Roshni

What Roshni does

Roshni is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded on November 8, 2016 by Deepali in Aurora, Colorado. The organization uses dance, theatre, storytelling, and music as tools to promote empathy and inclusivity, serving underserved populations including refugees, immigrants, people with disabilities, seniors, and homeless individuals. Its core programs include New American Stories (K-12 youth creating original plays over 24 weeks), I ARISE (women from diverse backgrounds creating plays from life experiences), Sew and Sing (vocational and language skills for refugee/immigrant mothers), Chance on Dance (community dance classes), Open Mic at the Open Space, The Empathy Project (K-12 touring performance), and The Monkey Mind (interactive children's play). The annual New American Arts Festival, now in its 6th edition (September 5-20, 2026), is its flagship event, and Route 15, debuting September 6, 2026, marks its first immersive theatre production.

The organization's core technology is human-delivered performing arts education and production — there is no software platform, digital product, or technology stack beyond a Wix-based website, social media presence, and standard email/newsletter tools. Programs are delivered at the Roshni Healing Arts Sanctuary venue at 9709 E Colfax Ave in Aurora and through community partner locations including House of Friendship, public schools, Red Rocks Community College, and Vintage Theatre.

Roshni's revenue model is a hybrid typical of small performing arts nonprofits: donations and charitable contributions (the primary funding source as a 501(c)(3)), supplemented by ticket sales for theatrical productions and events ($15-$25 general admission with steep discounts and a $1 minimum for those in need), and modest class/workshop fees ($15 for drop-in dance classes, some programs free). The organization has 1-10 employees, a board of directors (President Alice Moy, Secretary Abby Hoke, Treasurer Kirit Merchant, and additional members), and a creative team drawn partly from the communities it serves. Marketing relies on community word-of-mouth, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and newsletter; geographic scope is regional, limited to Aurora and the greater Denver metro area.

Name

Roshni

Legal name

Roshni

Website

https://roshniislight.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Roshni is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 in Aurora, Colorado that uses performing arts (dance, theatre, storytelling, music) to promote empathy and inclusivity for refugees, immigrants, people with disabilities, seniors, and homeless individuals, funded primarily through donations and supplemented by ticket and class revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Dance Companies (711120), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Community performing arts
• Arts education programs
• Cultural inclusion services
• Refugee arts programming
• Immersive theatre productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Aurora

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Roshni relies on donations from individuals and organizations to fund operations and programs.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for theatrical productions, performances, and events including Route 15 immersive theatre, dance classes, and festival events.
3. Class and Workshop Fees: Drop-in fees for dance classes such as breakdance sessions at $15 per class.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Roshni is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers performing arts education, workshops, and original theatrical productions targeted at underserved communities in Aurora, Colorado — including refugees, immigrants, people with disabilities, seniors, and homeless individuals. Its core offerings span weekly community programs (e.g., New American Stories, I ARISE, Sew and Sing, Chance on Dance, Open Mic, The Empathy Project), the annual New American Arts Festival, and immersive theatre productions such as Route 15, all delivered live at the Healing Arts Sanctuary and partner venues.

Product overview

Roshni is a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts organization that offers a portfolio of community programs and productions. The core offerings include youth programs (New American Stories, The Empathy Project), women's empowerment programs (I ARISE, Sew and Sing), recreational dance classes (Chance on Dance, Freestyle Fridays, Breakdance classes), and community gatherings (Open Mic at the Open Space). The flagship annual event is the New American Arts Festival (NAAF), now in its 6th edition. The organization also produces immersive theatre productions, with Route 15 being their first major theatrical production debuting in September 2026. All programs are delivered at the Roshni Healing Arts Sanctuary in Aurora, Colorado, and focus on serving refugees, immigrants, people with disabilities, seniors, and homeless populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Roshni Healing Arts Sanctuary: The physical venue at 9709 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010 where Roshni conducts its programs and events.
• New American Arts Festival (NAAF)

