Team

Ms. Anushya is a seasoned dance educator and arts administrator with training in Bollywood and Folk dance styles. Having joined SDA in 2019, Ms. Anushya has been an integral part of the organization's growth and success. Since 2022, she has served as the Director of Operations, leading day-to-day operations while driving strategic initiatives across the academy. She successfully spearheaded the launch and expansion of SDA's Livingston branch, helping establish it as a thriving extension of the organization.

In her leadership role, Ms. Anushya oversees curriculum implementation, instructor training, operational systems, resource management, and cross-location coordination. She plays a key role in developing teaching modules, strengthening internal processes, fostering team collaboration, and ensuring consistency in the student experience across all SDA locations. She also leads competition planning and logistics while cultivating a strong sense of community among students, families, and faculty through events, performances, and outreach initiatives.

Before joining SDA, Ms. Anushya was an active performer with the dance troupe at St. Francis Degree College, Hyderabad, participating in numerous intercollegiate and national dance competitions. She holds a Postgraduate Degree in Journalism from the Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Pune, bringing strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills to her role. Through her passion for dance education and operational excellence, Ms. Anushya continues to play a pivotal role in advancing SDA's mission of building confident performers and a vibrant, connected dance community.

Mr. Chinmay is a versatile dancer and educator with over 15 years of experience in Hip Hop, Locking, Popping, House, Shuffle, Bollywood, and the traditional folk dance form of Garba. He has continually refined his craft through advanced training with leading choreographers and prestigious workshops, including Urban Dance Camp and The Danceworx. During his time at BITS Pilani (2010–2014), Chinmay served as Secretary of the Dance Club for three years, leading the team in national-level street dance and choreography competitions. His performances have been featured on national platforms, including India's Got Talent and Boogie Woogie, showcasing his versatility and stage presence. In 2017, he co-founded Masala Beats, a dance collective focused on content creation, choreography, and promoting urban dance styles.

At SDA, Mr. Chinmay serves as Head Instructor, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the academy's artistic vision and instructional excellence. In addition to teaching Hip Hop, Bollywood, and urban dance styles, he leads teacher training initiatives, develops instructional modules and choreography standards, and mentors SDA's faculty to ensure consistency and quality across all programs. He is also the lead strategist for SDA's international choreographer workshops and masterclasses, curating artist collaborations, planning educational experiences, and expanding opportunities for students to learn from world-renowned dance professionals. Outside the studio, Chinmay holds a Master's degree from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, and brings his strategic planning, leadership, and organizational expertise to SDA's continued growth. His passion for innovation, education, and artistic excellence continues to inspire both students and instructors while helping shape the future of the academy.

Ms. Suvarna is a trained Kathak Dancer, having earned her Prabhakar Degree (Lucknow Gharana) from one of India’s most prestigious dance schools - Prayag Sangeet Samiti (2011). She started her dancing journey at the age of 6 with Shiamak Davar Dance Company (Mumbai). At 8, she joined the Ghungroo Dance Academy (Dehradun) and started her Kathak journey. While there, she performed for several local and school events.

Ms. Suvarna was part of her dance society at Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University from 2011-2013. She was also an Assistant Kathak Instructor at RS Dance Classes (Delhi) from 2014-2016 where she taught the basics of Kathak to children aged 8-13 years. Ms. Suvarna moved to NJ to pursue her MA degree from Columbia University in 2016. She has been a wedding choreographer since, teaching clients both in person and virtually. Currently, Ms. Suvarna is expanding her expertise by attending Bollywood, Semi-Classical and Bhakti Dance Classes in NYC. On the professional front, she is the Head of People at Meetup, the world’s largest community-building platform.

Ankita Khanna is a New York–based Bharatanatyam artist, choreographer, educator, and arts professional whose journey bridges science, movement, wellness, and cultural storytelling. A Chemistry graduate from the University of Mumbai, she also holds a professional dance diploma from Shiamak Davar’s Institute for the Performing Arts. Her diverse career includes teaching and performing Bollywood, contemporary, and theatrical dance, serving as a dance captain for a Broadway-style musical at Dubai Parks and Resorts, and working as a full-time dance educator at leading IB and Cambridge schools in Mumbai. Trained in Bharatanatyam for over 26 years under Guru Smt. Revathi Srinivasraghavan, Ankita continues to deepen her artistic practice in New York under the mentorship of Sri Sridhar Shanmugam and Sahasra Sambamoorthi, founder & co-founder of Navatman.

