THE CONSERVATORY
Train with Purpose, Nurture the Passion, Inspire the Art
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Under the Artistic Direction of Keerthi Sekar
A transformative artistic experience awaits you
Welcome to The Conservatory by Culturally Arts Collective! We are a premiere online network for live, quality performing arts instruction for all ages and levels. All classes are completely free to advocate for arts accessibility, representation, and inclusivity regardless of geography or socioeconomics.
Core Values
Core Values
Mission Statement
Train with Purpose, Nurture the Passion, Inspire the Art
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Just like Culturally Arts Collective, The Conservatory for Performing Arts aims to make performing arts accessible to anyone who wants to learn how to dance. We work to ensure the dance is taught at the highest quality so everyone, no matter what type of community you are a part of, can get equal access to proper technique, style, and outlook to the styles we teach.
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A message from our Artistic Director:
Community
The conservatory builds meaningful relationships with the community in order to advocate for the arts. We hope to create sustainable relationships between instructors and students to increase the passion and awareness for dance and performing arts.
Representation
Just like our instructors and staff, we aim to represent various types of communities to break the stigma of elitism that classical dance forms carry. We work hard to make sure everyone interested in dance is represented and given ample opportunities to pursue their passions in dance.
Connection
We connect with communities all around the world to ensure everyone has access to a variety of dance styles. Through community outreach and building our educational library, we connect with people to strengthen the impact dance can have with communities around the world.
Program Offerings
The Conservatory
Open registration available to any age or nationality. Weekly Zoom classes with set registrations and a set studio schedule. All classes are free and include an end-of-season recital.
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School Outreach
School partnerships to get student cohorts for cohort classes. Please contact Keerthi Sekar at keerthi.culturally@gmail.com to coordinate cohort classes. All cohort programs are free to your institution.
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Community Outreach
Working with community organizations for specialized cohort classes and outreach performances. Please contact Keerthi Sekar at keerthi.culturally@gmail.com to coordinate cohort classes or schedule a virtual performance for your event or organization. All outreach programs are free to your institution.
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CAC Education
Our education library offers free online courses and resources.
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Class Types
Open Enrollment
Free, but start out at a level based on dancers' experience. Just sign up for any class to get started! At the end of the term, students can get verification to move to the next level.
Cohorts
Cohort classes are available for a personalized instruction slot serving your institution only. Only your students will be on that Zoom session; there will be no public registration for your cohort's slot. This is great for schools, community centers, teen/youth programs, respite centers, senior centers/nursing homes, hospitals, events, and more. You coordinate the time and date, and we will match you with an available teacher. Through special request - please contact Tessa Gourdin at tessa.culturally@gmail.com or Keerthi Sekar at keerthi.culturally@gmail.com for more information and logistics.
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Private Lessons
Private lessons can be scheduled to work on any style, technique, choreography, audition prep, and more. They can be with the instructor of your choosing. Please contact Tessa Gourdin or Keerthi Sekar to schedule. Private lesson rate: $15/30 min, $25/1 hour, $60/2 hours; Choreography rate: $200/solo, $100/person for duets/trios, $75/person for groups
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Styles Offered
BALLET
Ballet classes are the foundation for training and focus on developing a solid ballet technique with emphasis on understanding correct body placement, proper use of turn out, coordination of the upper body (epaulement), and use of arms (port de bras). Ballet follows our faculty developed level 1-5 curriculum rooted in the Royal Academy of Dance (English technique) and Vaganova (Russian technique).
CONTEMPORARY
Contemporary dance encourages dancers to be versatile in their expressions, being able to portray a wide array of movement styles and emotion. It focuses on spacial and body awareness, use of body weight, floor work, leaps, turns, efficiency of muscle usage, and safe body alignment. Instructors draw from the technique schools of Cunningham, Horton, Limon, and Graham.
JAZZ
Jazz class will focus on learning proper dance technique such as isolations of the body, improving performance quality and developing complex rhythms and patterns. Students will be exposed to various styles of jazz such as Broadway, Street and Contemporary to help develop a well rounded dancer. This class focuses on turns, leaps, and kicks in Fosse, Hubbard, Broadway, and Concert techniques. Jazz prepares necessary technique for competitive dance teams.
HIP HOP
Hip hop is a high-energy class that infuses the latest styles of street dancing, breaking, popping, and locking. Classes will encourage students to step outside of the box by bringing their own individual style and personality to the movements.
BHARATANATYAM
Bharatanatyam is an Indian classical dance that originated in the modern-day region of Tamil Nadu. A Bharatanatyam dancer needs to remember different movements, steps, the rhythm and beats and expressions while performing. Ultimately Bharatanatyam helps in improving the mental skills, concentration and mental alertness.
