Dancilla YogaFusion made its first-ever theatrical production in Massachusetts with Neelkanth: The Rise of Shiva, an ambitious fusion of dance, theater, music and visual storytelling presented at the J. Everett Collins Center for the Performing Arts in Andover on October 3.

Created and directed by Dr. Sonal Mazumder, founder of Dancilla YogaFusion, Neelkanth is inspired by Amish Tripathi’s acclaimed Shiva Trilogy, brought to the stage through Mazumder’s own creative interpretation and vision. The production brought together more than 50 performers, volunteers and crew members and drew an audience of approximately 500. The story explored the transformation of an ordinary man into a hero and ultimately toward godhood, while raising questions about responsibility, sacrifice, marginalization, human nature and the consequences of technological progress.

Audience members praised the production’s philosophical depth, choreography and visual storytelling, highlighting elaborate costumes and masks, projected imagery, symbolic dance and striking theatrical elements including a fire-breathing dragon. Performances portraying Shiva, Sati and Ma Kali, along with the production’s vocalists and musicians, received particular praise.

The production also marked a significant moment for Dancilla YogaFusion’s broader community mission. Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio presented Dancilla YogaFusion with a citation recognizing its community impact through dance, yoga and storytelling. Community leader Meena Bharath was also honored during the evening.

The production was supported by Volunteering for Seniors (VFS), the Massachusetts Music Foundation (MMF), and several other community supporters and collaborators. VFS served as the Venue & AV Partner, while MMF was a key vocal and community partner.

For an organization whose roots are in dance, yoga, fitness and wellness, Neelkanth represented a bold expansion into theatrical storytelling. One audience member called it an “astonishing debut,” noting that the quality and scale of the production made it difficult to believe it was Dancilla YogaFusion’s first large-scale theatrical production.

More than a theatrical debut, Neelkanth demonstrated Dancilla YogaFusion’s growing vision: using dance, yoga and storytelling to bring people together, spark reflection and create meaningful community experiences.