Shehnaaz Jagasia- Founder and Creative Director

Ms. Shehnaaz Jagasia is trained in the Classical Dance form of Bharatnatyam (Dr. Swaminathan) and Bollywood from various dance schools in India. She has participated in several stage shows and has been an integral part of choreographed dances since the early age of 3.
A geneticist by profession, she chose to pursue her passion for dance in 2009 and founded the Shehnaaz Dance Academy (SDA) in 2012. Known to her students as Ms. Shen, she teaches Bollywood, Bharatanatyam and BollyHop at SDA. Ms. Shehnaaz has launched her signature BollyHIIT style for adults seeking fitness through dance.
Additionally, Ms. Shehnaaz focuses on business development and expansion of the Shehnaaz Dance Academy and SDA INC- its corporate arm. She regularly represents Indian culture through performing arts in the Tri-State area.
Ms. Shehnaaz holds two Master’s degrees: a Master’s in Biochemistry from the University of Mumbai, India as well as a Master’s in Human Molecular Genetics from Imperial College London. Shehnaaz has lived in Jersey City with her family since 2008.

 

Anushya Mamtora- Director of Operations (JC Location-Manager)

Ms. Anushya is trained in Bollywood Dance, Kuthu Dance and Masala Bhangra. She is the senior-most instructor at SDA, having joined the organization in 2019. She moved to Jersey City in 2011 and since then has attended Latin, Hip Hop and Bollywood dance workshops in Newport. Ms. Anushya has also completed an intensive choreography workshop conducted by popular choreographer Melvin Louis in 2018. Ms. Anushya manages the business affairs at SDA Jersey City.  She also heads the resource management and business communications for brand SDA. As an integral part of SDA operations since 2021, Ms. Anushya is actively involved in and assists with SDA’s strategy and business development.

She was part of the dance troupe at St. Francis Degree College, Hyderabad (2001-2004) and performed in various intercollegiate competitions across the different states and national platforms in India. She has also participated in several dance workshops including hip hop, break dance and folk in Hyderabad. With a Post Graduate Degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Pune, Ms. Anushya has worked for several reputed publications in India. She is also a Certified Zentangle Teacher and Mandala Artist and takes art classes for children and adults in Jersey City and Manhattan. Her love for teaching dance begins at home with her two girls.

 

Suvarna Joshi- Edgewater Location (Manager & Dance Instructor )

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.

 

Mahi Malhotra - Millburn Location (Partner)

Ms. Mahi is a trained Bollywood dancer from Shehnaaz Dance Academy. At age 7, she joined our group of talented dance students. Ms. Mahi has performed at the India Day parade in NYC in 2018, won the JC Dance Stars competition in 2019, and she has been the master of ceremonies for the past several dance recitals. Her passion for dance drove her to launch the Millburn location in 2022 and she has been instrumental in its growth. Not only has Ms. Mahi grown as a dance instructor and leader, but she has also made a meaningful impact on her community.

Ms. Mahi has over a decade of training in taekwondo and is a 3rd dan black belt. She is a high-achieving student at Millburn High School and has been selected as a semifinalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Competition (representing < 1% of U.S. high school seniors). Ms. Mahi is a budding novelist, loves theater and has delivered memorable performances across several high school productions.

 

Chinmay Ashar- Head Choreographer + Hip Hop Instructor

Mr. Chinmay has been dancing for the last 15 years and has performed several styles of dance like hip hop, locking, popping, house, shuffle as well as Bollywood. Chinmay is also well-versed in the folk dance form of Garba. He has sharpened his dance techniques through various workshops like Urban Dance Camp (2016) and Danceworx workshops (2015).
Mr. Chinmay was a core team member of the Dance Club at BITS Pilani (2010-2014) serving as its secretary for 3 years. The Dance BITS team competed in the National Level Street Dance and Choreography competitions. His performances were showcased in India’s Got Talent (2013) and he also participated in the iconic Indian Television Dance Show Boogie Woogie.

