About Us

Darpana is an arts institution with a unique vision of how the arts can change the world

By the age of three, the young Mrinalini Swaminathan knew that she wanted to be a dancer. As a young child, she would send the whole family into hysterics by mimicking the movements and expressions of the guests that came for dinner. Yet the precocious Mrinalini quickly emerged as a studious and serious young dancer, seeking out the best instructors of the likes of Rabidranath Tagore and Rukmini Devi, who helped shape what was to become a lifetime of dance, theatre, and activism.

Why is it that some people feel called to the arts? What makes things such as dance and theatre more than just a hobby, but something we give our lives to? And is it only for ourselves, or does the world really need art?

Today, under the guidance of Mrinalini and her daughter Mallika, Darpana continues to answer these questions in the affirmative, and to show the world that art can play a vital role in human development. Darpana is a place where artists from all countries, traditions, and walks of life come together to employ art for the betterment of humanity. Darpana uses Indian dance, puppetry, music, theatre and television to educate, empower, and raise awareness about the critical issues of today.

We envision a world in which the arts are taken out of the museum and put on the front lines of our social agenda.

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