Kiran James is a Chicago-based arts administrator and performing artist who combines executive leadership and administrative acumen with a deep artistic practice and commitment to equity and community upliftment. With over 15 years of experience in nonprofit management, arts education, and community engagement, Kiran is widely recognized for his innovative and inclusive program and curriculum design, tireless arts advocacy, and success in strategic planning, cross-sector collaboration, and community engagement.

As former Executive Director of Kalapriya, a nonprofit South Asian arts organization, he revitalized its arts education program department, secured over $30,000 in grant funding, and significantly bolstered studio class enrollment and community event attendance in under a year. Previously at Arts Horizons, he managed an annual portfolio of over 150 arts education programs, secured over $400,000 in grant funding, and implemented new programs rooted in culturally responsive pedagogy, social-emotional learning, and multilingual inclusion.

Alongside his administrative career, Kiran is also an award-winning Bharatanatyam (Indian classical) dancer, choreographer, and educator. He creates bold, cross-cultural, and educative productions that bridge South Asian classical and ritual dance with other world dance forms. His performances and embodied practice are rooted in poetic storytelling and social justice. Kiran co-founded Daya Arts, a nonprofit focused on South Asian and West African arts, and Off the Beat, a podcast imagining new futures for South Asian dance. He has performed internationally and participated in artist residencies at Snug Harbor and Catwalk Institute.

As an educator, Kiran has taught Bharatanatyam at Marymount Manhattan College, Columbia College, Bard College, SIUE, YoungArts, and Nritya Creations. He has written and implemented K-12 curricula integrating Indian classical dance with literacy, science, history, and social studies at various New York and New Jersey public and charter schools. He recently facilitated a panel discussion on cultivating pathways to professionalism for the first Intersections Conference on Indian classical dance at MIT and Harvard University. 

Kiran is a sought-after teaching artist, lecturer, judge, compere, facilitator, and voiceover artist. In 2025, he established Kiran James Productions to continue his work in developing and producing projects rooted in South Asian dance and community engagement. Through his company, Kiran also provides consultant services in arts education, curriculum design, creative and nonprofit consulting, vocal performance, and event hosting.