Products and services

• New American Stories A weekly performing arts program for underserved children and youth from K-12 grades, where participants create original plays using dance, theatre, storytelling, and music over a 24-week curriculum.
• I ARISE A weekly women's program that brings together women from diverse backgrounds to create short plays based on their life experiences, promoting resilience and empathy.
• Sew and Sing A program for stay-home refugee and immigrant mothers where they learn sewing skills, practice spoken English, and learn to sing.
• Chance on Dance Free dance classes held every Wednesday and Friday 5-6pm, providing opportunities for community connection through dance.
• Open Mic at the Open Space Monthly open mic series held at House of Friendship for mingling, sharing, connecting, and creating new friendships in a potluck-style setting.
• The Empathy Project A dance-based performance program for K-12 students that uses rhythm and movement to foster confidence, encourage dialogue, and build empathy.
• The Monkey Mind An interactive comedy play for children aged 5-100 that explores socio-emotional responses to everyday situations through a story about animals and a mischievous monkey.
• New American Arts Festival (NAAF) An annual multi-day arts festival celebrating diverse cultural expressions, featuring performances, dance, and artistic showcases. The 6th edition is scheduled for September 5-20, 2026.
• Route 15 Roshni's first immersive theatre production featuring world dances, comedy, and multidisciplinary arts, telling stories of community connection and tribute to inspiring heroes. Premiering September 6, 2026 at the Roshni Healing Arts Sanctuary.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ participants taught dance in Canada before moving to Colorado
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Colorado HumanitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogo appears in acknowledgments. Colorado Humanities supports cultural and educational programs that connect communities through the humanities.
• Eye for Prevention/Denver HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Diwali event to provide overdose prevention and harm reduction tools and resources to the community. Joint programming to uplift youth leadership and talent through cultural celebration.
• House of FriendshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts monthly Open Mic series at their location. Community partner providing space for Roshni's community programming initiatives.
• Vintage TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on 'Mountains Made for Us' - first theatre production together, demonstrating partnership in theatrical production.
• Red Rocks Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlaywright Ammon Underhill worked with their Gateway program on SCARs project, writing and directing 'Re-Membered' show that will tour Colorado cities.
• Davis Contemporary Dance CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnsemble member Angela Gumieniak also performs with Davis Contemporary Dance Company, creating artistic connections.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Major national nonprofit theatre with extensive new-play development, education programs, and community engagement. Comparable as a large-scale performing arts nonprofit producing original work, but with far broader commercial reach than Roshni.
• Atlantic Theater Company: Off-Broadway nonprofit developing and producing original new plays with a strong education program for underserved students. Comparable as a performing arts nonprofit combining new-play creation with community education.
• New Victory Theater: NYC's premier performing arts venue dedicated to kids and families, with extensive school touring and education programs. Comparable mission around arts access for young audiences, especially underserved K-12 populations.
• Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Colorado's largest performing arts nonprofit, operating multiple venues and education programs. Comparable as a regional arts anchor with education/outreach arms; Roshni represents the specialized community-roots counterpart in the Denver ecosystem.

Direct peers

• The Civilians: NYC-based nonprofit theatre company creating new plays based on real interviews with people from diverse communities. Closely parallels Roshni's technique of helping marginalized individuals tell their own stories through documentary-style performance.
• La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club: Legendary NYC nonprofit producing original experimental theatre rooted in community and cross-cultural storytelling. Comparable to Roshni because both are mission-driven performing arts nonprofits prioritizing underrepresented cultural voices over commercial appeal.
• Su Teatro Cultural & Performing Arts Center: Denver-based Chicano performing arts and cultural nonprofit producing original theatre and community programs for Latino audiences. Highly comparable: same mission (arts as cultural empowerment), same Denver-metro geography, and a comparable nonprofit operation model focused on underrepresented voices.

Others

• National New Play Network: Alliance of nonprofit theatres collaborating on new-play development. While not a producing company itself, it is comparable to Roshni's infrastructure partners for original works like The Queen, Mountains Made for Us, and Route 15.
• International Rescue Committee (Arts & Culture Programs): Large refugee-resettlement nonprofit with cultural integration programming across multiple US cities. Thematically comparable given overlapping audiences (refugees, immigrants) and integration-via-culture mission, though not a theatre producer.

Regional players

• Curious Theatre Company: Denver-based regional theatre producing contemporary plays on social justice themes. Comparable as a Denver-metro performing arts nonprofit with similar programming scale, though less focused on refugee/immigrant-specific community arts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWnHLR3se7v9hVWeTakQ6KQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Roshnilightingtheway
• Instagraminstagram.com/Roshnilightingtheway

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Roshni