Kathputli - Shedding a Light on Human Trafficking,

About the event

Kathputli is a Kathak-based dance-theatre work that explores human trafficking through the metaphor of puppetry. It follows Pari, an orphaned girl whose dreams of dancing are exploited by a woman who controls her under the guise of care. While Pari performs obedience publicly, her inner world reveals longing, memory, and resistance. As voices rise beyond her confinement, her personal struggle becomes part of a larger collective movement against exploitation. The work blends classical Indian dance, narration, and contemporary staging to confront control, survival, and the devastating cost of stolen freedom.

Why should you sponsor?

Sponsoring Kathputli offers brands the opportunity to align with a culturally significant, socially conscious arts production while reaching a highly engaged and targeted audience in Houston.

The event will welcome approximately 300 arts-engaged patrons, including members of Houston’s South Asian community, dancers, educators, and supporters of social justice and the performing arts. This is a focused, high-intent audience—not passive viewers—who value community involvement and actively support businesses that invest in the arts.

Sponsors receive meaningful visibility, including logo placement in the event program, recognition at the performance, and promotion across our marketing channels. Beyond exposure, sponsorship directly supports artists, musicians, and production collaborators, demonstrating a tangible commitment to cultural preservation, storytelling, and ethical social dialogue.

By supporting Kathputli, sponsors are not only gaining brand recognition—they are contributing to an original, Houston-based production that uses classical Indian dance to shed light on human trafficking and elevate underrepresented narratives. This partnership positions sponsors as leaders in community impact, cultural advocacy, and artistic innovation.

Nima Mistry

Nima Mistry is a Houston-based Kathak dancer, choreographer, and arts organizer with over 15 years of training in classical Indian dance. Trained in the Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Kathak, she is a graduate of the Shivangini Academy of Arts and has an extensive background in performance, choreography, and community-based arts initiatives.

Beyond performance, Nima is the founder of Nritya Accessories, a small business that designs and supplies handmade dance accessories to performers across the United States and Canada. She is also the founder of Garba Meetup HTX, a community initiative focused on teaching traditional Gujarati folk dance and fostering cultural engagement through accessible dance education.

Nima holds a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and a Master’s degree in Sports Nutrition, bringing a strong understanding of movement science, wellness, and dancer health into her work. As the producer of Kathputli, she combines artistic vision with organizational leadership to deliver a professionally managed, socially impactful production that supports artists, musicians, and collaborators.

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