About Us
Jiva is The College of New Jersey’s premier semi-classical Indian dance team. “Jiva” in Sanskrit refers to the immortal essence of any living organism. For us, a part of this immortal essence manifests itself in the appreciation and practice of classical Indian dance. There are several types of classical Indian dance that include Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, and Kathak. These dance styles were developed and inspired by Hindu mythology and their original purpose was to serve as devotional pieces to Hindu gods and goddesses. These forms of storytelling require a combination of intricate eye and neck movements, elaborate facial expressions, complex footwork, precise hand gestures, and sculpturesque poses to properly convey the purpose of the dance.
The members of TCNJ Jiva are filled to the brim with dedication, enthusiasm, talent, and passion for dance. They are eagerly looking forward to opportunities to showcase that even though these dance forms originated over 2000 years ago, they are still relevant in contemporary culture.
The members of TCNJ Jiva are filled to the brim with dedication, enthusiasm, talent, and passion for dance. They are eagerly looking forward to opportunities to showcase that even though these dance forms originated over 2000 years ago, they are still relevant in contemporary culture.
Our Mission
Our goal in forming TCNJ Jiva is to preserve and perpetuate the traditional art form of classical Indian dance. This group is specifically geared towards bringing those with classical Indian dance training together with those who possess an interest in both learning and performing. The members of Jiva aim to further the understanding and appreciation of this beautiful and traditional Indian art form, while promoting cultural diversity on the TCNJ campus.