sonali skandan
Sonali Skandan is a celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director of Jiva Performing Arts and Jiva Dance in New York City. Her work has been described as “natural yet tense with the pull of mystery” (nytheatre.com) and “compelling…riveting” (The New York Times). A longtime NYC resident, Sonali draws on the city’s cultural energy to create works that are rooted in classical tradition while speaking to contemporary themes and audiences.
She has choreographed four full-length productions and curated three acclaimed dance-on-camera festivals, with performances presented nationally and internationally. Her work has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. Under her leadership, Jiva Dance became the first Indian classical company awarded the CUNY Dance Initiative residency and the Dance/NYC Advancement Fund.
Sonali has served on the dance faculties of Sarah Lawrence College, Queens College, and was the first Indian dance faculty at the Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensive. She also features in Juilliard’s online Bharatanatyam course. A student of legendary gurus C.V. Chandrasekhar and Bragha Bessell, and creatively mentored by Maya Kulkarni, Sonali continues to push the boundaries of Bharatanatyam with purpose and imagination.
abstract
Lessons From My Mothers
Presentation & Discussion of New Works
Lessons from My Mothers explores the intergenerational journey of South Asian immigrant women through Bharatanatyam, theater, and spoken word. Centered around a handwritten cookbook symbolizing resilience, adaptation, and identity, the work reflects on choices made by three women—Mother, Masi, and Kaki—as they navigate unfamiliar territory, sacrifice dreams, and rediscover joy in a new land. Narrated by a daughter confronting her own multicultural identity, the performance weaves personal and collective memory into a story of quiet courage and strength. Set to premiere this fall, Sonali Skandan will discuss and share excerpts from this poignant new work in progress.