Ankita is also a certified yoga instructor and personal fitness trainer, incorporating anatomy, body awareness, and injury-prevention principles into her teaching. In New York, Ankita has taught hundreds of students across more than 50 public schools through collaborations with the New York City Department of Education and has worked with several prominent dance organisations and cultural institutions. Currently pursuing an MFA in Dance at Montclair State University, she remains committed to expanding the possibilities of Indian classical dance through education, interdisciplinary research, community engagement, and innovative artistic practice.

Ms. Sushmitha’s love for dance started at the age of 5. She was part of her school Rosary Matriculation Chennai dance team and won multiple inter school competitions. She was also part of the dance teams of her alma maters Stella Maris College, Chennai ( 2011-2014 ) and Madras School of Social Work, Chennai (2014-2016).

She has won multiple collegiate and national level competitions like IIT Saarang, Campus Jive, landing her various awards for best artist and best dancer in solo and team performances.She has also participated and won in an online dance competition called Art Vibe in 2017. Ms Sushmitha is trained in Bollywood, Hip Hop, Contemporary and also explored other dance styles like Jazz and Salsa. She was a teacher and dancer at Independent dance Academy, Chennai ( 2018) She has also been a wedding choreographer teaching both in person and online. She also ventured into event management as her side gig and worked with the Oscar Award winner A.R Rahman for his India tour in 2017 and 2018. Sushmitha is a Mental Health Professional and believes dance is an outlet of expression.  After her work in India and Canada, she moved to New Jersey post her marriage wanting to explore her love for dance and pursue Mental Health.

Moneesha Kumar is an accomplished Indian classical dancer, educator, and architect with extensive training in Bharatanatyam and Kathak, complemented by a strong foundation in semi-classical dance. She began her Bharatanatyam training under Kalaimamani Parvathy Ravi Ghantasala and later trained under Kalaimamani Nalini Balasubramaniam, completing her Arangetram in 2012. She has performed at Chennai's prestigious Margazhi Festival and numerous renowned sabhas, as well as at over fifteen dance festivals across the New York metropolitan area. Her notable performances include appearances at the Consulate General of India, New York, and Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the Mayor of New York City. Moneesha trained in Kathak under Sahasra Sambamoorthi in New York and continues her advanced training under Radhika Karandikar in India.

She teaches Kathak to children and adults across New Jersey and New York, with a teaching philosophy centered on discipline, confidence, creativity, cultural appreciation, and self-expression. By combining artistic excellence with her background in architecture, she brings creativity, precision, and thoughtful design to every class. After successfully completing her first year as a faculty member at SDA, Moneesha is excited to continue inspiring students of all ages. She values SDA as a community that fosters both artistic growth and personal development and looks forward to many more years of sharing her passion for Indian classical dance.

Mr. Suky is a passionate dancer, choreographer, and instructor whose journey in dance is driven by creativity, discipline, and a deep love for performance. Trained in a variety of hip-hop styles, he began his dance career as a member of a competitive dance crew, performing at numerous competitions and cultural events across India. These experiences helped shape his dynamic performance style and strong appreciation for teamwork, storytelling, and stage presence.

Over the years, Sukeerthan has performed in a wide range of stage productions and cultural showcases, while continuously refining his craft by attending workshops led by internationally acclaimed hip-hop artists. His passion for dance also took him to New York, where he proudly represented his team in a prestigious Desi dance competition, gaining invaluable exposure to the global South Asian dance community.Outside the studio, Sukeerthan holds a Master's degree in Information Systems from Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey, and works full-time as a Data Analyst. He believes that the same precision, creativity, and problem-solving mindset that fuel his professional career also inspire his approach to dance.

