Soorya Foundation has four main areas of programming: Original Works, Cultural Organizing, Presenting, Training.
CURATOR: With Grants and awards from the National Endowment for the arts, LA city, county and other supporters, we host established dance companies and dancers in annual fests, and young dancers at Youth Fests. We curate our annual LOS ANGELES INDIAN DANCE FEST-LAIDF a FREE annual event since 2018 and other cultural events since 2012. As part of HONORING-OUR-GURU Series, we honor dance gurus for their lifetime achievement and contribution to Indian Dance in USA.
OUR PRODUCTIONS are based on the technique of Bharatanatyam, portray Indian themes and heritage that glorify female power, exemplify our values and approach towards immigration, women’s discrimination, liberation, and pollution of natural resources. Our works AAPAHA, SRICHAKRA, have illustrated our tenets of using traditional dance for a contemporary presentation.
AMMA a dance production featuring a 21st century “work from home” mother in comparison with the Hindu tradition mother goddess, “Devi” was featured at the South Arts’ FITS conference in Alabama in ’23.
AS PERFORMERS we have performed at National Dance fests in AL, GA, NY, NJ, PA, CA, UT, MO, TX, and India.
COVID: In 20-21 we curated 9 dance festivals, featuring 75+ dancers and 8 dance companies.
COMMUNITY: In 2020, Soorya Dancers teamed up with LA artists in a virtual festival and raised $9000 for Shankara Eye foundation and $13000 for UNITED WAY for COVID relief.
TRAINING: Students of all ages and levels receive training in Bharatanatyam and Music.
While our work is firmly grounded in Bharatanatyam, collaboration is crucial to our artistic process. We firmly believe that diversity of thought, cultural/creative exchanges advance and sustain our art. We hope to bring together artists and communities across race, ethnicity, and religion.