AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT | 20th JANUARY 2026 — Audiences were left spellbound on Sunday evening as Levitaire: MANIC, an immersive aerial theatre production by Aerial Arts India, unfolded under the open sky in Ahmedabad.
Staged 40 feet above the ground on a live crane, the production transformed the city’s skyline into a dramatic performance space, offering spectators an experience rarely seen in India. Combining aerial silks, hoop, pole and vertical choreography, MANIC presented a continuous, hour-long performance that explored emotional tension suspended between chaos and calm.
Performed by Aerial Arts India’s resident troupe, the production examined themes of control and release, innocence and distortion, and order versus disorder through precise movement, cinematic lighting and an original soundscape. The scale of the crane rigging and the uninterrupted flow of choreography set the work apart from conventional dance or circus formats, positioning it firmly as contemporary aerial theatre.
The audience remained engrossed throughout the performance, responding with sustained applause at its conclusion. Many attendees described the experience as unlike anything they had previously witnessed in the city.
Speaking after the show, Zeel Soni, Founder, Creative Director and Lead Aerialist of Aerial Arts India, said, “MANIC represents years of discipline, experimentation and pushing the boundaries of what aerial performance can be in India. Performing this work under the open sky and seeing the audience connect so deeply with it was incredibly fulfilling.”
Conceptualised and developed in Ahmedabad, Levitaire: MANIC highlighted the growing depth and maturity of India’s aerial arts movement. The production reinforced Aerial Arts India’s commitment to presenting aerial performance as a serious contemporary art form, blending technical rigour with narrative intent.
Founded in Ahmedabad, Aerial Arts India is India’s first dedicated aerial arts academy and the country’s only ACE-accredited aerial studio. The organisation has trained over 2,000 students across disciplines including aerial silks, hoop, pole, hammock, spiral and straps, and operates a purpose-built training facility on Sindhu Bhavan Road.
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