Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in India – this festival of lights symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and of knowledge over ignorance.  Through a special dance performance, Sloka will share with the audience Indian culture and tradition.

ABOUT THE PERFORMER (SLOKA IYENGAR, PHD)

Sloka (pronounced “Shloka”) is a neuroscientist and practitioner of Bharatanatyam, passionate about relieving suffering through the sciences and the arts. Her dance practice manifests in three main ways: 1. Continuing to learn Bharatanatyam, music, and Sanskrit from her gurus; 2. Creating works on the convergence of the sciences and the arts; and 3. Creating the foundation to use Bharatanatyam for creative aging.
As a scientist consultant, she works in the fields of mental health, the epilepsies, and palliative care. She teaches at The American Museum of Natural History and St. Joseph’s University.

The CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI) is a transformative incubator that secures two vital yet scarce resources—rehearsal time and performance space—for New York City choreographers and dance companies across the five boroughs. Housed within the City University of New York (CUNY)–the nation’s largest public urban university system–CDI is a residency program that supports local artists, enhances the cultural life and education of college students, and builds new dance audiences at CUNY performing arts centers.

Despite New York City’s status as the dance capital of the United States, rising real estate prices are challenging the city’s ability to serve as a creative incubator, with appropriate dance spaces in waning supply. CDI was developed in response to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s 2010 report, “We Make Do,” which cited how destabilizing the shortage of affordable rehearsal space in New York City is to the dance community. A successful pilot project supporting residencies on four CUNY campuses in 2013, underwritten by the New York Community Trust, led to CDI’s formal launch in 2014. A decade later, CDI has become key player in New York City’s performing arts ecosystem, leading a consortium of 13 CUNY colleges and three arts organizations to host 20+ residencies each year.

The CUNY Dance Initiative receives major support from the Howard Gilman Foundation and Mertz Gilmore Foundation. Additional support is provided by the SHS Foundation, Harkness Foundation for Dance, National Endowment for the Arts, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

This performance at Aaron Davis Hall is made possible with funding from:

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

The National Endowment for the Arts