Experience India

Experience live music and dance performances, curator talks, music-making workshops, and other family-friendly activities—all celebrating the vibrant music and culture of India. Included with paid museum admission; free for members

Sponsored by the Chandragiri Family and Ravi & Poonam Mahajan. Supported by the India Association of Phoenix. Programming supported in part by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture & Arizona Commission on the Arts.

Kartal Craft
9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
South El Río
Create your own kartal, an Indian percussion instrument! Stop by and pick up a free craft kit to assemble at MIM or at home.

Photo Booth
9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
El Río
Have your picture taken with our hands-free photo booth and digitally receive your pictures! Tag us with #MIMphx for a chance to be featured on our social media.

Sitar Performance
10:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:15 p.m., and 2:45 p.m.
El Río
Enjoy this performance by Seema Gulati highlighting the sitar. Gulati is the lead instructor and director at the Shahid Parvez Khan Academy of Music and has performed on sitar across the country.

Asia Gallery Mini-Tours
11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
Upper El Río
Join Junior Museum Guides (6th–12th graders) on a short, informative tour of the Asia Gallery, with a special focus on India.

Music-Making Workshop
11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
Event Room 1
Junior Museum Guides will lead this fun, family-friendly musical activity. Learn about the tabla and practice a song on these twin hand drums.

Curator Talk: MIM’s Indian Instruments
11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:30–2:00 p.m.
Event Room 2
Join MIM curator Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu to explore the Indian concept of raga (melody) in vibrant fashion. Hsu will introduce some unique examples from MIM’s collection to illustrate the subtle connection between Indian musical instruments, ornaments, and paintings.

Sampradaya Dance of India Performance (Saturday)
12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
North El Río
Witness the grace of classical bharata-nātyam dance routines of southern India, performed by students of Sampradaya Dance of India under the direction of internationally renowned artist Nita Mallya.

Nritya Shaily School of Kathak Performance (Sunday)
12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
North El Río
Kathak is a classical dance form of northern India featuring scintillating footwork, pirouettes, recitation of dance verses in rhythmic patterns, and the use of bells. Experience Indian storytelling through this performance by Shaily Bhandari and her students.