 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
|
In Hindi, the term “Sapan” means dream. It is also the acronym for the SAPAN Institute. With this in mind, we invite you to explore our dream and live yours by getting involved. The SAPAN Institute – "Dream It. Live It.”
|
| |
|
|
About Us
History | Mission | Vision | Organization | Founders | Board | Press
History
The South Asian Performing Arts Network and Institute is the brainchild of four individuals with a passion for and commitment to the advancement of South Asian performing arts and South Asian performing artists. Having formerly worked together as dancers and directors of an Indian dance company in the DC metro area, the SAPAN Co-founders noticed two major problems in the South Asian performing arts community prompting the development of the SAPAN Institute: (1) there are many organizations dedicated to teaching or performing one type of art but no venue to tie them all together, and (2) there are numerous South Asian performing artists who remain unsupported. Committed to resolving these issues, the Co-founders recognized the need for a far more expansive institution - an institution that provides a universal platform for those highly skilled in different aspects of South Asian performing art to learn from one another and collaborate with each other. Thus, the SAPAN Institute was created.
Mission
The mission of the SAPAN Institute is to provide a leading forum and distinguished network for the global education, collaboration, advancement and celebration of all South Asian performing arts and performing artists. In accordance with this mission, the SAPAN Institute will serve as an institutional nexus for all professional South Asian performing artists to work together to collaboratively advance South Asian performing arts as well as their individual dreams and aspirations.
Vision
The vision of The SAPAN Institute is to establish a non-profit organization that will serve as the premier South Asian performing arts center in the D.C. metropolitan area. With an expansive network of professional Instructors and Resident Artists, the SAPAN Institute will provide a common venue for diverse elements of South Asian performing arts to grow and for diverse South Asian performing artists to realize their potential. In addition to encouraging South Asian performing artists to disseminate, share and build on their existing skill sets, the SAPAN Institute will function as a creative incubator, bringing “the best of the best” together to create innovation in South Asian performing art as we know it.
The Organization:
The SAPAN Institute offers five (5) areas of functional expertise:
Instruction. The SAPAN Institute offers several unique classes in various styles of South Asian performing art including music, dance, and theatre. Classes are available for men and women of all ages. Class instructors are highly trained and experienced performing artists.
Performance. The SAPAN Performance Company enables its Resident Artists to showcase their talent by performing at various public and private events. Individuals with a background or specialized interest in a particular performing art are encouraged to audition to become a Resident Artist on the SAPAN Performance Company.
Production. The SAPAN Production Company focuses on bringing ideas to life, be it the production of a choreographed dance, a musical album, or an entire showcase of performing acts. The Production Company involves people/organizations with an interest in working behind the scenes, including lighting, sound, set design, costume and prop design, ushers, etc.
Artistic Management. The Artistic Management program facilitates career development for SAPAN’s Resident Artists by locating resources and providing artistic opportunities based upon member needs.
Networking. The SAPAN Exchange fosters networking and relationship building within the greater Washington, DC performing arts community through collaborative networking events and a members-only discussion board.
The Co-Founders
Amit Kapoor [see photo & bio]
Through the teaching and guidance of his mother, Amit developed an affinity for performing arts at a young age. His first stage recital was at age 4 when he performed a traditional Indian folk dance to live music. Amit went on to learn other forms of South Asian dance as well as to learn musical instruments such as the tabla and dhol. In college he was part of the first Bhangra team to be established at the University of Virginia known as UVA Di Shaan where they performed at numerous dance competitions throughout the nation. Currently, Amit is a Co-Founder and Director of The SAPAN Institute and hopes to share his passion for the performing arts by leading SAPAN's efforts in artistic instruction. Amit is a Systems Engineer with the Federal Government specializing on issues of national security. He holds a M.S. in Systems Engineering and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering.