Mr. Chinmay co-founded a dance company called Masala Beats in 2017 focusing on content creation. During the pandemic in 2020, he curated dance lessons sharing his passion for dance, techniques and musicality of various urban dance styles. Mr. Chinmay completed his Master’s from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business in 2020 and works as a management professional in a financial services firm in NYC.

 

Priya Tiwari- Kathak Instructor

Ms. Priya Tiwari is a Kathak dancer and choreographer with a Visharad Degree from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai in the year 1997. She has undergone extensive training under the guidance of Guru Shri Jayashree Tambe in Indore. Ms. Priya has taught Kathak to students of various ages at Nrutya Bharati, Indore and has worked closely on Kathak dance techniques, choreography, dance drama, storytelling and performance skills from 1997 to 2015. In the past, she has Implemented effective teaching methods to ensure understanding and engagement among students. During the pandemic, she initiated and managed the YouTube channel for Nrutya Bharati Indore which included envisioning, performing, producing and editing, as well as coaching, directing and coordinating peers and students.

A banker by profession and a member of ICSI, she has choreographed for ICSI Indore Chapter events and various cultural events at Axis Bank. Ms. Priya has served as a judge in various dance competitions in both Indore (Malwa Utsav, Kalidas Samaroh) and Mumbai (Vande-Bharatam Nritya Utsav). She was also the Cultural Committee Head of Institute of Company Secretaries of India, Indore Chapter and Cultural Committee Member for Axis Bank Ltd, Mumbai. Priya has performed in several stage shows in India, England and Sri Lanka - with a notable televised appearance on Doordarshan – “Vande Shivam Shankaram”. The Nritya-natika production titled "Dancing Radha" breaking myths around epilepsy, performed for the Queen Welfare Society (NGO), earned the prestigious Nritya Natika award in Malaysia in 2004. Ms. Priya uses her art in raising awareness for social causes as well. She is eager to bring her passion, expertise, and commitment to excellence in training her Kathak students at SDA.

 

Varshini Krishnaswamy- Bharatnatyam Instructor

Ms. Varshini started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of 4. Hailing from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the homeland of Bharatanatyam, she has been practicing it for the past 18 years. Ms. Varshini practices Kalakshetra Bani a distinctive Bharatanatyam style revived, refined and contemporized by Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, the founder of Kalakshetra. She has given solo and group performances at NJIT, NJ.  Ms. Varshini performed in Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru in 2011 and 2012. She has also performed at the auspicious Margazhi season of music and dance at temples in Chennai up until 2015. She performed at Gibney studio, Broadway NY for the Navaratri celebration in 2022.

She completed her Arangetram in 2021. She continues learning the art form from Ms. Preeti Vinayak who is based out of Atlanta. She enjoys practicing adavus at NYC Adavu and also Carnatic music with Ms. Preeti. Ms. Varshini has completed her master’s in computer networking from NJIT and currently works as a Senior Network Engineer on Wall Street, New York.

 

Ankita Khanna- Bharatnatyam & Bollywood Instructor

Ankita Khanna began her Bharatanatyam journey at the age of 3 under Guru Smt. Revathi Srinivasraghavan in Mumbai and continues to learn and teach under Guru Sahasra Sambamoorthi in New York City. In 2016, guided by the iconic Shiamak Davar, she captained a Bollywood-style Broadway musical in Dubai, showcasing her talent on a global stage. She continues to work with the NY Board of education and conducts workshops and assemblies on dances of India.

With 27 years of experience in dancing, teaching, and performing, Ankita is passionate about incorporating anatomy into dance, ensuring that her students understand their bodies better and dance safely. She holds certifications as a personal fitness trainer from the American College of Sports Medicine and is also a certified yoga instructor. Her journey epitomizes a dedication to empowering others through the art of Indian classical dance.

