named programs · 9 · from sources
What they call their work
Ballet School - AG
Classical ballet instruction with focus on posture, rhythm, and musical perception, led by head teacher Ani Gadelia.
Brooklyn Hipsters
Hip hop dance studio for youth, fostering self-expression and confidence through contemporary dance forms.
Chess Class
Chess instruction for children and youth, promoting strategic thinking and cognitive development.
Children’s Vocal Class - Ensemble “Iberia”
Vocal training in traditional Georgian songs for children aged 4–13, taught by Eka Chichua, with regular performances.
English for Georgian Speakers (Adult ESL)
ESL classes for adult Georgian immigrants to support integration into American society.
Georgian Children’s Theater
Theater program taught by Tsutsa Kapanadze, focusing on acting, recitation, and stage performance in the Georgian language for children aged 5–14.
Georgian Dance Class - Ensemble “Legends”
Traditional Georgian dance training for children aged 4 and up, taught by professional performers; culminates in public performances and annual concerts.
Georgian Language and Culture Class
Instruction in Georgian language, history, and cultural traditions to help children connect with their heritage.
Youth Vocal & Instrumental Music - Ensemble “Lyra”
Music instruction in vocal, violin, piano, and guitar, led by Tengiz Shautidze and Nino Gharibashvili; students perform in concerts annually.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 4 activities
- Operate a professional Georgian folk dance and music ensembleMaintains a professional ensemble of dancers and musicians trained since childhood in Georgia, performing traditional Georgian dance and polyphonic music using authentic regional costumes and instruments such as the panduri, doli, and salamuri. The ensemble performs 10–15 times annually at public events and has presented dozens of full-length concerts across New York State.
- Present public performances and cultural outreach eventsConducts workshops, lecture demonstrations, and performances in theaters, schools, libraries, and community venues across the greater New York area. The organization has presented hundreds of concerts and cultural events since its formation and engages in outreach to schools, senior centers, and community groups.
- Provide Georgian traditional arts education programs for children and adultsOffers ongoing classes in Georgian dance, music, theater, language, culture, visual arts, and chess for children and adults, taught by professional artists. Programs include structured curricula using historical texts and stories from Georgian history, with long-standing educational offerings operating for over two decades.
- Support cultural integration for Georgian immigrants in New York CityProvides programs in traditional Georgian performance arts to promote cultural continuity and community integration for Georgian immigrants, serving as a cultural hub through performances, education, and language programming.
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Ballet and Dance Education Programs 1 activity
- Operate a ballet and performing arts schoolRuns a ballet studio and school offering classes in ballet and hip hop taught by professionals from top Georgian ensembles. Students receive training and participate in performances, contributing to the organization’s broader performance and educational mission.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Operate a children’s music and dance ensemble programRuns multiple children’s ensembles in dance (“Legends,” “Iberia,” “Lyre,” “Pesvebi”) and music, including a 7-voice youth vocal ensemble. Over 60 children aged 4–7 participate in dance ensembles, and 24 children receive music instruction in voice, guitar, piano, violin, and folk instruments, with performances integrated into public events.
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Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 1 activity
- Operate a short films and TV production program for youthOffers a TV production class called “Rainbow” and a short films production class for children, with student work broadcast on Georgian television in Tbilisi, fostering media skills and cultural expression among Georgian-American youth.
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Latino and Multicultural Theater Production 1 activity
- Produce and perform original and traditional Georgian theater productionsProduces full-length theatrical works, including original plays and adaptations, performed in Georgian with English subtitles for accessibility. The organization founded the Georgian Theater of New York in 2008, the only professional Georgian repertory company in the U.S., and stages performances featuring theater, dance, music, and poetry.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$366K
Contributions & grants$90K25%
Program service revenue$274K75%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$339K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$25K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$588K
Cash$72K
Investments$0
Liabilities$435K
Net assets$153K
Liquid reserves2.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +27.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| INGA ZHGHENTI | SECRETARY | 1 | $14K |
board members · 5
- DAVIT TOPRAKASHVILI — DIRECTOR
- JEFF TWINE — DIRECTOR
- LEVAN METREVELI — DIRECTOR
- TEONA PERADZE — DIRECTOR
- VICTOR SIRELSON — PRESIDENT TREASURER
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- Brooklyn Arts Council Partner — Recognized Dancing Crane as the arts organization of the month in January 2014.
- CTMD Partner — Collaborates on programs including the Dancing Crane Ensemble.
- Dance/NYC Funder — Administered the Coronavirus Dance Relief Fund which provided financial support
- Georgian Theater of New York Network — Founded and operated as part of Dancing Crane’s programming, representing the first and only Georgian theater in New York.
- Georgian Theater of New York Network — Professional Georgian repertory company established by Dancing Crane in 2008.
- Georgian Theater of New York Partner — Lika Sirelson is the creator and director of the Georgian Theater of New York, which is associated with Dancing Crane.
- Georgian Theater of New York Partner — Professional theater company whose artists lead children's theater programs and collaborate on productions.
- Georgian church Partner — Collaborates with the ensemble for performances and cultural events.
- Midtown International Theater Festival Partner — Presented the play 'Sarke' with English subtitles at the Midtown International Theater Festival in July 2011.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Funded children’s programs.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides grant funding in partnership with the City Council
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provided grants through the Orange County Decentralization Program and ongoing support for dance, music, and apprentice programs.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides grant funding with support from the Governor and State Legislature
- Tengiz Shautidze Partner — Master Georgian singer who arranges traditional songs for the youth vocal ensemble.
- US Small Business Administration Funder — Awarded a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) to support operations during the pandemic
- Victor Sirelson Government — Founding director of Dancing Crane Georgian Cultural Center
- YouTube Partner — Hosts performances of the ensemble on its platform.
- Zekari Partner — Men's vocal ensemble performing regional polyphonic and religious songs within the organization.
strategies · 5
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.
- Apprenticeship with Professional Artists as Pedagogymethodology: apprenticeship_with_professionalsBy integrating students into training programs led by professional ensemble members, we develop technical mastery and cultural fluency, because learning from artists deeply rooted in the tradition ensures high artistic standards and authentic transmission.
- Cultural Preservation Through Performance and Educationmethodology: cultural_preservation_through_education_and_performanceBy combining professional performances and educational programs in traditional Georgian arts, we preserve cultural heritage and promote intergenerational continuity, because live transmission through master artists and immersive practice ensures authenticity and community ownership.
- Culture-Based Integration for Immigrant Communitiesmethodology: culture_based_integrationBy engaging Georgian immigrants in the study and performance of traditional arts, we strengthen community belonging and cultural identity in a new context, because shared artistic practice fosters connection across generations and between homelands.
- Oral Tradition as Core Transmission Mechanismmethodology: oral_tradition_transmissionBy using master-to-student oral instruction in music and performance, we sustain cultural continuity, because this intergenerational method preserves nuanced artistic expressions that formal notation or curricula cannot fully capture.
- Performance-Based Learning for Holistic Developmentmethodology: performance_based_learningBy embedding regular public performances into training, we deepen student learning and personal growth, because the responsibility of live presentation builds discipline, memory, confidence, and coordination beyond technical skill alone.