Chhandam Chitresh Das Dance Company

Chitresh Das Dance Company (San Francisco, CA) – Project; $25,000/1; 63% of project budget The vision of the Chhandam Chitresh Das Dance Company (CCDDC) has been, since 1980, to produce, increase awareness of, and teach the traditional North Indian classical Kathak dance, recognized by its representation of both Hindu and Muslim culture. Through performances, national and international touring, an arts education program that reaches 6,000 K-12 children, and the largest Indian classical dance school in North America, CCDDC founder Pandit Chitresh Das and his organization strive to preserve a classical art form, both within the Bay Area’s South Asian population, and across cultural groups. As an outcome of its current strategic planning process, supported by Hewlett’s Organizational Effectiveness Program, CCDDC recognizes the need to communicate its goals to its constituents, including audiences and donors. This is particularly important for culturally-specific organizations; there are currently no established models for creating an individual donor plan for immigrant communities. Support from Hewlett will enable CCDDC to develop a plan for communications, strategy and marketing as a logical and crucial next step in its strategic overview.

Chhandam Chitresh Das Dance Company produces traditional, innovative, and collaborative works of North Indian classical kathak dance, recognized by its representation of both Hindu and Muslim culture. Through Bay Area performances, national and international tours, an arts education program that reaches 6,000 K-12 children, and the largest Indian classical dance school in North America, founder Pandit Chitresh Das and his organization strive to preserve a classical art form, engaging both the Bay Area’s South Asian population and other cultural groups.