Pia Sutaria Embarks on a New Artistic Journey in Tesseract at NCPA
In a significant departure from her established identity, dancer Pia Sutaria steps into a challenging new role in the production Tesseract, running from March 13th to 22nd at The Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA. For an artist long associated with the fluid movements of ballet, this performance demands a stark contrast: standing still, speaking lines, and embodying a character without the crutch of dance.
From Ballet to a Fairy-Like Presence
Sutaria portrays a fairy-like alter ego, a role that feels slightly otherworldly and draws inspiration from iconic figures like Tinker Bell. She has embraced the lightness and fluidity of this character, discovering that her extensive background in dance profoundly informs her emerging skills as an actor. The stage has been an integral part of her life since childhood, with her mother frequently performing at the NCPA with a choir, making rehearsals a familiar backdrop to her early years.
At just five years old, she made her debut in The Fakir of Banaras at the same venue. A pivotal moment came when watching Billy Elliot left a deep impression, drawing her to ballet. She began serious training in Bombay, committing to a discipline that would define her teenage years.
A Journey Through Dance and Education
As she matured, Sutaria realized that professional performing required more than mere enthusiasm—it demanded complete dedication. She transitioned to musical theatre and jazz, eventually joining a contemporary dance company that toured internationally across the United States, Canada, and Japan. Remarkably, she balanced this with completing an undergraduate degree in marketing and finance in Bombay, teaching and working as a professional performer from a young age while managing rehearsals, classes, and college simultaneously.
Building a Legacy and International Recognition
At 22, she channeled her experiences into founding The Institute of Classical and Modern Dance, initially as a mentorship program to provide young people with the structured pathway she felt was lacking in her own early career. While building the school, she continued to perform, carving out a niche for ballet in a landscape dominated by commercial work. Her appearances in fashion shows and large-scale productions, including opening for events like Miss Universe, solidified her reputation.
Scouted by Disney, she was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she trained formally in musical theatre performance, mastering acting, singing, and dance within a structured system. Upon returning to Bombay, she found the city offering compelling reasons to stay. Her school has since flourished, with students securing placements at prestigious institutions such as Juilliard, Tisch, RMD, Princeton, and UCLA. Alongside teaching, she has curated and produced shows at venues like NMACC and NCPA.
Bridging Cultures and Shaping the Future
Her time abroad sharpened her understanding of rehearsal culture and production values. In India, she observes a maturing audience and a creative community characterized by warmth and mutual support. In Tesseract, she sees an opportunity to rehearse extensively and work on a scale that matches her international experience.
Through her school and her cross-continental work, Sutaria aims to bridge Western performing arts with India's cultural ethos, paving a clearer and more accessible pathway for the next generation aspiring to commit their lives to the stage.