 

Sarah Kramer- Jazz & BollyJazz Instructor

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!

 

Tamir Rios- Hip Hop Instructor

Jersey City native, Tamir Rios, has been a dancer for nearly 14 years of his life. Rios is versatile in many forms of dance while mainly focusing on his ballet and modern techniques. In 2017, Rios was offered the New Jersey Governor's Award in Dance Arts during his high school career, where he majored in dance within the performing arts. As a high school student, Rios had the door opened to train at Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance, in Kent, Connecticut. Rios went on to continue his studies at Montclair State University shortly after. At Montclair State University, Rios has trained with a handful of choreographers from Maxine Steinman, Earl Frederick Mosley, Antonio Brown, Alwin Nikolais, Christian Vonhoward, Bill T. Jones, Stacey Tookey, and many more. 

In 2020, Rios became a founding member of “Zeitgeist Dance Theatre”. Rios found himself working under the guidance of artistic directors Francisco Gella and Yusha-Marie Sorzano of “Zeitgeist Dance Theatre”. Rios has also worked with Jamie Carabetta of “Ponybox Dance Theatre”. Tamir is currently a company dancer at the Nimbus School of Dance. Rios plans to use his everyday connections and skills to create new dance stories with the obstacles and challenges he comes into contact with and bestow that knowledge onto his students in his sessions.

 

Sangita Das- Kathak and Bollywood Instructor

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.

 

Neha Gupta- Folk & Bollywood Instructor

Ms. Neha is a trained Haryanvi dancer who started her dance journey at the age of 10. She was an integral part of Vaish College of Engineering’s Cultural Committees where she dabbled in dance, event planning and coordination. Ms. Neha participated with her team that won an award at the inter-college state-level competition for regional dance. She continued to nurture her passion for dance while pursuing her career at Infosys, Pune from 2010 to 2014 and participated in prominent events in San Diego like Festival of Lights, SANTA and CRY San Diego from 2015 to 2019. 


Ms. Neha teaches folk and Bollywood dance forms at SDA. She works as a Salesforce Solution Architect in PwC, New York. She also owns a small business called Dreams Alive specializing in event decor and backdrop curation and is a Mom to an energetic toddler.

 

Sushmitha V. - Hip Hop & BollyJazz Instructor

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.

 

Anshu Sharma - Kathak & Bollywood Instructor

Anshu Sharma is an accomplished Indian classical dance (Kathak) and Bollywood dance choreographer with a deep passion for the arts. She holds a graduate degree in classical dance and music (vocal) from Maharishi Dayanand University and a master’s degree in music (vocal) from Himachal University, India. With 17 years of experience as the Head of the Dance Department at Modern Delhi International School in Faridabad (Delhi NCR) from 2006 to 2023. Anshu’s expertise extends beyond classical dance to encompass a variety of folk dances, including Haryanvi, Punjabi, and Rajasthani, as well as vocal and instrumental music.

Anshu’s artistic talents have been showcased in numerous performances and competitions, where she has consistently emerged victorious. She made significant contributions to the arts through her work on the documentary "Beti," which aired on Doordarshan. Her choreography for school plays, such as "Pratigya," "Krishna," "Ramayana," and the highly acclaimed "Honsalon Ke Badshah" (depicting the life of Narendra Modi), has been celebrated for its creativity and impact. In addition to her work in education, Anshu has successfully organized and choreographed a wide range of private events, including wedding choreographies and celebrations for Teej, Diwali, and Bollywood nights. Her artistic experience is further enriched by her involvement in theatre during her college years.

 

Shreya Dixit- Belly & Bollywood Dance Instuctor

Ms Shreya is a Bollywood and semi classical dancer who has been dancing since she was 5. She has performed on stage almost every year, from school annual events to being featured in a dance sequence in a Marathi film in 2010. She was part of two professional dance groups in her hometown of Pune - Justine’s Dance Academy Group and Pune Heels Dance Academy where she did a year of belly dance training and also participated in many prominent events like Breast Cancer Awareness by Nag Foundation in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and Pune Commerce and New Business Awards Ceremony in 2014 to name a few.

