Navatman

What Navatman does

Navatman is a New York City-based non-profit performing arts organization founded in 2011 that delivers Indian classical dance and music education across multiple formats. Its core offerings include semester-based classes in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Carnatic vocals across age tiers (Kids 5-8, Kids 8-12, Junior Troupe, Professional Track, and Adults), a professional Dance Company available for external bookings, and a digital Learn at Home Library built on uscreen.io that streams curriculums, choreography, films, and music content globally. The organization operates from a single physical studio at 38W 32nd Street in Koreatown, NYC, and runs ticketed live performances through Thundertix, the annual Drive East festival (which has expanded from NYC to San Francisco), a multi-year Mahabharata film and theater project, summer camps and intensives, Student Sundays showcases, and a podcast ("Speaking of Indian Arts"). Revenue comes from a diversified mix of tuition and class subscriptions, ticketed events (with tickets starting from $38), streaming subscriptions, studio rentals, summer camp registrations, and tax-deductible donations. Its customer base spans 500+ students trained over its history, plus an audience of arts enthusiasts who attend performances and engage with the brand via email, social media, word-of-mouth, and cross-cultural partnerships—most notably a 2024 alliance with Baila Society that produced the "Roots of Resilience" (2025) and "When the Sun Rises" (2026) collaborations. Navatman is led by co-founders Sahasra Sambamoorthi and Sridhar Shanmugam, supported by a distinguished faculty including Prashant Shah (Kathak department head, Sangeet Natak Akademi Yuva Puraskar recipient), and operates as a non-profit with no disclosed outside investors or parent company.

Name

Navatman

Legal name

Navatman

Website

https://navatman.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Navatman is a NYC-based non-profit performing arts organization that teaches Indian classical dance (Bharatanatyam, Kathak) and Carnatic music to students of all ages, produces live performances and the Drive East festival, and operates a digital streaming library serving a community of 500+ students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Dance Companies (711120), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD), Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions) (MPAGAOAJ)

Keywords

• Indian classical dance
• Bharatanatyam instruction
• Kathak classes
• Carnatic music training
• Performing arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Dance and Music Classes: Regular semester-based classes for Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Carnatic music for students of all ages and levels, including adults and children.
2. Performance Events: Ticketed live performances and shows in NYC featuring the Navatman Dance Company and visiting artists, with tickets starting from $38.
3. Learn at Home Library: Online video streaming platform offering courses, choreography, and practice videos for Bharatanatyam and Kathak.
4. Summer Camp and Intensives: Summer camp programs for kids and adults, with early registration discounts available.
5. Studio Rentals: The organization rents out its studio space to external groups and individuals.
6. Donations: Navatman accepts donations to support the organization and its mission, particularly during challenging periods for arts funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Navatman is an NYC-based nonprofit arts organization that delivers Indian classical dance (Bharatanatyam and Kathak) and music (Carnatic vocals) education through in-person classes, a digital Learn at Home Library, summer camps, and intensives. It also operates the professional Navatman Dance Company for performances and bookings, produces ticketed live events and the annual Drive East festival, and is developing a multi-part Mahabharata theatrical film project.

