This is only the second time, since the summer school was established in 2001, that a group of students have undertaken part of their study overseas. A previous group visited India in 2007.
They will study in Kerala, a state in southwest India, and will visit Payyanur, a town in the north of the state, while studying for their paper, on dance ethnography, through the Otago School of Physical Education's dance programme.
During their 20-day trip the students will explore "the role of dance as an artistic, social and religious activity".
The students will engage in guided research, analyse the role of dance in a specific cultural community, and "investigate the educational aspects of transcultural dance and performance".
The seven students said they were feeling a little nervous, but were excited to be taking part in the trip, led by school dance lecturer Ali East.
Student, Rachel Enright, was "really excited" and expected to encounter a "sensory overload" in India. Another, Jasmine Trafford, felt "quite lucky" to be able to travel overseas to undertake dance-related study at such an "amazing place".