1. Brinda has been dancing professionally since 1994 and has performed widely at important festivals and at various cultural centres in India, Sri Lanka, UAE, USA, UK, France, Germany and Spain
2. She always intuitively knew that the value of the arts went far beyond performance/product. During this time, she worked extensively with dance and movement with children and adults who were visually impaired and hearing impaired as a way of exploring, experiencing and expressing emotions and ideas
3. In 1999, Brinda founded Dream A Dream, an organisation that works with children. She spearheaded and executed the ‘Caterpillar and Butterfly’ project, working with children who were HIV+ using dance and movement
4. In 2001, in recognition of the work that she was doing in communities of need using dance and the arts, she was awarded the Crowther Fellowship and travelled to Selly Oak University in Birmingham, UK, to intern under dance therapist Terry Braithwaite
5. From then, Brinda commenced on various trainings in both counselling and expressive arts therapies, which continue to this day. Listed below are some training programs she has completed
   1. Interpersonal Communication and Listening Skills
   2. Basic Skills in Counselling
   3. Basic Skills in Couple and Family Counselling
   4. Basic skills in Child and Adolescent counselling
   5. Dance Therapy and depth psychology
   6. Art Therapy & Mental Health
   7. HIV Aids awareness and skills in HIV AIDS counselling
   8. Bereavement Counselling
   9. Authentic Movement international residency (2015, 2017, 2019).
   10. Trauma, Neurobiology, Attachment and Expressive Art Therapy
   11. Sandplay Therapy and Depth Psychology
   12. Jung and Fairy Tales
   13. Inner Smile
   14. Archetypal Dreamwork (2017 onwards)
   15. Feldenkrais
6. Brinda has also been actively using dance and movement for therapeutic purposes with individuals and the community since 2003. She continues to perform, choreograph, train, and design creative arts and movement syllabi for educational institutions
7. SMArT Studio was created in August 2008 with the intention of bringing together all these activities she believes are so interrelated and are constantly informing her approach to therapy, training and dancing
8. In Jan 2011, Brinda founded the Studio for Movement Arts and Therapies Trust, with the following vision – “To offer creatively alive spaces and practices to nurture and catalyse self inquiry, expression and integration for individuals and communities”
9. SMArT is the pioneer of Expressive Art Therapy training and facilitation in India, having begun the FECAT (Foundation Course in Expressive and Creative Art Therapies) and an EXA training program in 2012
10. This program is highly recognised for both the deep training it imparts as well as the therapeutic projects set up in communities in need. Our trainees have worked with Nightingale, Medico Pastoral Association
11. In 2017, SMArT Trust created a two-week residential module for depth psychology students from JFK University, SFO, marrying Jungian depth psychology with Indian Expressive Arts. Titled Samaghama, this is now a one-year training program which began in March 2019
12. Brinda is very closely associated with Dr. Kate Donohue (from 2012), who is her supervisor in EXA therapy and now also a colleague, and Dr. Tina Stromsted (from 2014), who continues to be her teacher and supervisor in Authentic Movement – a movement discipline that Brinda is both a practitioner and teacher of
13. Brinda’s work in EXA has been recognised both in India and internationally. She has presented her work at the following international conferences
    1. The Flowing Tao of Expressive Arts – 11th International Expressive Arts Therapy Association Conference in 2015
    2. 5th International Jenga EXA and depth psychology conference in Kenya in 2018
    3. Global Mental Health Summit in Johannesburg in 2018
    4. Brinda was the keynote speaker at the International Seminar on Creative Arts Therapies hosted by WCC, Chennai, in 2019
    5. She presented at the following international conferences in India
       1. 6th Annual International CMTAI conference in association with St. Mira’s College – Movement and other Arts for Wellbeing in Pune in 2019
       2. Dance Therapy Annual Conference hosted by Kolkatta Sanved and TISS, Mumbai in 2018
       3. 10th annual conference of the Indian Association of Private Psychiatry, hosted by the Karnataka Branch in 2018
       4. Annual International Conference on EXA hosted by WCC, Chennai in 2017
       5. 4th Annual International CMTAI Conference in association with Christ University – Multi-Faceted Movement Approaches – Enhancing the Mond-Body Nexus in 2017
       6. Expressive Arts Therapy Symposium in Auroville in 2016
       7. 2nd International CMTAI conference in 2015 in Cochin
       8. 1st International CMTAI conference in 2014 in Bangalore
14. SMArT Trust initiated the Arts as a Catalyst program in 2018, where they awarded fellowships to EXA therapists doing exceptional work in communities in need. This has been funded by Sonya Grewal Foundation
15. During the lockdown, in order to support those with mental and emotional health struggles, aggravated by the COVID pandemic and ensuing lockdown, the Trust launched the SMArT helpline manned by EXA therapists
16. SMArT will begin an advanced EXA training program in 2021. Called ’The Expressive Body – through Wounding, Trauma, Healing and Wellbeing,’ the exciting program boasts of experienced international faculty, including Dr. Kate Donohue, Dr. Tina Stromsted, Dr. Jacob Kaminker, Sukhvinder Singh, Laura Smith-Riva, Katia Verreault, Krupa Jhaveri, Pallavi Chander, and Madhu Shukla
17. Brinda has been working with her dreams with a Natural Dreamworker since 2013. In 2020, she became India’s first Natural Dreamwork Practitioner and has since been working with individuals and groups in a teaching and supervisory capacity
18. Brinda has been a part of the International Authentic Movement Teachers Inquiry Group since 2023. This is an exclusive group of teachers in the field of Authentic Movement featuring pioneers such as Tina Stromsted, Marcia Plevin, and Helen Payne, among others