As an instructor, Sukeerthan creates an environment where technique meets expression, encouraging every student to step beyond their comfort zone, embrace their individuality, and discover the confidence to own every performance. His goal is to help dancers not only master choreography but also build resilience, creativity, and a lifelong passion for movement.

Jade Sessions is an accomplished professional dancer, choreographer, and educator with extensive training in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, Bollywood, and commercial dance. Her versatility and dynamic performance style have allowed her to work alongside some of the industry's leading choreographers, including serving as a teaching and choreography assistant to Vini Hazari and Revati Marhurkar on projects that have collectively garnered over 30 million views across digital platforms.

Jade has performed as a featured backup dancer for Karan Aujla's U.S. World Tour and appeared in Sony Music India's Chhaava, performing alongside renowned artists Lauren Gottlieb and Rohit Gijare. Her professional experience spans live performances, commercial productions, and large-scale stage shows, giving her a well-rounded perspective on both performance and dance education. Outside of the performing arts, Jade holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and spent six years working as a software engineer. Her unique blend of technical expertise and artistic creativity allows her to approach dance with discipline, innovation, and attention to detail.

Ms. Himanshi Kothari is a versatile dancer with training in Bollywood, Hip Hop, Salsa, Contemporary, Semi-Classical, Garba, and Heels. She has trained under renowned choreographers including Sagar Mhadolkar, Swarali Karulkar, Revati Mahurkar, and the Shiamak USA team, and is currently pursuing advanced Kathak training under Shivani Badgi in New York City. She began dancing at the age of four and has since built a strong foundation through years of training, performance, and competition. During her school and college years in Mumbai, she won several folk and solo dance competitions and was an active member of the VJTI Dance Team (2013–2015) while pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Engineering. She has also choreographed numerous private events and wedding performances, bringing creativity and energy to dancers of all experience levels.

Since joining Shehnaaz Dance Academy, Ms. Himanshi has become an integral member of the teaching faculty, known for her versatility, creativity, and engaging teaching style. She teaches Bollywood and contemporary fusion classes, inspiring students to develop strong technique, musicality, confidence, and stage presence. Her ability to connect with dancers of all ages and create a positive, encouraging classroom environment has made her a valued member of the SDA team and a favorite among students and families.

Outside the studio, Ms. Himanshi holds a Master's degree in Business Analytics and works as a Technology Consultant at EY. She brings the same professionalism, dedication, and attention to detail to her teaching, and is passionate about helping every student discover the joy of dance while reaching their fullest potential.

Ms. Neha is a trained Haryanvi folk dancer who began her dance journey at the age of ten. She developed her passion for performance while actively participating in the cultural committees at Vaish College of Engineering, where she was involved in dance, event planning, and program coordination. During this time, her team earned recognition at an inter-college state-level regional dance competition, showcasing her strong foundation in Indian folk dance.After beginning her professional career at Infosys, Pune, Ms. Neha continued to pursue dance by performing at prominent community events in San Diego, including the Festival of Lights, SANTA, and CRY San Diego, promoting Indian culture through the performing arts.

For the past three years, Ms. Neha has been an integral member of the Shehnaaz Dance Academy Millburn faculty, where she teaches Bollywood and Indian Folk Dance to students of all ages. She has played a key role in building and growing the Millburn program, creating engaging choreography, mentoring young dancers, and fostering a positive, inclusive learning environment. Her enthusiasm, warmth, and dedication have made her a valued member of the SDA team and a favorite among students and families.

Beyond the studio, Ms. Neha is a Salesforce Solution Architect at PwC New York and the founder of Dreams Alive, a creative event décor and backdrop design company. She brings creativity, organization, and professionalism to every aspect of her work, inspiring her students to perform with confidence while

Sangita Das is a certified Kathak and Bharatanatyam dancer from the school of Sura Bharati Sangeet Kala Kendra Academy of Fine Arts. (please elaborate more on the style of Bharatnatyam and Gharana of Kathak). Sangita completed two diplomas in Kathak in the years 2000 and 2003 before her dance teacher relocated to Odisha, prompting her to transition to Bharatanatyam, where she also earned a diploma 2012. However, she had to take a break from dancing to focus on her academic studies after finishing her higher secondary education. During her undergraduate years at Ramesh Chandra Girls High School, Sangita joined a Bollywood dance group Bunty Barua Dance group to hone her versatility.