Divani Raveena Nadaraja [see photo & bio]
Divani has been an avid dancer all her life. She began her formal training in Bharatanatyam at the young age of 4 under the tutelage of Mythili Kumar of the Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose. With the Abhinaya Dance Company, Divani performed in countless dance dramas and community events. After completing her Arangetram (solo dance recital) in 1996, she continued her Bharatanatyam education in Australia and India, and has since performed solo full-length dance productions internationally. Divani's lifelong connection to dance continued at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was vice-president of PENNaach, the Nation's first collegiate South Asian dance troupe. The troupe specialized in everything from Classical, Garba, Fusion, Dance Dramas, Folk, Bhangra, Hip-Hop, Semi-Classical, and Bollywood. Although the pursuit of a legal education brought her to Washington D.C., it was not long before she was dancing actively with a Virginia based dance company. Alongside dance, Divani is a trained Carnatic (a form of Indian Classical music) singer with over 16 years of experience. As Co-Founder and Director of The SAPAN Institute, Divani intends to bring her keen sense for artistic detail to all of its endeavors. Divani is a practicing civil litigation attorney representing survivors of domestic violence.
Sejal Shah [see photo & bio]
With over 20 years dance experience, Sejal Shah has an eclectic background in various dance forms, including Bharatanatyam (South Indian Classical), various Indian Folk, Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Modern/Lyrical. Prior to co-founding the SAPAN Institute, Sejal developed her experience in performance art through on-going training and on various recognized dance companies, including NASHA (NYU's South Asian Dance Company). In addition, having acted as director of a Virginia-based Indian dance company, Sejal has been teaching South Asian dance in the Washington, DC area for over 2 years. Sejal's choreography and dance style can best be described as innovative and experimental as she strives to push boundaries and people's perceptions of dance. Similarly, as Co-Founder and Director of the SAPAN Performance Company, Sejal seeks to inspire her fellow SAPAN artists to challenge themselves and become artistic leaders, not followers, in the performing arts community. Aside from the SAPAN Institute, Sejal is a practicing attorney and an active leader on a number of bar association committees. She has a wonderful puppy by the name of Molly that takes up much of her "free" time.
Sarika Singh [see photo & bio]
Sarika Singh began learning Bharatanatyam at the age of 6 from Katherine and KP Kunhiraman of Dances of India in Berkeley, California. She performed her Arangetram (solo dance debut) in 2000. For six summers throughout her training, Sarika also attended the Natya-Adyayana-Gurukula (summer dance camp) conducted by the world renowned Dhananjayans. She has performed in multiple venues within California and was a part of the Dhananjayan dance drama, Satya Shivam Sundaram which toured through five cities on the East Coast. Although Bharatanatyam was Sarika’s first exposure to dance, she has since developed a love for other South Asian performing arts by performing with the UC Davis Girls Bhangra Team, Ronak Punjab Ki. She has also used her expressive talent to perform Bollywood film songs at weddings, at the University of Maryland Cultural Shows and a Virginia based dance company. Sarika continues to pursue all forms of dance and has found that it has shaped many other aspects of her professional and personal life. As Co-Founder and Director of The SAPAN Institute, Sarika is excited to promote South Asian Arts and SAPAN Resident Artists to the world.
Professionally, Sarika is a consultant with Universal Consulting Services, specializing in Program Management and IT Strategy.
Board
Prabhu Chandar [see photo & bio]
 |
As an admirer of others, Prabhu Chandar has always tried his best to inspire, entertain, and support lovers of the performing arts, just as other artists have done for him. Fortunate to have the appreciation of music running through his blood, as a gift from his mother and others in the family, Prabhu's experience in the performing arts began modestly within school, temple, and community plays, musicals, and dance productions; progressed through Carnatic vocal training, western choral, pop, and rock vocal performance, as well as piano lessons; and included becoming a singer, director, and one of the lead beatboxer/vocal-percussionists of the University of Maryland award-winning co-ed a cappella group, The Faux Paz. Prabhu is also thankful for having had the opportunity to develop his Bollywood, bhangra, and South Asian folk dancing experience through various performances at weddings, in college, and with many of the current leading dancers of the SAPAN Performance Company. As Senior Advisor to the Founders, Prabhu is honored to be a part of The SAPAN Institute's mission to promote South Asian arts and artists to the world.
|
Press
4/11/2009: Darshan TV
4/16/2009: DCist
|
