Her Circle Bizruptor: Dhvani Kothari, Founder, National Ballet School of India

From being a shy child who discovered ballet almost by chance to building a school that has trained hundreds of students, Dhvani Kothari is working to make ballet more accessible in India and put the country on the global ballet map.

For Dhvani Kothari, ballet began with an unexpected encounter.

Growing up, she describes herself as a shy child who never quite felt she had a space that was hers. That changed when a Russian ballet instructor visiting Mumbai offered classes. Having already watched a few ballet videos, Kothari decided to try it. She fell in love almost immediately.

But pursuing that passion in India wasn't easy. Formal ballet training was limited, which meant travelling abroad to learn the craft. Over time, Kothari trained across several countries, competed internationally and became the first Indian to win international ballet awards. And every time she returned home, she found herself asking the same question: why should Indian dancers have to leave the country to receive quality ballet education?

At just 21, she decided to do something about it. That led to the creation of the National Ballet School of India (NBSI), with a mission to bring structured, classical ballet education to India.

Building A Ballet Ecosystem

Starting NBSI meant creating a path that didn't really exist. Kothari had to educate people about ballet itself, what the art form entails, how much training it requires and why mastering it cannot happen overnight.

One of the most common questions she encountered was whether children could immediately dance on pointe. For Kothari, it highlighted the need to build greater awareness around the discipline behind ballet. ‘Ballet is basically like the base of any dance form,’ she explains. Years of repetition, technique and consistency are required to develop the strength, control and muscle memory needed to progress.

NBSI follows the Russian Vaganova method, offering all eight levels of ballet training. The school has around 10 centres across Mumbai, as well as centres in Bhopal and Goa, and trains more than 250 students. Its youngest students are three, while its oldest is 43. The school also offers certified training, workshops and opportunities for students to participate in international programmes, competitions and summer intensives.

Making Ballet More Accessible

For Kothari, accessibility has always been central to the school's vision. Ballet training abroad can be expensive, and she wanted to create an option in India that was both professionally rigorous and more accessible to Indian families. That philosophy has also shaped NBSI's locations. Rather than building a single central academy, Kothari has established centres across Mumbai so students don't have to travel long distances to access training. The goal is to ensure that ballet isn't restricted to one neighbourhood, one demographic or one kind of student.

She is also keen to challenge the perception that ballet is exclusively for girls. While NBSI has boys among its younger students, encouraging more boys to take up ballet remains a priority. ‘Ballet does not happen without boys,’ she says, pointing to the strength and athleticism the art form demands.

Beyond The Classroom

NBSI's ambitions extend well beyond weekly classes. The school participates in international competitions and programmes and stages full-scale ballet productions featuring Indian dancers. It has also collaborated with well-known national and international fashion brands. For Kothari, these opportunities are important because they demonstrate that ballet can become more than an extracurricular activity. It can be a serious artistic and professional pursuit.

Her larger vision is to see India become a genuine home for ballet, a place where dancers can train, perform and build careers without necessarily having to leave the country. ‘I want to bring ballet home,’ she says.

Backing The Unconventional Dream

Kothari understands what it means to pursue a career that doesn't come with a conventional roadmap. Before committing fully to ballet, she even tried the traditional route, appearing for the CAT and entering IIM. But it didn't feel right. So she chose to follow her passion instead.

Her advice to anyone considering an unconventional career is simple: back yourself.

There will be uncertainty, she says, particularly when you're attempting something that hasn't been done before. But dedication, consistency and hard work eventually speak for themselves.

Entrepreneurship has also taught her that passion alone isn't enough. She has learnt to delegate, trust her team and look at the bigger picture. She has learnt that no two days are alike and that creativity needs to work alongside a business mindset.

For Kothari, the dream remains bigger than building a ballet school. It is about creating an ecosystem where ballet can thrive in India and where the next generation doesn't have to travel halfway around the world to discover how far their talent can take them. That is the vision behind NBSI. And it is what makes Dhvani Kothari a Her Circle Bizruptor.

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