​​A native New Yorker, ANI TAJ is a choreographer, performer, and the founder and artistic director of The Dance Cartel. She choreographs contemporary musicals, plays, concerts, music videos, art parties, and she loves to make dances inspired by Brazilian Carnaval.

Since launching in 2012, The Dance Cartel’s acclaimed signature experience ONTHEFLOOR has toured diverse spaces including Ace Hotel NY, PS1/MoMA, the High Line, Brooklyn Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Velocity Dance Center (Seattle), Bootleg Theater (LA), and OBERON (ART). Taj has choreographed music videos for Yoko Ono, Reggie Watts, Vic Mensa and The Sway Machinery, and her work with the Cartel has received support from NY Live Arts Studio Series, two LMCC Creative Engagement Awards, The Orchard Project and a BAX Summer Residency.

While bridging gaps between dance and music scenes, Taj keeps one foot firmly in the world of live theater – most recently as a featured dancer inNatasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 on Broadway. Theater choreography highlights include Runaways (NY City Center), Good Men Wanted(NYSAF), The Convent of Pleasure (Cherry Lane Mentor Project),  The Nomad by Liz Swados (The Flea), Lazarus (Associate Choreographer, NYTW), Jesse Eisenberg’s Asuncion (Rattlestick). 

Ani is an Adjunct Professor of dance and movement at NYU (Experimental Theatre Wing, Playwrights Horizons). She offers workshops and classes in tandem with most Cartel projects and periodically holds open classes in NYC.

Website: https://www.thedancecartel.com/