THE CONSERVATORY
Train with Purpose, Nurture the Passion, Inspire the Art
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
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.
A message from our Artistic Director:
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.
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.
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.
CAC Education
Our education library offers free online courses and resources.
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.
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
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
Past Programming
Ballet Beyond Boundaries
Spring / Summer 2021 partnership cohort
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.
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.
3: Have a question?
A: Contact Artistic Director Keerthi Sekar at keerthi.culturally@gmail.com for program inquires or curiculum inquires.