Vivarta Arts, a Long Island-based nonprofit dedicated to Indian dance, music, and cultural education, is entering an exciting new chapter with the opening of its expanded studio and event space in Hicksville.
The new facility will serve as a hub for classes, performances, workshops, artist residencies, and community programming, creating new opportunities for cultural engagement across Long Island and the greater New York area.
Preya Patel, a Kathak performer, choreographer, educator, and curator, leads the artistic and educational initiatives of Vivarta Arts.
For founder and Artistic Executive Director Preya Patel, the opening of this space represents the realization of a vision that began many years ago. "When I first started teaching, finding the right space was one of the biggest challenges," Patel said. "I taught in basements, community halls, and wherever I could find room. While I was grateful for those opportunities, there were always limitations and challenges that came with them."
Determined to create a permanent home for her students and the growing community around Indian performing arts, Patel took the leap and secured her own studio space. She shared, “I could envision a place where classes, performances, workshops, and cultural events could all happen under one roof. By God's grace, that vision has finally come to life."
Founded in 2008, Vivarta Arts has spent more than 15 years providing dance education and cultural programming throughout the region. The organization became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2019 and has since built a reputation for combining artistic excellence with community outreach and cultural education.
The new facility, located inside the Broadway Mall, reflects that continued growth. In addition to accommodating an expanding student body, the venue has been designed to host a wide range of cultural events, including Indian classical and contemporary music concerts, dance performances, lecture-demonstrations, workshops, artist residencies, and community gatherings.
Vivarta Arts also plans to bring guest artists from around the world to Long Island, giving local audiences and students direct access to accomplished performers, educators, and cultural practitioners. For many Long Island residents, attending Indian arts performances often requires traveling to Manhattan, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient. The new space aims to bring high-quality cultural programming closer to home while strengthening Long Island's own arts landscape.
Vivarta Arts offers instruction in Kathak, one of India's major classical dance forms, as well as semi-classical, Bollywood, fusion, and folk dance styles.
While the expanded venue creates new possibilities for public programming, education remains at the heart of the organization's mission. Vivarta Arts offers instruction in Kathak, one of India's major classical dance forms, as well as semi-classical, Bollywood, fusion, and folk dance styles. Classes focus on technical training, rhythm, musicality, expression, and stage performance while helping students develop a deeper understanding of the cultural traditions behind the art forms.
Registration is now open for the September term, which will be the first full season based in the new facility. Programs are available for both children and adults, with students currently ranging in age from 5 to 67. The organization welcomes beginners while also providing advanced training for those seeking long-term artistic development.
Students have opportunities to participate in workshops, community performances, and the organization's annual showcase, Tapasya, which celebrates the progress and achievements of dancers across multiple age groups and experience levels.
Beyond its studio programs, Vivarta Arts has become an active presence throughout New York's cultural and educational communities. The organization regularly presents performances, workshops, and educational programs at schools, libraries, festivals, and community events. These initiatives introduce audiences to Indian performing arts while fostering cultural exchange and understanding.
A significant part of this work takes place in schools, where students are introduced to dance through interactive programs that explore movement, history, storytelling, and cultural traditions. By bringing the arts directly into educational settings, Vivarta Arts aims to make cultural learning accessible to a wider audience.
Patel, a Kathak performer, choreographer, educator, and curator, continues to lead the organization's artistic and educational initiatives. In addition to directing Vivarta Arts, she serves as Curator of the Indo-American Arts Council's Erasing Borders Dance Festival, one of North America's premier festivals dedicated to Indian classical dance, and serves on the Flushing Town Hall Artist Grant Panel, helping support and evaluate funding opportunities for artists and cultural organizations. Her work has helped create opportunities for both emerging and established artists while expanding awareness of South Asian arts throughout the region.
As Vivarta Arts prepares for its September season, the expanded facility provides the organization with the capacity to broaden both its educational offerings and public programming. More importantly, it fulfills a long-held dream of creating a dedicated cultural home where artists, students, families, and community members can gather to learn, perform, and celebrate the richness of Indian arts and culture.
Registration for September classes is currently open. Additional information about classes, workshops, performances, and upcoming events can be found through the Vivarta Arts website https://VivartaArts.com or social media channels.
(All photos courtesy: Preya Patel)