She has done her schooling and college at St. Mary’s School, Pune and Masters in Computer Applications from Pune University. Shreya and her team led her alma mater Symbiosis College, Pune to victory in the Annual Dance Fest Symbhav in 2015. She has also completed short courses in Latin American and Ballroom Dancing ( Sumeru Dance School, Pune in 2009) has briefly trained in Kathak and Bharatanatyam through workshops. 

Ms Shreya comes from a family of teachers and she herself was a educator in Pune at Serra International School and Victorious Kids Educares from 2018-2020. Continuing her passion for teaching, she is now a Corporate Trainer and Etiquette Consultant in New Jersey. She describes dancing as a way her mind communicates with her. She is often seen swaying without music because rhythm runs in her body. She aspires to spread similar joy through dance to the students of SDA. 

 

Himanshi Kothari- Bollywood Instructor

Ms. Himanshi Kothari is a trained Bollywood dancer and has dabbled other dance forms like Hip-hop, Salsa, Contemporary, Semi-classical, and Garba and Heels style from dance professionals such as Sagar Mhadolkar, Swarali Karulkar, Revati Mahurkar and the Shiamak USA team. She is also pursuing Kathak dance lessons currently from Shivani Badgi in New York City, USA.

She started her dance journey at the early age of 4 and has been dancing ever since. Ms. Himanshi has performed and won folk and solo dance competitions during her school days and during her college festival – Pratibimb – in Mumbai, India in the year 2014. She has also been a part of her college dance team at VJTI (2013 – 2015) while pursuing her B. Tech in Mumbai, India. Ms. Himanshi is well versed with private events/wedding choreography. She moved to the USA in 2021 to pursue her MS in Business Analytics and is currently working with EY as a Technology Consultant.

 

Gauri More- Hip Hop, Semi classical & Bollywood Instructor

Ms. Gauri is a passionate dancer trained in various styles of dance. Ms. Gauri has trained in Bharatanatyam for 5 years from 2012-2017 at Kalashri School of Arts, learned Bollywood at Shiamak Davar Bollywood Dance Academy for a year, and has trained in Hip Hop for past 3 years with Susie Karlik’s Dance Sensation and she is currently part of their Hip Hop competitive dance team. She shares her passion for dance with her friends at school, as she is a participant in all 3 dance clubs at Millburn High School, and is a leader in choreography and organizing events such as recitals to promote dance in the community.

Ms. Gauri has performed at multiple events such as schools dance recitals, Makar Sankranti festivals, Chinese New Year Festival, and even the prestigious Prudential Center at Kalashri School of Arts 50th Annual Performance in 2016. As a choreographer who has choreographed and danced in several community events since the age of 7, Ms. Gauri is excited to further serve the Millburn community through her love of dance.

 

Rachita Kansal-Bollywood Instructor

Rachita Kansal began her dance journey at the age of 8, demonstrating a profound passion and commitment to the art form from an early age. Over the years, she remained actively involved in dance, participating in various school teams and performing at numerous events. During her college years, she joined UMBC Adaa in 2017 and was a dedicated member of the team for three years. Under her participation, the team competed in several prestigious dance competitions, including Tu Bhi Nachle, Dil Se, Sinatra, and Dhamaka Tamasha, consistently securing first place from in the years 2017-2020.

In addition to her expertise in Bollywood dance, Rachita has a deep passion for Bhangra, which she incorporates into her choreographic work. Rachita founded her own dance academy  in Virginia called Bolly Naach in 2019 where she taught students of all ages and skill levels. Her talent and dedication were further showcased when she won first place at both Taste of India and Festival of India in 2022 and 2033. Apart from her dance pursuits, Rachita works at Leidos as a DevOps Engineer. She enjoys traveling, painting, and exploring new food places. Rachita is eager to channel her diverse interests and enthusiasm for dance into inspiring the students at Shehnaaz Dance Academy. 