1. Advanced Training In Couple And Family Counselling, Parivartan, Bangalore
2. Advanced Training In Child And Adolescent Counselling, Parivartan, Bangalore
3. Basic Skills In Counselling, Parivartan, Bangalore
4. PG Diploma In Choreography, Natya Institute Of Kathak And Choreography, Bangalore University
5. Bachelor’s Degree In Commerce, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
6. Diploma In Journalism, Media Center, Bangalore

CROWTHER FELLOW
Birmingham, UK
Crowther Hall, Selly Oak University
Awarded the Crowther Fellowship, for which Brinda travelled to Birmingham and lived at Crowther Hall for 4 months, contributing to the community.

CORPORATE SECTOR

Designed and executed corporate workshops on stress relief, team building, and body-mind harmony using movement, conducted for

• Texas Instruments, Bangalore
• SAP Labs, Bangalore

NGO/SOCIAL SECTOR

PARIVARTAN, Bangalore
Counsellor, Dance Therapist

• Counsel clients on a one-to-one basis
• Use dance therapy for clients on a one-to-one basis
• Facilitate training workshops for students and corporates on the use of dance as therapy
• Co-facilitate training workshops for students and corporates on listening and communication skills, counselling, and other programmes

DREAM A DREAM, Bangalore
Facilitator

• Designed and currently executing “Caterpillar and the Butterfly”, a movement therapy workshop for HIV positive children
• Designed Young Trainers Inform – an Aids awareness programme for children below 18 years

SAKSHI, New Delhi
Facilitator

• Designed and executed dance and movement exercises for a handbook for facilitators/ counsellors on issues dealing with female sexuality and sex education
• Part of the creative team that produced an educational film on female sexuality

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

• Designed and executed creative dance and movement therapy workshops for students of Christ College and National Law School

1. PARIVARTAN, Bangalore

• Advanced Training in Couple and Family Counselling
• Advanced Training in Child and Adolescent Counselling
• Basic Skills in Counselling
• Short Term Course on Listening Skills
• Training in HIV /Aids counselling
• Bereavement Counselling
• Workshop on Child Sexual Abuse
• Transactional Analysis 101

2. BIRMINGHAM CENTER FOR ART THERAPIES Birmingham, UK

• Introduction to Dance Therapy, under Terry Braithwaite

3. WALDORF EDUCATION, Khandala

• Participated in a 14-day teacher training conference on Waldorf Education and Rudolph Steiner methodology

4. ANTHROPOSOPOHICAL SOCIETY, Hyderabad

• Participated in an 8-day conference on anthroposophical medicine – IPMT 2005

5. HENGASARA HAKKINA SANGHA, Bangalore

• Sexuality Workshops

6. DREAM A DREAM / ALTERNATE LAW FORUM, Bangalore

• Workshops on the Rights of a Child

The Desire Project was envisioned and created by Brinda Jacob-Janvrin in 2017 and looks at how we hold desire in our bodies. Of the firm belief that reclaiming and having agency around our desire is a path towards true empowerment, this project invites us to explore sensations, emotions, images and questions around desire, longing, and belonging.

