jiva performing arts - sonali skandan & jiva dance

"...their energy, discipline and passion bodes well for the future..." - Ethan Kanfer, California Literary Review

"...Skandan's choreography here has a follow-through of motion that is somehow natural yet tense with the pull of mystery." - nytheatre.com

Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance creates and presents compelling and dynamic works based on the timeless idiom of Bharatanatyam, the classical dance form of South India. Jiva Dance sees the importance of preserving and promoting the traditional arts, yet also understands the need to incorporate innovative techniques to reach diverse audiences. At an intersection of dance, music, literature, philosophy, sculpture and spirituality, the Company sees Indian Classical dance is a holistic art form and holds the belief that tradition is a continuum of evolution and states and hope to invigorate classical works with a freshness and unique voice.

Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance is the professional dance company of Jiva Performing Arts, an organization based in NYC, which seeks to educate and present the classical music and dance of India. Jiva Dance began in 2008 under the artistic direction of Sonali Skandan. The company has presented at notable venues such as Columbia University, Manhattanville College, Queens College and the Indian Consulate in NYC to tremendous audience acclaim. We have also been featured on Ragachitram, a weekly television program dedicated to the arts of India. Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance recently presented their debut evening-length production "Swarupa: Infinite Form" at the 2011 NYC International Fringe Festival to much critical acclaim, and was heralded as "a company to watch" by press. The Company was invited to present the show at the 2011 IDEA Living Dance Festival in Washignton, DC.

The company comprises exceptionally talented dancers under the guidance of Sonali Skandan, an accomplished dancer and student of some of the greatest masters of classical dance. The dancers are all rigorously trained in the tradition and are also versatile in their approach. We are devoted to the legacy of the art as passed on by traditional Gurus and Masters and share in the desire to pass our love of the form on to world audiences.

The repertoire ranges form solo highly traditional works to more versatile group items which highlight the evolving nature of the dance form. We strive to uphold the traditions, yet have a forward-looking attitude towards the art. We strive to create and reenergize classical pieces and incorporate innovative light design and multimedia such as photography, film and poetry to give the pieces clarity and meaning for a global audience. We firmly believe that classical works, as passed down from a great legacy, have a place in the modern society and are as relevant today as they were many years ago.

Notable Press Reviews:
Skandan's sharp control and stunning speed culminate in ecstasy....Skandan's choreography here has a follow-through of motion that is somehow natural yet tense with the pull of mystery." - nytheatre.com

"In 'Swarupa: Infinite Form,' the Indian dancer Sonali Skandan rises above the pull-and-tug of history...Skandan and her dancers are never less than correct." - Robert Johnson, NJ Star Ledger

Life After Fringe: Two Dance Companies to Watch "Two of this year's most impressive pieces came from companies specializing in narrative dance, and their energy, discipline and passion bodes well for the future. Choreographer Sonali Skandan pays close attention to the details (wherein God resides, according to the old adage). Small, subtle movements are as much a part of the story as the large angular and sinuous shapes created by colorfully clad limbs in motion. Eye gestures, smiles of irony, and wistful tilts of the head make the movements of the cosmos visible on a human scale."- Ethan Kanfer, California Literary Review

Click here to open Photo Gallery

Video Samples

Solo Work

Ensemble Work

Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance


"...their energy, discipline and passion bodes well for the future..." - Ethan Kanfer, California Literary Review "...Skandan's choreography here has a follow-through of motion that is somehow natural yet tense with the pull of mystery." - nytheatre.com Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance creates and presents compelling and dynamic works based on the timeless idiom of Bharatanatyam, the classical dance form of South India. Jiva Dance sees the importance of preserving and promoting the traditional arts, yet also understands the need to incorporate innovative techniques to reach diverse audiences. At an intersection of dance, music, literature, philosophy, sculpture and spirituality, the Company sees Indian Classical dance is a holistic art form and holds the belief that tradition is a continuum of evolution and states and hope to invigorate classical works with a freshness and unique voice. Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance is the professional dance company of Jiva Performing Arts, an organization based in NYC, which seeks to educate and present the classical music and dance of India. Jiva Dance began in 2008 under the artistic direction of Sonali Skandan. The company has presented at notable venues such as Columbia University, Manhattanville College, Queens College and the Indian Consulate in NYC to tremendous audience acclaim. We have also been featured on Ragachitram, a weekly television program dedicated to the arts of India. Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance recently presented their debut evening-length production "Swarupa: Infinite Form" at the 2011 NYC International Fringe Festival to much critical acclaim, and was heralded as "a company to watch" by press. The Company was invited to present the show at the 2011 IDEA Living Dance Festival in Washignton, DC. The company comprises exceptionally talented dancers under the guidance of Sonali Skandan, an accomplished dancer and student of some of the greatest masters of classical dance. The dancers are all rigorously trained in the tradition and are also versatile in their approach. We are devoted to the legacy of the art as passed on by traditional Gurus and Masters and share in the desire to pass our love of the form on to world audiences. The repertoire ranges form solo highly traditional works to more versatile group items which highlight the evolving nature of the dance form. We strive to uphold the traditions, yet have a forward-looking attitude towards the art. We strive to create and reenergize classical pieces and incorporate innovative light design and multimedia such as photography, film and poetry to give the pieces clarity and meaning for a global audience. We firmly believe that classical works, as passed down from a great legacy, have a place in the modern society and are as relevant today as they were many years ago. Notable Press Reviews: Skandan's sharp control and stunning speed culminate in ecstasy....Skandan's choreography here has a follow-through of motion that is somehow natural yet tense with the pull of mystery." - nytheatre.com "In 'Swarupa: Infinite Form,' the Indian dancer Sonali Skandan rises above the pull-and-tug of history...Skandan and her dancers are never less than correct." - Robert Johnson, NJ Star Ledger Life After Fringe: Two Dance Companies to Watch "Two of this year's most impressive pieces came from companies specializing in narrative dance, and their energy, discipline and passion bodes well for the future. Choreographer Sonali Skandan pays close attention to the details (wherein God resides, according to the old adage). Small, subtle movements are as much a part of the story as the large angular and sinuous shapes created by colorfully clad limbs in motion. Eye gestures, smiles of irony, and wistful tilts of the head make the movements of the cosmos visible on a human scale."- Ethan Kanfer, California Literary Review Click here to open Photo Gallery Video Samples Solo Work Ensemble Work