 

Piya Suryadevara- Bhangra and Bollywood Instructor

Ms. Piya is trained in both Indian and American classical dance since the age of 4, starting with Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi under the guidance of Guru Ritha Devi (1988-1993) and later transitioning to Ballet, Tap, Jazz & Lyrical at Marianne's School of Dance in Allentown, PA. (1992-2001). Growing up she was constantly participating, choreographing and teaching dances not only for Indian events but also multicultural events to spread diversity and cultural awareness in her hometown. During college, she became one of the founding members of Temple University's first Indian Competitive dance team - Agni (2003-2005) and then went on to co-captain the Bhangra team at American University of Antigua Medical School. (2006-2008).

She was born in the US and believes her passion for Bollywood and dance keeps her connected to her Indian/Bengali heritage, something she deeply cherishes. She loves motivating others to dance not only for onstage performances, but for exercise and fun - Bhangra being her top favorite! It is clear that throughout all her phases of life, dance remained her constant source of peace and happiness.

Ms. Piya is a Physician with the RWJ Barnabas Health System in New Jersey and has two kids, one who had her first stage performance at the age of 3. She is hoping to keep the dancing passion running strong in the family.

 

Saloni Arya- Bhangra & Bollywood Instructor

Saloni's journey in dance began at the age of five with Bollywood, and her passion expanded during college when she discovered Bhangra. She has now dedicated six years to mastering this vibrant dance form from several teachers that she looks up to as well as taking various workshops. At the University of North Carolina-Charlotte from 2020-2023 , Saloni was an integral part of a competitive Bollywood Fusion team, where she not only choreographed the Bhangra segment but also contributed to the choreography of Bollywood and Kuthu segments. Her exposure to other dance styles, such as Hip Hop and Contemporary, during this time further enriched her dance repertoire. Their team competed at Dhamaka Tamasha in 2022 as well as SBU Sholay in 2023 where Saloni was a lead dancer and her team placed second in this competition.

Professionally, Saloni is a Technical Rotational Associate at TIAA, while also pursuing her Master’s in Data Science at Johns Hopkins University. Outside of her professional and academic commitments, she enjoys spending her free time at the gym or participating in Bollywood and Bhangra workshops in NYC. Additionally, she has a passion for exploring new coffee shops and restaurants with her friends and family.

 

Bhargavi Gopi- Bollywood Instructor

Bhargavi Gopi is a passionate Bollywood dance instructor known for her vibrant and versatile approach to dance. With extensive training in Bharatanatyam at Natya Sampada School of Dance from the year 2004 to 2014, she brings a rich classical background to her Bollywood classes. Her journey also includes experience in contemporary and Bollywood dance through Shiamak Davar's Summer Funk program and various workshops during the years 2014-2016.Bhargavi has performed at numerous shows, festivals, and events, showcasing her dynamic energy and skill. Her extensive experience enables her to blend classical precision with contemporary flair, creating engaging and innovative choreography. She has also participated in Tharang by St Joseph’s College for 2018 ( mentioning this because I have a winning certificate with me for this )

As the founder of "Nritta," a dance platform launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bhargavi has provided a space for original choreography and creative collaborations. Nritta reflects her commitment to artistic growth and experimentation, featuring choreographies inspired by modern trends and renowned choreographers. In her classes, Bhargavi aims to emphasize the joy and energy of Bollywood dance, integrating technical skill with artistic expression. She is dedicated to inspiring her students, helping them build confidence, and encouraging their personal growth in dance. 