After getting married, her opportunities to dance became limited, and she eventually moved to the USA with her husband. Finding time for dance proved challenging until the quarantine period (2000 to 2022), and she worked hard on motivating herself and began practicing on her own again. Determined to return to dancing, Sangita found a volunteer position as a dance teacher at the Jersey City Tamil School. There, she spent two months preparing groups of children for their annual event in the year 2024. She even performed alongside other teachers at the event, and the positive feedback and encouragement she received inspired her to reignite her dance career. Sangita now actively instructs students in her community and is very excited to bring her talent and passion for dance to SDA.

Sarah Kramer received her BFA in Dance at Montclair State University in 2021 and an Advanced Studies Certificate in Composition from the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in 2023. She has received additional training at b12 Berlin Workshop Festival, GagaLab NYC, and Parsons Dance Choreography Workshop. As a performer, she has performed works by Martha Graham, Ben Wright, Brandin Steffinsen, Maxine Steinman, and others. Her own work has premiered in several festivals in New York, notably 92nd Street Y’s Dance Up! Emerging Choreographers series and the KoDaFe International Dance Festival, as well as internationally at the Romanian National Opera.

As a teacher of 8 years, Sarah has enjoyed teaching various styles of dance to students of all ages and levels but her interest lies in teaching Jazz and Contemporary styles to her students. She is excited to blend these the techniques she has learnt with Bollywood tunes to give her students more well rounded training and finese. She is passionate about fostering a supportive environment in which students can develop their own artistry and love for dance. In dance, there is always something new to discover and explore, and she is so excited to do so with the students of SDA Edgewater this season!

Ms. Sana has performed in several theatre productions alongside acclaimed actresses Sarwat Gilani and Sanam Saeed, bringing stories to life through expressive movement and captivating stage performances. She has also worked with schools across Pakistan, inspiring young dancers and sharing her passion for the performing arts with the next generation. During her university years, she was selected as one of five lead choreographers and performers to direct and lead a cast of over 100 students in a large-scale tribute to Michael Jackson, featuring the iconic performance of Thriller.

In addition to live performances, she collaborated on a dance video project with Komal Rizvi and appeared in commercial campaigns for leading telecommunications brands, further expanding her experience in choreography, camera performance, and creative storytelling. These opportunities have strengthened her versatility, professionalism, stage presence, and artistic confidence. For over 20 years, dance has been at the center of her life, serving as both a creative passion and a powerful form of self-expression. Her training across multiple dance styles has helped her develop a strong technical foundation while continually refining her artistry and performance skills.

She believes dance is much more than learning choreography—it fosters discipline, resilience, teamwork, creativity, and self-expression. Through her enthusiastic teaching style, she strives to inspire every student to grow both as a dancer and as an individual while nurturing a lifelong love for the performing arts.

Nandan Krovi is a versatile dancer and choreographer with over a decade of experience in performance, instruction and stage production across India and the United States. Trained at Shehnaaz Dance Academy, Dancing Passions, Rangde Bollywood and Fr. Agnel’s Multipurpose School, he specializes in Bollywood, Hip-Hop, Popping, Locking, Waving, and Freestyle. His artistic journey began at Fr. Agnel’s Multipurpose School in Navi Mumbai, where from 2010 to 2014 he choreographed and performed in numerous annual functions and cultural festivals, building a strong foundation in stagecraft and leadership.

In 2014, he performed as a back dancer for the acclaimed Indian artist Yo Yo Honey Singh at the Algeria Fest in New Panvel under the guidance of Dancing Passions. From 2015 to 2022, he continued to choreograph and perform for community events at NCC Meadows in Bangalore, creating original routines and mentoring aspiring dancers. Since moving to New York, Nandan has expanded his artistic repertoire, serving as Assistant Choreographer with Rangde Bollywood in 2024 for classes and performances at Plaza 33. Over the past year, he has also taught choreography to children from different schools and performed in various cultural programs as a faculty member of Shehnaaz Dance Academy. Alongside his passion for dance, Nandan works professionally as a Data Analyst in New Jersey and holds a Master’s degree in Business Intelligence and Analytics.

