A Shift in the Narrative
This wasn’t just a win, it was a quiet revolution.
For the first time, a non-ballet artist has been awarded in the classical category.
For the first time, two men, one from Hip Hop, one from Kathak, stood side by side as equals in the realm of male dance excellence.
This is what change looks like.
Is it not beautifully inclusive?
A Legacy of Grace
Aakash’s acceptance was rooted in reverence. He dedicated his awards to his spiritual teacher Baba Ji, to his gurus and mentors, and especially to Kumudini Lakhia (Kumi Ben), a woman whose artistry and guidance have shaped his journey with such elegance. He honoured the iconic Ram Gopal, whose over 100-year-old ghungroos whispered through time as Aakash wore them onstage, ancestral blessings wrapped around his wrists. Aakash also thanked his “Juliet” Aditi Mangaldas whose grace and talent remains limitless. He closed with a round of gratitude to his team at the Aakash Odedra Company before another round of a truly well-deserved applause
His collaboration with Aditi Mangaldas in the breathtaking production Mehek, which toured to critical acclaim across the UK, earned the company four nominations. Mehek wasn’t just a performance. It was a poetry of memory, longing, and human depth, carried through two bodies, speaking one language: dance.
Read the SeeingDance feature on this historic moment: SeeingDance Article
Full list of nominees: Critics’ Circle – Full Nominees
A Message from Skinder Hundal MBE
Joint CEO & Interim Executive Director, Aakash Odedra Company
“To witness Aakash’s brilliance recognised in this way is a gift. His art opens doors, not just of theatres, but of the soul. He reminds us what it means to truly feel, to awaken, and to belong. Eight billion hearts should witness this magic at least once in their lifetime.”
Honouring the Awards
The National Dance Awards, founded in 2000 by The Critics’ Circle (est. 1913), remain the UK’s most respected honours in professional dance. With a panel of 60+ critics and a commitment to celebrating diversity and excellence across genres, the NDAs are not just accolades, they’re affirmations of artistry.
What Aakash achieved wasn’t just for himself, it was for all dance forms.
It was for every artist carrying the weight of culture, lineage, and untold stories
Today, we see you. And we celebrate you
The future now moves to the rhythm of many traditions, dancing in symbiosis as one.
And we all witness this with these prestigious awards attracting and supporting a new lineage of new and older generations,
from myriad cultures and forms of expression.
Image Credits: National Dance Awards
Susan Dalgetty Ezra presents the award for Outstanding Male Classical Performance to @aakashodedracompany for his role in ‘Mehek’, on behalf of the sponsor @londonballetcircle. This is the first time this award has ever been awarded to an artist from a discipline outside of ballet. #nda25
Image Credits: National Dance Awards
The award for Best Male Dancer goes to both @tommythefranzen and @aakashodedracompany, which the judges were unable to separate even after a tie break vote! The award was presented by Jonathan Gray. #nda24
