manasa jayanthi
Manasa Jayanthi is an Indian American dancer, educator, and choreographer whose work bridges classical heritage and contemporary relevance. Rooted in South Indian traditions, her artistic voice has been shaped by rigorous training with Jothi Raghavan (Bharatanatyam), Kasi Aysola (Kuchipudi), and Sheejith Krishna (Nattuvangam). Her work embraces storytelling, social consciousness, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
As Artistic Director of the Nrityanjali School of Dance and Founder of Manasa Arts LLC, she leads two thriving streams of creative entrepreneurship. Through her educational initiatives, she empowers today’s artists by fostering a respectful balance of tradition and cultural values, while creating an inclusive space that encourages exploration, innovation, and creative growth. Her LLC, established through research, mentorship, and strategic guidance, formalizes a portfolio spanning arts education, choreography, public speaking, mentorship, cultural programming, event production, stagecraft, performance-centered styling, and media. Over the past decade, these ventures have provided a model of financial sustainability rooted in artistic integrity.
Manasa’s pedagogy centers lived experience, encouraging cultural reflection, transparent dialogue, and financial literacy. She believes movement is a tool for identity, agency, and transformation. Her work embraces classical dance as a living force one that honors lineage while making space for evolution, multiplicity, and entrepreneurship in today’s cultural landscape.
abstract
Art and Agency: Financial Wellness for South Asian Dance Artists
Workshop
This interactive workshop offers culturally grounded financial strategies for South Asian dance artists navigating tradition, community, and sustainability. Addressing the lack of open dialogue around money, it provides tools to set rates, manage freelance income, and explore structures like LLCs, S-Corps, and nonprofits. Participants will reflect on cultural narratives around money and develop practical skills for financial planning. Rooted in lived experience, the session empowers artists to turn creative labor into viable income. By bridging artistic identity with entrepreneurial confidence, participants gain agency to shape sustainable, values-aligned careers in today’s evolving economic and cultural landscape.