With roots as a child actor and dancer, the arts have always been central to Pearl Barsivala's story. From a young age, she trained in ballet, successfully completing Royal Academy of Dance Grades 1, 4 and 5 examinations while also training at Shiamak Davar's Institute for the Performing Arts, where she was part of Shiamak’s Special Potential batch. These early years gave her a strong technical foundation and versatility across a variety of dance styles. Her love for dance naturally led her to teaching and she has enjoyed working with children of all ages, helping them grow in confidence, creativity and self-expression.

Before moving to the United States, Pearl spent seven years with Raell Padamsee's ACE Productions as a Senior Stage Production Lead, working on large-scale theatre productions. Her background in both dance and theatre has shaped her approach as an educator, bringing creativity, storytelling and performance together in every class. Since joining Shehnaaz Dance Academy in March 2026, she has been teaching dance and choreography, directing plays for WonderWorkz summer camps and assisting backstage on productions for Rangmanch. Pearl believes that the best learning happens when children feel encouraged to explore, have fun and express themselves, and she loves helping every student discover their confidence, creativity and joy through the performing arts.

Ms. Guneet is a passionate Bollywood and Hip Hop instructor with over seven years of Bollywood dance experience and extensive training in multiple dance styles. She began her dance journey at the prestigious Shiamak Davar Bollywood Dance Academy at the age of eight, where she developed a strong technical foundation and love for performance. She has also trained in Hip Hop for over six years and studied at Michele's Dance Studio, further expanding her versatility as a dancer. An active member of two dance clubs at Millburn High School, Guneet also helps choreograph for her school's Bollywood Dance Club.

Since joining Shehnaaz Dance Academy (SDA) in 2024, Guneet has been inspiring students of all ages through her energetic, encouraging, and student-centered teaching approach. She is passionate about creating a positive learning environment where dancers build confidence, discipline, creativity, and strong technical skills while having fun. Guneet has performed at notable venues including NJIT, Times Square, and Millburn's Rocktoberfest, sharing her passion for dance with diverse audiences. She believes dance is a powerful form of self-expression that brings people together and empowers individuals to grow both on and off the stage. Guneet is excited to continue her journey with SDA, helping every student discover their love for dance while reaching their fullest potential.

Tilottama is a New Jersey–based actor, theatre artist, and dancer whose work spans television, film, and live performance. Her screen credits include a co-star role on the acclaimed BBC drama Our Girl and supporting performances in independent films such as Part-Time and Thinking Hours. On stage, Tilottama has performed extensively in New York theatre, portraying a wide range of dramatic, comedic, and character-driven roles. Her theatre experience has allowed her to explore diverse genres and styles, developing a dynamic and compelling stage presence.

Trained at The Barrow Group and The Acting Studio New York, Tilottama studied scene work, character development, voice, and movement. Her performance style is further enriched by years of training in Bharatanatyam, one of India's oldest classical dance forms, as well as extensive experience in Bollywood dance. In addition to performing, Tilottama is deeply invested in arts education and community engagement. Before joining SDA, she used to work with Good Kids Malaysia, a social enterprise that uses the performing arts to help children build emotional and social well-being. Tilottama is also an Accredited Business Communicator, with over 12 yrs in a global MNC. 

Ms. Apnavi, our partner for Cultural Programs and Holiday Camps, is a qualified and experienced marketing professional. Apart from the US, she has lived in Singapore and India. She founded Buzy Bugs in 2015 while living in Singapore. Buzy Bugs creatively brings together the three important aspects of Ms. Apnavi’s life; entrepreneurship, handcrafting and working with children. She provides an engaging themed program for children with hands-on creative exploration.

Ms. Apnavi integrates storytelling with arts and crafts and curates immersive experiences like the Ramayan puppet show, mother’s day pop- up market and more. She creates an exciting environment for children to learn about the Indian culture in our community and beyond.