Virtual Open Enrollment Studio Schedule
Meet the Team
Keerthi Sekar
Artistic Director
Keerthi Sekar has a background in Computer Engineering with a focus in Systems Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. While she pursues her STEM passions, she also grows her love for dance. She is classically trained in Bharatanatyam, a South Indian style traditional dance form, under the tutelage of Anupama Mirle, the founder of Nrityarpana School of Performing Arts. Keerthi advocates for equal access and representation to diverse styles of dance and through the CAC conservatory, she hopes she can bring resources to those who want to dance and love the world of performing arts.​
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Tessa Gourdin
Ballet Mistress, Instructor
Tessa is from Mauritius and has been dancing ballet for 20 years. After passing all the RAD grades from 1 to 8, she decided to make her passion her job. Consequently, she studied with Canada’s National Academy Of Dance Education, passed her dance teacher training with distinction and is now a certified dance teacher. She is currently teaching in a dance studio and is also working as a gymnastic assistant coach in a gymnastic center. Moreover, Tessa regurlarly takes part in competition (International dance Talent Competition Italy), workshops (Elite Ballet Worshop Bucharest / Renversé Ballet) and shows (Culturally / Renversé Ballet / Mauritius’ independance day ceremony) where she has the occasion of dancing with professionals.
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Isabell Sliwinski
Ballet Instructor
Isabell has been a lifelong artist with her primary artistic focus as a dancer and award-winning choreographer. Her repetoire includes Juliet in Romeo and Juliet; Lilac Fairy and Candide Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty; Sugarplum Fairy, Waltz of the Flowers Soloist, Ballerina Doll, Lead Mirliton, Spanish Soloist, Waltz of the Snowflakes, Party Scene, and Lead Mouse in The Nutcracker; corps de ballet in Coppelia and Giselle; and various contemporary works. Isabell was her high school dance team captain for four years and has taught all dance styles for seven years. Her collegiate background is in business entrepreneurship and international relations.
Margaux L'Italien
Hip Hop Instructor
Margaux L’Italien was born in Washington, DC, and began her dance studies at the Metropolitan School of the Arts in Alexandria, VA. She studies at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology, where she will study the performing arts as part of the class of 2026. She currently trains in ballet, pointe, jazz, hip hop, tap, and musical theater at the Tricia Sloan Dance Center. In 2021-2022, she has also participated as a Junior Professional Dancer for the Philadelphia Wings Pro Lacrosse Team.
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Aishani Kamath
Bharatanatyam Instructor
Aishani Kamath studies at William Mason High School. After high school, she aspires to major in architecture during college. Sshe pursues Bharatanatyam dance] under the tutelage of Anupama Mirle, the founder of Nrityarpana School of Performing Arts. Aishani has grown to have a passion for dance through the artistic elements of the style, and enjoys the many opportunities she gets out of training as a dancer. Although she grew up in the US, Aishani still found a love for Indian culture through dance and other arts; she loves learning all styles of art.
Anika Nattamai
Bharatanatyam Instructor
Anika Nattamai studies at Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has been learning Bharthanatyam since she was 6 under the tutelage of Smt. Anupama Mirle, the director of Nrityarpana School of Performing Arts. Anika explores her cultural background not only through dance but also through Indian Classical Carnatic Singing. Dance has helped her learn about the spiritual and cultural values of India and where her heritage is from. Her goal is to portray this wonderful art form and share the intricacies of Bharatanatyam.
Past Programming
Ballet Beyond Boundaries
Spring / Summer 2021 partnership cohort
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SUCCESS STORY:
CAC offered virtual ballet classes taught by a professional dancer for a cohort of children in Colombia. Students had no prior dance experience, and through a three month period, advanced from a level 1 ballet syllabus to a level 2 or 3. The children had the opportunity to perform excerpts from Swan Lake at the end of quarter recital via Zoom for an international audience.
Testimonials
I would like to thank culturally for the great opportunity given to my daughter in the ballet courses. She has found a welcoming environment into ballet classes, where she has successfully integrated making great progress in dance. From Colombia our gratitude.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How are you able to offer FREE complex personalized programs?​​
A: Our programs are virtually designed by a team of staff and volunteers who are passionate arts advocates and wish to provide undeserved communities with the best possible resources. Community impact is our primary concern; we want to provide tangible reform for arts accessibility and inclusivity. Support from members, international volunteers, and simply spreading the word helps keep our initiatives free to promote social change through the arts! Culturally Arts Collective's main purpose is to eliminate the stigmas of elitism and exclusivity in the arts and provide opportunities for students to be supported in their creative passions.
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2: Who can join the conservatory?
A: Anyone really! From people who hope to get started in a style they've always wanted to try to trained dancers looking to explore a different dance style, the conservatory is open to all! The unique factor of our conservatory is that we offer quality classes by trained individuals for free.
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3: Have a question?
A: Contact Artistic Director Keerthi Sekar at keerthi.culturally@gmail.com for program inquires or curiculum inquires.