Seema Sureshkumar Named a 2024 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship Finalist

The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)/New York Foundation for the Arts  (NYFA) Artists Fellowship Program has recognized Ms. Seema Sureshkumar, an adjunct professor in the College's Department of Visual and Performing Arts, as a finalist in the category of Folk/Traditional Arts. The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship makes unrestricted cash grants of $8,000 to New York State-based artists working in 15 disciplines, recognizing five disciplines per year on a triennial basis. This program is administered by New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), with leadership support from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). Ms. Sureshkumar is an Indian classical dancer who specializes in Kathak dance. As a Kathak guru, she is well-known especially within the Central New York community. She has gone through extensive training in Kathak and Folk dances and competed in various state and national level competitions held across India, winning several accolades. She is also a gold medalist in her post-graduate degree program (Banasthali University, Jaipur, India). She is a recipient of a CNY Arts Education Grant (2021), a CNY SCR Grant (2022) and a NY State Seed Grant (2023).  She has been teaching Introduction to Indian Dance (THR-279-01) at Le Moyne College since 2022. Ms. Sureshkumar is the founder and artistic director of Anjani Dance Academy (ADA) based in Syracuse, NY. ADA is affiliated with ISTD, London and offers international certification in Kathak dance.