 

Ishika Shrivastav- Kathak Fusion and Bollywood Instructor

Ms. Ishika, a trained Kathak dancer from Indianica Academy, Iselin NJ started learning the classical Indian dance form at the age of 6. She has 7 years of extensive Kathak training and experience (2014-2022). Ms. Ishika and her troupe have performed at Lincoln Center and won 2nd place for their performance. At 12, Ms. Ishika utilized her summer break to teach dance to a group of students in her garage. She succeeded in teaching the basics of hastaks and Kathak footwork as well as Bollywood dance to her young students.

Performing since a young age has boosted her self-confidence and she is excited to take on a new role at SDA. Ms. Ishika also has 5 years of experience playing the piano and has won trophies and accolades from her piano recitals as well as a brown belt in karate. Additionally, she is a dedicated student at Millburn High School with exceptional grades.

 

Srishti. Keshwani- Bollywood Dance Instructor

Ms Srishti is trained in the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam - Tanjore Gharana, under Ms. Hemakshi Joshi. Always passionate about dancing even before she knew what it meant, has brought her a long way. She started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of 10 and tries to dig in deeper even today. She came to the US recently to pursue her Master's of Science in Financial Management from Pace University, Lubin School of Business, NYC. She has done her Bachelor's of Business Administration in Branding and Advertising from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai (2019-2022). She believes dancing is her all-time stress buster. 

She has performed  multiple times with her dance school Shri Sai Kala Kendra, Daman, at Scouts and Guides Annual functions, school events and functions, the Prime Minister of India's visit, the Itch Summit event, etc. She has also participated in competitions like Jubilee Arts and Talent Parades between 2016 and 2019. She is also well versed in other styles like Semi-classical, Raas and Garba, Bhangra and Giddha, Bollywood, Lavani and Rajasthani folk dancers. She strongly believes that each child is a born dancer and wishes to pass her talent and grit on to her students.

 

Deanna Vicioso- BollyJazz & BollyHop Teaching Assistant

Ms. Deanna has been dancing at Peak Performing Arts for over 3 years (2021-2024). She is currently training in Contemporary , Hip Hop, Jazz, and Ballet. Deanna is currently a part of Peak Performing Arts’ competition team and is training to compete at Tri State Competitions this year. In the past, Ms. Deanna has trained and performed in Contemporary dance techniques and nuances under Ms. Vaishnavi Kulkarni. She will be teaching BollyJazz and BollyHop along side Ms. Madison at SDA this semester. Ms. Deanna has also been the lead choreographer in our Under the Sea Musical with students ranging from ages 4-12 years in 2023. Her hobbies include but are not limited to dancing, singing, and acting. She hopes to make it to broadway someday as a performing artist in a lead role. Deanna loves to play guitar and hang out with my two cats, Blue and Sapphire. She can’t wait to mentor her new students at SDA this semester.

 

Hiral Sachde- Hindi Instructor

Ms. Hiral is an award-winning multimedia journalist and writer. She started her career with Network 18 as a core team member of CBNC Awaaz- a Hindi Business News channel in Mumbai. Apart from reporting for daily news, she has anchored and produced several feature shows in Hindi for CNBC Awaaz and CNBC TV 18. She has extensive experience in scripting and voicing in Hindi.


Apart from Mumbai, Ms. Hiral has also lived in Dubai. While there, she freelanced for the Times Now News Network, a film website and Radio 4- a Bollywood Radio Station. During her stint with radio, she voiced radio commercials and also dabbled in copywriting in Hindi. Besides Hindi, Ms. Hiral is fluent in English, Marathi and Gujarati. A Post- Graduate Diploma holder in Journalism and Mass Communication from Xavier Institute of Communications Mumbai, she currently freelances for Indian TV networks, content writing and copyediting. She also has a small business curating and selling artisanal home decor and accessories. Ms. Hiral resides in Jersey City with her family and is a mom to 2 lovely kids.

 

Apnavi Pareek- Founder of Buzy Bug LLC

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 BuzyBugs in 2015 while living in Singapore. Buzybugs 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.