Local officials joined some regional arts and cultural groups Saturday for the official grand opening of the L.A. Dance Synergy nonprofit organization that has now officially become part of a growing SoCal cultural movement.
Several key officials, including Cypress Council member David Burke, joined by his family, and well-known philanthropists and artic expression enthusiasts Harish Murty and Ramy Harishankar joined about 200 others for the “High Tea” event.
Dr. Malini Nagpal, of Cypress and Dr. Bhairavi Kumar, Ph.D., of Walnut, recently announced that they have formed LA Dance Synergy, (LADS), a nonprofit organization that plans to offer lessons in South Asian dances like Kathak, one of nine classical Indian dance forms.
However, during their official grand opening on Saturday, Dr. Nagpal, who is Vice President of LADS, said dance movement therapy in addition to their more traditional activities.
Nagpal, who has been awarded a Ph.D. in Industrial / Organizational psychology, she said Saturday that her undergrad degree is in psychology and her Master’s Degree is in Dance / Movement Therapy (DMT), said LADS Board Member Rutuja Sabnis in introducing Nagpal,
“This is something I’ve dreamed about for a very long time,” said Nagpal.
“I started learning Kathak when I was 11 or 12,” said Nagpal,” said Nagpal. “Ever since then, my journey in what it means to be a dancer and what it means to dance,” she added.
“Dance for me, personally, was never about performance, although that was a wonderful opportunity of building confidence and getting to know who I am as a human being,” she said.
Nagpal said that, even as she learned to Kathak dance as a younger person, I had no idea that a concept or an approach existed for dance movement therapy,”
I began learning Kathak from Bhairavi in the early 90’s. While Nagpal ventured off into the clinical and corporate world, Kumar opened dance schools and began teaching Kathak to what became a large universe of students and former students.
Many of Kumar’s former students, now mothers themselves, provided entertainment throughout the afternoon of traditional Kathak dances, including their ceremonial costuming.
“We always wanted to combine the two, dance movement therapy and Kathak,” said Nagpal.
Nagpal explained that “85% of what we express is through body movement. However, most people spend 95-100% of their time preparing to express themselves verbally. Therefore, spending 95-100% of their time to only being 15-20% effective.” she said.
“Now, imagine combining non-verbal communicative efficiency and creativity inherent in dance with the depth of psycho-neurological processes – an approach where every movement is a pathway to knowing the self, healing the body by connecting the mind and the soul.,” she asked. Beneath that surface is a “hidden language that connects us to each other, and creates healthy communities,” said Nagpal.
“As the first South Asian Dance/Movement Therapist, I have experienced hundreds and hundreds of children and adults who cannot connect, form connection and emotional bonds,” she said.
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Despite its fragile familiarity with dance movement therapy, Nagpal said DMT has been around since the 1940s.
According to the American Dance Therapy Association, DMT is defined as a psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote the emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual, she said.
“In simpler terms, it’s a powerful tool that uses movement to enhance and heal every aspect of our being,” said Nagpal.
“Studies have shown that DMT can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety while improving overall quality of life, cognitive abilities and motor skills,” she added.“We need your support to advance this cause,” Nagpal said, noting that “to dance is to heal, to grow and connect.”
Kumar she said was passionate about her life’s mission to advance Kathak dance education.
“We are dedicated to building bridges between diverse dance forms,” said Kumar, world views and cultural value systems,” said Kumar. “We want to create a space where artistic expression meets human connection,” she added.
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“On a mental level, dance engages the mind, sharpens focus, enhances cognitive skills and build resilience, encourages problem-solving and creativity,” said Kumar.
In addition, it promotes “mental clarity and helps individuals navigate challenges with greater confidence.
Going forward, said Kumar, her goal was “to create a lasting impact, not only for the individuals involved but also for entire communities.”
“We envision a world where everyone, regardless of background, has access to the joy and healing that dance can provide,” said Kumar. “Our goal is to bring the esthetic of Kathak dance to the forefront of human experience becoming the world’s most inclusive and innovative dance organization.
Eventually, she said, the nonprofit plans to offer “opportunities to all individuals to engage with the transformative power of dance, we believe we can foster greater cultural understanding, wellness and unity.”
“Our mission, she said, is to provide excellence in culturally informed dance education and performance by engaging in collaborative choreography and productions with artists, musicians, and instructors across the globe, expanding outreach programs that offer dance education to underserved communities and at risk individuals of all ages and abilities,” said Kumar.
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In addition to Nagpal, as the VP, Kumar also serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The Board includes: 1) Bhairavi P. Kumar, Ph.D., CEO, LA Dance Synergy 2) Malini Nagpal, Ph.D., BC-DMT, VP, LA Dance Synergy 3) Paresh Kumar, DDS, Treasurer, LA Dance Synergy 4) Renu Chokshi, Secretary, LA Dance Synergy 5) AnnaMarie Cohen, Member.
The Advisory Board includes Deeya Kumar, DO Kesar Patel Ankita Bordoloi Gurunath Shikha Kumar, OT Manasi Kakare, BE, MBA Rutuja Sabnis.