Product overview

Navatman is an Indian arts organization in NYC operating as a unified offering of educational programs, performance companies, and cultural events. The core products include the School (in-person and online classes for Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Carnatic vocals for all ages), the professional Navatman Dance Company (available for bookings), and the Learn at Home Library (digital video platform). Major programming includes the annual Drive East Festival, the multi-year Mahabharata film/theater project, Summer Camps and Intensives, Student Sundays showcases, and the Navatman Podcast. A significant partnership with Baila Society produces collaborative performances combining Indian and Afro-Latinx dance traditions. The Philosophy Blogs/Journal provides intellectual content exploring arts and community themes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Navatman School In-person and online semester-based classes teaching Indian classical dance forms (Bharatanatyam, Kathak) and Carnatic music/vocals for students of all ages and skill levels, from children as young as 4 to adults, including a Professional Track for serious dancers.
• Navatman Dance Company A professional Bharatanatyam and Kathak dance company led by Artistic Director Sahasra Sambamoorthi, available for bookings at weddings, gallery performances, cultural events, performance halls, and dance festivals.
• Learn at Home Library Digital video streaming platform offering Bharatanatyam and Kathak curriculums, films, shows, choreographies, and music accessible online for at-home practice and continued learning, hosted on uscreen.io.
• Drive East Festival Annual week-long Indian classical arts festival showcasing diverse Indian dance and music, originally held in NYC and expanded to San Francisco, featuring artists from around the world.
• The Mahabharata Production A 10-year multi-part film and theater project recreating the Indian epic Mahabharata through Indian arts and spoken English verses, presented as a 3-part series for both theater and film.
• Summer Camp and Summer Intensives Intensive programs for adults, teens, and children ages 8+ covering Kathak, Bharatanatyam, vocals, expressions, storytelling, and body conditioning, held annually in August with full-day or half-day options.
• Student Sundays Regular monthly student showcase events featuring performances by Navatman students to demonstrate skills and provide performance experience.
• When the Sun Rises (Baila Society x Navatman Production) Collaborative ticketed production combining salsa, Latin Hustle, Bharatanatyam, and Kathak under one original live musical score, scheduled for June 26-28, 2026 at Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater in NYC, with tickets starting from $38.
• Studio Rentals Rental of the Navatman studio space in NYC to external groups and individuals for their own events and practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ students trained over the organization's history
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Lulada ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Lulada Club is a salsa ensemble providing the original live musical score for the 'When the Sun Rises' production. The musicians include Andrea Chavarro, Katherine Ocampo, Daniela Serna, Manual Marquez, Ayamey Bell Torriente, and Juan Pulido, collaborating with Indian musicians Radhika Iyer, Shraman Sen, and Sanjay Natesan to create a newly composed score combining salsa, Carnatic, and Hindustani traditions.
• Baila SocietyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Baila Society is a women-led Afro-Latinx arts organization (salsa, Latin Hustle, Afro-Cuban) that partnered with Navatman in 2024. Together they produce 'When the Sun Rises' combining salsa, bharatanatyam, and kathak under one original live score. The partnership aims to uplift women-led organizations in the arts, create spaces for communities to feel stable, strong, safe, joyful, and deeply loved, and represents a fusion of two culturally rich traditions under shared artistic direction led by Ahtoy Juliana and Sahasra Sambamoorthi.
• Alvin Ailey Citigroup TheaterminorOthersVenue partner for the 'When the Sun Rises' production, located at 405 West 55th Street (at 9th Avenue), NYC. The 2026 season runs June 26-28 at this prestigious performance venue.
• Baila Society at NavatmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNavatman hosts Baila Society's residency at their studio space, where the organizations work together on programming that brings Afro-Latinx and Indian arts traditions into shared community spaces. This includes philosophy sessions, collaborative performances, and ongoing cultural exchange.
• Physical Therapy & Yoga at NavatmanminorOthersNavatman offers physical therapy and yoga services alongside its dance and music programming, supporting dancer health and wellness as part of its comprehensive approach to arts education.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Leela Dance Collective: A U.S.-based Indian classical dance and music company led by acclaimed artists, offering performances, training, and productions similar to Navatman's combined school-plus-company model. Direct overlap on Bharatanatyam/Kathak-style Indian classical arts programming in a major U.S. city.
• Natya Dance Theatre: A Bharatanatyam-focused dance company and school in Chicago, presenting repertory and producing large-scale thematic productions similar to Navatman's Mahabharata-style original works.
• Baila Society: Women-led Afro-Latinx arts organization and Navatman's 2024 strategic partner for 'When the Sun Rises.' Directly comparable as a community-based dance school and performance ensemble in NYC.
• Sahrdaya Dance Company: Indian dance company producing new choreographic works and providing classical training. Similar in combining a school with a touring/producing dance company.
• Chhandam Dance Company: U.S.-based Indian dance company with a school and performance ensemble producing original works and touring productions. Directly comparable to Navatman Dance Company on Indian classical dance productions and training offerings.
• Nrityagram Dance Ensemble: Internationally renowned Indian classical dance company and school combining rigorous training with a touring ensemble. Direct comparable on the residential-school-plus-company model for Indian classical dance.
• Spanda Dance Company: U.S.-based Indian dance ensemble producing original and repertory works, with school offerings in classical dance. Direct comparable on performing company + education model.

Broad incumbents

• Battery Dance Company: New York-based dance company with extensive education, community programming, and international touring. Comparable on NYC-based school-plus-company structure with a broad arts-education mission.
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Established U.S. modern dance institution with school, company, and community programming. Comparable in offering combined dance education, professional company performances, and venue partnerships — and notably the venue host for Navatman's 2026 production.
• Kalakshetra Foundation: Premier India-based institution for Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music education, where several Navatman-affiliated artists trained. Comparable on conservatory-style training plus performance production.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLWpyQ6rlxU-LP1CpPKyody42qib-M3Kp0
• Xx.com/navatman
• Facebookfacebook.com/navatmaninc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/navatman-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Navatman