So cool to have performed at a NYPL branch associated with a scientist!
I loved dancing at the Belmont NYPL and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center a few weeks ago. As I visit different library branches in the city, I am humbled and inspired by the local librarians who deeply care about patrons and go above and beyond to make each event successful, engaging, and informative. 

Over the last several years, I have had the chance to work with the following NYPL branches:

• 125th Street Library 
• Allerton Branch
• Baychester Branch 
• Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center
• Epiphany Library
• Fort Washington Branch
• Francis Martin Branch
• Jerome Park Library  
• Kips Bay Branch 
• Morris Park Branch
• Roosevelt Island Library
• Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library
• Westchester Square Library 
• Yorkville Library 

In April 2026, I was at the Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center in the Bronx for a Bharatanatyam demonstration and participatory dance. 
PC: Jalea Thompson

In April 2026, I presented a session on Bharatanatyam and its link with poetry at the Allerton branch of the NYPL in the Bronx.
Some images below (PC: Grace Rosa) 

On April 17, 2026, I conducted a session at the Epiphany Branch of the NYPL, where I shared some science on dance and its impacts on plasticity. I also shared some pieces, and we had a rich discussion afterward. A total of 13 people joined me! 
Image credit: Shannon Alessandroni ​

A few testimonials:

• "Your peacemaking energy is amazing!"
• "The neuroscience of moving from stress to creativity. That sensational Sloka has been a goal since 2013! I took a 9-month program to be a sound and music practitioner, and  ​by chance, I happened to take a tabla workshop. His rhythm was totally impeccable in sync and I was as always too much in head!
• "I just got home, and I can’t stop admiring your interests and dedication. It’s amazing - I am in awe. I will practice the sollakuttu and the "chapu" rhythm with hands and feet."
• From the adult librarian: "Both the patrons and I really enjoyed your presentation and performance. You have incredible charisma AND stamina. Looking forward to the potential to work together in the future, and I will let colleagues know they need to have you at their branches!" 

On April 15th, I was invited to present at the New York Public Library as part of the 2026 World Literature and Arts Festival. The title of the evening was "The Living Library: An Evening of Indian Classical Music & Dance." While it was great to be invited, there were several technical issues that arose during my performance (despite a thorough tech rehearsal). While it was disappointing to work with a mediocre technical team, several things were clear:

• My ability to transition from performance to instruction mode - in the video below and linked here, you will see that from 24.36 to 33.53 min, as the tech team is trying to troubleshoot, I successfully engaged the audience.
  • I talked to participants about the word "Digambar" and the expansiveness of its meanings - from "one who wears the sky or the four directions" to "formless. I asked folks why being formless.  would be significant. They said it could make one invisible; it may show he is not tied to any physicality.  
  • I showed a few gestures, and individuals followed along. 
  • I talked about the symbolic meaning of three eyes and what it may symbolize. Participants mentioned it could be a way to look into the future or the past, or even one's spirit. 
  • Someone asked the essential question of "Why does Shiva dance?" and others talked about tandava and its significance. 
• The testimonials reveal the love and affection the audience has for me and for the art form. I was truly humbled to see familiar faces (many individuals were turned away because of a full house) and new audiences that were totally on my side, rooting for me and my success. 
• It is also clear that people, even without a lot of exposure to Indian dance, can perceive some very important things. For example, the observation that feet are an important part of Bharatanatyam, and the livestream did not capture them. 

Images below (PC: Aravind Mallipudi, Marina Thomas, Maria Elgert, Rosemary Lightbourne, Jayne Parris)

Testimonials:

• "Hey, I watched the program (online) last night! It was lovely. Amazing how you have so much to share and not a stutter. They need to work on the audio a bit. Lucky for them, it happened on your watch. I feel you were the only one who could keep the people entertained! Very enlightening!❤️❤️❤️"
• "I have seen so many shows over the years, but this is the first time someone has taken the time to explain to us what the gestures mean. All this time, I was admiring them bc they are beautiful, but I now know they have meaning. All dancers should do this before they perform."
• I stayed with the entire program, everyone was great, even though they followed their toughest act, yes?
• "I think you are a natural teacher, so you started, and I thought this is perfect. I will learn something, and then that was all the teaching we had."
• "Thank you for the performance. I was so absorbed I forgot to take photographs. We both think you made a gracious and agile recovery when the music got messed up. Brava!" 
• ​"You were no less than aaah-maizing!!!! Especially during the technical difficulties😄- I'm bummed b/c the sound went out for Internet land during your pivot when you were talking about the different hastas, etc. Thank you so much - you are a consummate professional - you were so calm, cool, and collected during technical difficulties (plural😀). Dance on!!!"
• "You are Sloka, you have the sound engraved in your  DNA 🙏" 

• "Also, your initial explanation was wonderful. By the way, you even mentioned Vasistha. My friend and I were just reading some of his writings this week." 
• "I bow to you. And bow to Michael, who supports you.  And Jessie 🙏"
• ​  The more you dance, the more beautiful you become."
• "I could see the change in your face as the music began, and it was clear that your gurus and their gurus had done the same before you. That this is a form that is in you." 
• I enjoyed your performance and the way you handled the music glitch, entertaining the audience, who got educated on Shiva. The storytelling through dance with music was quite interesting and entertaining." 
• "Definitely to watch you, Sloka, was exquisitely thrilling! Grateful for what you share! Beautifully orchestrated, wonderful world with your kind, beautiful mind, magical movement, and loved how music flows out of you!"
• "Lovely to see you as well! Such a joy to see your beloved dancing in person. So wonderful!"
• "You were awesome. I loved how you went into professor mode after the second time the music failed. You kept your cool and gave the audience a masterclass on dance. Then you danced a truly beautiful and physical piece with such grace. You really shone!"
  

A supporter had this to say about the event:
Better than reading old Hazrat Inayat Khan books about how dance is important for our physical, mental, and spiritual wellness, is going to a Sloka Iyengar event and learning how to actually do it. I know Dr. Iyengar personally and can attest that Dr. Iyengar is the real deal, and it's such a rare opportunity to learn from someone who is both a gifted neuroscientist and a master of an ancient tradition of expression and instruction through dance. Check it out!

About 24 people joined the session; below are some testimonials:

• "The specificity of the hand gestures helped with my arthritis pain."
• "Thank you so much, Sloka, for such an engaging and enriching session!"
• "How marvelous you are, and it was so beautiful, and my hands felt tight too but loved it!"
• "I loved learning the bird gesture - 🙏 Sloka, your hands are exquisite."
• "I enjoyed joining in on the dance and learning the different gestures.  You did a really wonderful job of making the session interactive and stimulating.  And you inspired me to engage in more science outreach with older adult communities."