Education
Dr. Kaustavi Sarkar's community-engaged research led to the creation of, “Dance and Community Research Institute,” (dNc) to bring artists, educators, and scholars together to actively work towards systemic change. dNc is dedicated to promoting the study, practice, and appreciation of dance as an art form while fostering research and community engagement. It strives to provide a collaborative environment for scholars, artists, and communities to explore, create, and connect.
Convened by Kaustavi Sarkar at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Department of Dance—it serves as a vibrant hub where artists, educators, and scholars collaborate to rethink and strengthen dance teaching, learning, and creativity across cultural contexts. By fostering research, dialogue, and community-engaged practice, the institute supports systemic change in dance education and creates pathways for Indian classical and diasporic dance forms to thrive within broader educational landscapes. It champions culturally grounded pedagogy, expands access to scholarship and performance exchange, and nurtures networks that connect diasporic communities with academic resources, strengthening both artistic identity and educational excellence in dance across the Indian diaspora and beyond.
Why dNc?
What started with community gatherings on a weekly basis with local South Asian diasporic K12 students has emerged as a service organization with a portfolio across performance, education, and scholarship. We understand the particular ecosystem of Indian dance that combines dance, music, and theatre. Keeping that goal in mind, we serve students by validating their training in Indian arts through honor society memberships and annual evaluation. We are recognized by National Dance Education Organization, National Association of Music Education, and Thespians Honor Society (under review). Apart from serving students, we also create opportunities to connect with the mainstream for scholars, educators, and artists.
Play-Circle
Play Circle is the Dance and Community Research Institute’s (dNc) creative learning hub for primary school learners, where dance becomes both a joyful activity and a structured pathway for growth. Inspired by mastery-based models like Kumon and Mathnasium, Play Circle is designed to help children build skills step by step, through consistent practice, exploration, and play.
Honors Program
dNc is largely a youth convention conceived, organized, and led by youth leveraging arts education towards leadership. Providing leadership opportunities as well as academic foresight, this institute empowers artists working within South Asian aesthetics. dNc provides a K12 Honors Program for Indian Music and Dance Education within the U.S. diaspora. It is accredited as dNc Scouts and Guides and dNcCHORUS by "National Dance Education Organization" and National Association of Music Education respectively. It is a distinguished academic and artistic pathway designed for highly motivated students seeking to deepen their understanding of dance within diverse cultural contexts. This program integrates rigorous coursework in dance theory, history, pedagogy, and performance with a strong emphasis on the unique experiences of diaspora communities in the United States. Students will engage with a broad spectrum of dance forms, from traditional and contemporary genres to regional dance practices that reflect the varied cultural heritages of the South Asian diaspora.
Fellows Program/ Professional Development
dNc Fellowship is programming tailored for adult beginners as well as professional with a range of offering from training, development, and leadership opportunities. Whether you are an adult beginner or a seasoned dancer hoping to professionalize your training, dNc has created performance, teaching, and research pathways. For educators, we provide research and writing options and opportunities for growth through professional development hours (PDHs). For professional artists, we have a Concepts of Performance Certification equivalent to a Graduate Level Certificate with five semesters worth coursework. We serve two large goals through this program: 1. provide Indian dance education modules and professional development opportunities; 2. help rethink dance pedagogy in accordance with arts education standards in the U.S.
dNc Campaign
STEP ONE: ELIGIBILITY ASSESSMENT
SIGN-UP (ONLINE) | SIGN-UP (IN-PERSON CHARLOTTE) | SIGN-UP (IN-PERSON NEW JERSEY)
STEP TWO: CHAPTER INVITATION
STEP THREE: FORMAL INDUCTION