanatyam by Divyasri Thanigachalam - 2025 American Natya Idol winner in Junior

Dallas "Rising Star" - March 28th, 2026
Bharathanatyam by Aditya Subramaniam - National- Advance Winner

Austin "Rising Star" - April 4th, 2026
Bharathanatya by Preethi Muthappa - National- Adult Winner
Bharathanatyam by Athriya Krishna Balaji-1st Prize winner - Nationals Intermediate

Portland "Rising Star" - April 5th, 2026
Bharathanatya by Megha Chander - Special Mention in Nationals, Young Arts Winner

Atlanta "Rising Star" - April 11th, 2026
Bharathanatya by Preethi Muthappa - National- Adult Winner
Bharathanatya by Sagarika Sankar Ganesh - Advance winner Atlanta Regionals

DC/Baltimore "Rising Star" - April 12th, 2026
Bharathanatyam by Navika Sankar - Intermediate DC/Baltimore regional
Bharathanatyam by Kruti Janga- Intermediate DC/Baltimore regional
Andhra Natyam by Devilapalli - winner of Adult category in Nationals

Chicago "Rising Star" - April 18th, 2026
Bharathanatyam by Sihi Hebbar - 3rd Prize winner - Junior Nationals
Bharathanatyam by Sanjana Mattur - Special Mention - Intermediate Nationals
Bharathanatyam by Kavya Meyoor - 2nd winner - Chicago Regionals
Bharathanatyam by Sruthi Madduri - Special Mention - Chicago Regionals

Cincinnati "Rising Star" - April 19th, 2026
Bharathanatyam by Sihi Hebbar - 3rd Prize winner - Junior Nationals
Bharathanatyam by Krithika Pinninti - 1st Prize - Intermediate Nationals
Bharathanatyam by Madhavi Latha Gali - 1st prize Adult - Chicago Regionals

New Jersey "Rising Star" - April 25th, 2026
Bharathanatyam by Naviyashri Rajeshkumar - Intermediate National Winner

International Dance Day Celebration on Broadway
Odissi Dance presented by Jeevika Bhat
Kathak and Kuchipudi Dances Presented by Guru Neela and Group
Bharathanatyam dance presented by Keshav Agiwal, Priya, Pritika and Saachi
Kuchipudi Performance by Guru Pushyami Lanka
Kuchipudi performance by Guru Pallavi Madabushi
Bharathanatyam by Guru Prasanna Kasthuri

Rising Star in New York 
Bharathanatyam Presentation by Anvitha Barathkailash
Advanced Special Mention National

We are very proud to bring world together with arts.

Click here to check the list of the winners and scores of 2025- American Natya Idol.

NATIONALS  - AMERICAN NATYA IDOL – 2026

Hello Dancers and Dance  Patrons

Welcome to the 2026 American Natya Idol Competition. We are excited to bring this amazing meeting point of incredible talent from across the USA. We are trying to highlight the dance talents of the graceful, hard-working, and dedicated little teen Youth and more experienced artists. We promise to bring judges from different cities, regions, and countries to your city. We promise to keep honesty and integrity in support of true talent, which will brighten minds and bring joy to our ancient art from the Indian subcontinent into the great plains, the mountains, and the coasts of the United States of America. We have allowed you to register in the city of your choice. In 2025 than 600 participants entered this fantastic competition.

Everyone must register through the FeatsClub app for regionals and Finals.

Please register before 7 days before each competition date with complete music.

You may keep the music used in the Regionals or send new music you choose before June 8th, 7 pm, 2026 CST.

We will not be accepting anyone into the Finals directly, everyone must pass the Phase-1 (regionals).

If you have any questions on registration, please get in touch with the Natya Idol Committee at 314-397-5278  (CST-10 AM- 4 PM) /  314-546-9473 (CST 4 PM -8 PM) / (314) 629-9754

There is no extra Registration fee for entering the National level. But everyone must purchase the festival ticket to enter the venue. This will be held in St. Louis on June 13th and 14th, 2025.

We are giving discounted sales of tickets and food until June 1st, 2025. This will increase to normal prices from June 2nd onwards.

Schedule of the Finals

Saturday - 13th June 2026 - American Natya Idol - Advanced, Intermediate, Senior Group Dances
Sunday  - 14th June 2026 - American Natya Idol - Adults, Senior Adults, Junior, Junior Group Dances

AMERICAN NATYA IDOL PRESENTS - BENGALURU INTERNATIONAL CLASSICAL DANCE FESTIVAL - DEC 24, 26, 27 - 2026