named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Baithak Series
Intimate performance and dialogue events presenting Indian classical music and dance in close-quarter settings
Cultivating Depth Series
Workshop and lecture series featuring master artists, focusing on narrative development and technical refinement in Indian classical dance
Lessons From My Mothers
Original dance-theater production exploring intergenerational narratives and cultural memory through Bharatanatyam
Solo Studio Showcase
Platform for advanced students and company dancers to present solo performances and original choreography
Vidyanjali
Annual performance showcase celebrating Bharatanatyam dance and student learning, featuring recitals and ensemble works
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 2 activities
- Delivering educational outreach and workshopsConducts lecture-demonstrations, workshops, master classes, and residencies in schools, museums, and cultural institutions across New York City. Programs are designed to increase accessibility and appreciation of Indian classical arts and have been delivered at venues including Juilliard and through the CUNY Dance Initiative.
- Presenting Indian classical dance and music performancesProduces and presents professional performances of Indian classical dance and music, including full-length productions and dance films, at major venues such as Lincoln Center, Juilliard, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Smithsonian Institution. Maintains a repertory of works such as Dance on Camera, B’Rhythm, and lESSONS FROM MY MOTHERS.
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Original Dance Performance Production 1 activity
- Producing dance-on-camera festivals and film projectsCurates and produces the annual Dance on Camera Festival, including themed editions such as "Dualities" (2021) and "(un) silent voices" (2022), featuring emerging artists and interdisciplinary collaborations. Also produces dance films such as Urban Nritta, selected for the New York Indian Film Festival.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Providing training in South Indian classical artsOffers ongoing instruction in Bharatanatyam, Carnatic violin, and Mridangam for children and adults through a school and studio programs in New York City. Provides drop-in classes, annual showcases, and student debut performances, and has taught at institutions including Juilliard and Queens College.
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Nonprofit Music Recording and Distribution 1 activity
- Releasing and promoting original musical worksProduces and releases original music, including the debut album In Time, and has won awards such as the Independent Music Award for Best World Traditional Song for "Mohana Blues" in 2015.
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School and School-Community Events 1 activity
- Supporting community engagement through annual eventsHosts annual dance and learning celebration events that bring together students and the community for performances and educational programming, held each year from at least 2022 through 2026.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$182K
Contributions & grants$129K71%
Program service revenue$54K29%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$129K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$46K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$327K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$322K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +12.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SONALI SKANDAN | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 40 | $46K |
relationships · 51
Who they work with
- 92NY Partner — Co-presented the "Art Bath" event series.
- 92nd Street Y Partner — Commissioned choreography from Sonali Skandan.
- 92nd Street Y Partner — Presented performances at the 92nd Street Y.
- Aalaap Concepts Partner — Marketing partner for the Still Point Expanding festival
- Akshara Music Ensemble Partner — Collaborates with Akshara Music Ensemble, led by Bala Skandan, to present performances that bridge traditional Carnatic music with contemporary forms.
- All Souls School Partner — Ami Jain has fundraising experience with this organization, indicating a professional connection.
- Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Presented performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
- CUNY Dance Initiative Partner — Hosted Jiva Dance at Queens College in 2017 and 2018
- Dance/NYC Funder — Supports Jiva Dance and awarded the inaugural Dance Advancement Fund
- Dance/NYC Government — Provided support through the Advancement Fund to Jiva Dance.
- Dance/NYC Network — Network member organization supporting Jiva Performing Arts
- Drom Partner — Hosted the debut album release performance for "In Time" in New York City.
- Flushing Town Hall Partner — Partner organization supporting Jiva Performing Arts
- Green Space Studio Partner — Partner organization supporting Jiva Performing Arts
- Greenspace Partner — Commissioned choreography from Sonali Skandan.
- Guru Krupa Foundation Partner — Partner organization supporting Jiva Performing Arts
- Guru Krupa Foundation Partner — Provided grant funding to support the production "Lessons from My Mothers".
- India Cultural Center (ICC) Partner — Hosted a live performance in Greenwich, CT in 2018.
- JCAL Partner — Partner organization supporting Jiva Performing Arts
- Jalopy Theater Partner — Hosted a live performance in Brooklyn, NY in 2018.
- Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning Partner — Commissioned choreography from Sonali Skandan.
- Juilliard Partner — Presented performances at Juilliard.
- Juilliard School Partner — Collaborated on online Bharatanatyam education and hosted the first Carnatic student recital led by Bala Skandan.
- LMCC Partner — Partner organization supporting Jiva Performing Arts
- La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theater Partner — Hosted a performance at the Drive East Festival in 2016.
- Lincoln Center Partner — Hosted performance at the Wu Tsai Theater as part of globalFEST 2025.
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Funder — Supports Jiva Dance through grants and programs
- Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Funder — Funder supporting Jiva Performing Arts
- NBC Learn Partner — Featured Jiva Dance in the documentary Why We Dance
- NEA Government — Awarded funding to Jiva Performing Arts.
+ 21 more
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Cross-Cultural and Interdisciplinary Integrationmethodology: cross-cultural_artistic_integrationBy integrating Indian classical music and dance with global genres, spoken word, and experimental staging, the organization expands expressive range and audience engagement, because hybrid forms foster broader cultural resonance and inclusion.
- Tradition as a Living, Evolving Practicemethodology: tradition_as_continuum_of_evolutionBy reinterpreting Indian classical arts through contemporary and experimental forms, the organization increases public accessibility and relevance, because tradition is believed to evolve through continuous innovation and interdisciplinary dialogue.