The Desire project is both an exploration of a personal journey and creative process as well as an offering and an invitation to the community. It currently manifests as workshops, residencies, spiralling into desire and art and movement installations/performances.

We are deeply interested in what is possible for the community when eros is equally prioritised as logos.

The project manifests as performances (Spiralling Into Desire, Wish You Were Here), training programs (Trsna), retreats (Desire Retreat) and exploratory groups (Sakshi).

STEM DANCE THEATRE, Bangalore
Associate Director / Principal Dancer

As the Associate Director of STEM Dance Theatre, I am responsible for raising awareness of Indian Contemporary Dance. This is done through performances, workshops, lecture-demonstrations and seminars. I organise public performances, corporate events, weekly classes and seminars.

As part of the performing unit since its inception, I have performed at prestigious cultural festivals and events in India, UAE, UK and the USA. Some important festivals include

• Khajuraho Dance Festival, Khajuraho 2005
• East West Dance and Musical Encounter, Bangalore 2004
• Vasanthahabba, Bangalore 2003
• Global Dharma Conference, New Jersey 2003
• International Dance Alliance, Texas 2003
• Facets, Attakalari Bangalore Biennial, Bangalore 2002 and 2004
• Kathak Mahotsav, New Delhi 2003
• Kathak Mahotsav, Lucknow 2003
• Bangalore Habba, Bangalore 2003
• The Other Festival, Chennai 2002
• East West, Calcutta 2002
• Natya Kala Conference, Chennai 2001
• Darpana, Ahmedabad 2000
• India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 2000
• India International Centre, New Delhi 1999
• India Embassy, UAE 1998
• Sangeet Natak Academi Festival, Bangalore 1997

STAGERITE, Bangalore
Facilitator

Part of the faculty to train the actors of the first International theatre festival in Bangalore, conducted by the Artistes Repertory Theatre.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, Bangalore
Dance Teacher / Consultant

Taught creative movement, choreographed dance productions, and conducted movement workshops for educational institutions like

• Mallya Aditi International School
• Vidyaniketan High School
• Promise Centre – Kindergarten School
• Charles High School
• Christ College
• National Law School

MY THEATRE COMPANY, Bangalore
Sole Choreographer

Choreographed highly popular musicals

• The Lion King, August 1999
• Tarzan, August 2001

STEM DANCE THEATRE, Bangalore

Apart from training in Indian contemporary movement, I have also attended and participated in numerous workshops under eminent artistes, including

• Christopher Bannerman – Ballet and Modern Dance
• Angela Boeti – Dance Pedagogy
• Jaan Freeman – Modern Dance
• Khalid Tyabji – Movement Theatre
• Shivanand Hegde – Yakshagana
• Sonar Chand – Thaang Tha
• CR Simha – Theatre
• Rammurthy – Mime
• Bharat Sharma – Chhau

NATYA INSTITUTE OF KATHAK AND CHOREOGRAPHY, Bangalore

• Trained in Kathak under Guru Smt. Maya Rao and Smt. Chitra Venugopal.
• Completed the PG Diploma in Choreography

DANCEXCHANGE, Birmingham, UK

• Studied Modern Dance Techniques under Dennie Wilson

MIDLANDS ART CENTER, Birmingham, UK

• Course in Dance Pedagogy

DIL SAGAR, Bangalore

• Trained in Kalaripayattu

DREAM A DREAM, Bangalore
Founder and Trustee

Dream A Dream is a registered trust that works with children from diverse backgrounds, bringing them together in forums that are fun and empowering. As founder, I was responsible for conceptualising activities as well as instrumental in structuring the organisation. Begun in November 1999 with 12 volunteers and 6 children, today we work with over 200 children and 50 volunteers.

As a Trustee, along with 5 other trustees, Brinda was responsible for all major decisions in the organisation.

SWAYAM, Bangalore
Program Design, Training and Supervision

Swayam aims to create an emotional and mental well-being department in government schools using Expressive Art Therapies. This helps build a sustainable ecosystem and actively contributes to the social, economic, and environmental development of the communities in which these schools operate.
Swayam is a Dance Movement Therapy program that enables kids to identify and own their true self and thereby negotiate their environment. Children begin to identify supportive structures vis-a-vis their environment in order to navigate difficult experiences and situations.
Participants are taught facilitation skills through experiential learning. They are supported by trained facilitators on-site and gradually move from observance to facilitation, while being held in continuous supervision.