The Arts

(Music, Drama, Dance & Art)

The Ananda Institute of Alternative Living presents a new approach to the arts. We view artistic expression and artistic appreciation as creative communication that allows the arts to be a powerful influence for meaningful existence and positive attitudes in society. Ananda has been creating new approaches to the arts since 1968, when Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters) founded Ananda World Brotherhood Colony here in Northern California. For nearly 40 years, Kriyananda has trained members of Ananda in ways of using the arts to develop higher consciousness, creating a blueprint for the future of art as meaningful creative expression for the upliftment and entertainment of society and as a means for personal spiritual growth.

In the past 40 years, Kriyananda has written over 400 musical compositions, 100 books, and several plays, all with the express purpose of helping others to develop higher consciousness. As an example, his play The Peace Treaty is a brilliant and powerful tribute that offers a non-sectarian way for all nations and enemies to live, work and co-exist in harmony. Each year, the Ananda Community hosts the Festival of the Joyful Arts, a new expression of arts festivities that encourages the refinement of consciousness through uplifting, meaningful drama, music, art and dance.

Our campus is on the original site of the first Ananda Community, and just five miles away is the 780-acre Ananda Village, where 250 people live and work in community. Our location provides the ideal environment for students looking for a career in the arts as a tool for higher consciousness. Today, Ananda includes hundreds of artists, musicians, actors and performers who are currently practicing the arts as developed and introduced by Kriyananda. Students who choose The Arts “major career focus” receive a certification in the following areas:

• Ananda Arts Specialist (degree certificate)
• Ananda Arts Practitioner (advanced degree certificate)

Specialists, Practitioners & Teachers

The Ananda Arts Specialist (degree certificate) and the Ananda Arts Practitioner (advanced degree certificate) are drawn from the same curriculum, with the exception of advanced courses and more hours of training and internship completed by the Ananda Arts Practitioner. Those who wish to teach the arts as an Ananda Arts Practitioner need to take specific courses offered by the Education department.

The Arts Curriculum:

• History of the Great Musicians, Artists and Creative Thinkers
• Understanding Music & Superconsciousness
• The Arts & Healing
• The Voice & Consciousness
• History & Evolution of Art & Spirituality
• Chakras & the Arts
• Singing as a Tool for Spiritual Growth
• Music for Healing Harmful Emotions
• Attunement for the Arts
• Drawing Inspiration Superconsciously
• Sharing Music with Others
• Understanding The Peace Treaty
• Yoga for the Performing Arts
• The Artist as a Channel
• Art for Self-Expression
• Developing Intuition for the Arts
• Art for Developing Focus & Concentration
• Sharing Art with Others
• Using Intuition to Teach the Arts
• Studio Arts Intensives for Drawing
• Studio Arts Intensives for Painting
• Studio Arts Intensives for Sculpture
• Studio Arts Intensives for Mixed-Media
• Portraits for Self-Expression
• Landscape Art & Gardening for Higher Consciousness
• Sharing Art with Children & Teens
• Music as an Aid to Changing Consciousness
• Human Anatomy & Figure Drawing
• Computer Graphics for Modern Communications
• Website Design & Implementation
• Graphic Arts for Higher Consciousness
• Film for Creating Uplifted Consciousness
• Animation for Today’s Artists
• Masks & Self-Knowledge
• Understanding Quark Express for Designers
• Art as a Hidden Message
• Painting Toward Enlightenment
• Developing Creativity Through the Psychology of Written Expression
• Art Therapy & Consciousness
• Internship for Teachers in the Arts
• Understanding Dance & Consciousness
• History of Dance & Spirituality
• Movement for Expressing Higher Consciousness
• Sharing Dance with Others
• Performance Dancing
• Dance for Self-Expression & Communication
• Understanding Music for Dance & Consciousness
• Dance & Poetry Workshop
• Costumes for Drama & Dance
• Internship for Dance Teachers
• Evolution of Drama & Consciousness
• The Yoga of Theatre Production
• Drama & Performance for Awakening Higher Consciousness
• Sharing Drama with Others
• Sharing Drama with Children & Teens
• Drama Teacher Internship

Study Abroad for The Arts

Students with a “major career focus” in The Arts must complete independent projects in their specialty during annual study abroad programs. These projects are determined with each student and The Arts Career Counselor prior to embarking on each trip. Study abroad Arts projects can be varied and creative, but must relate to a particular area of focused learning for each student.

Internships & Work Study

An important component to the certification process is the completion of a pre-determined number of hours spent working in various departments of the Ananda Arts Community with leaders and residents who mentor and provide “hands on” training for students. These internships allow students the chance to experience & develop exciting “real life” Arts Programs while receiving invaluable support and guidance from institute teachers during the internship process.

Ananda Institute of Alternative Living Location: Ananda Meditation Retreat 14618 Tyler Foote Rd., #114 Nevada City, CA 95959 (530) 292-3024, M-F, 9-5 PST contact: info@anandauniversity.org

Ananda Institute of Alternative Living Location: Ananda Meditation Retreat 14618 Tyler Foote Rd., #114 Nevada City, CA 95959 (530) 292-3024, M-F, 9-5 PST contact: registrar@anandauniversity.org