Amruta Yeolekar

DC Instructor and Performance Company Member since 2008

Amruta teaches Tots, Juniors, and Beginner Adults through Dhoonya Dance. Her passion and energy instills confidence in her students. The most rewarding part of teaching to her is the end result: lots of smiling faces and brilliant performers. Amruta's dance style is what she calls, "Mixed-Bag." Although the roots are Bollywood, she loves to learn and add new styles to my arsenal. Her style also reflects high energy moves and intense facial expressions.

Amruta's experience includes choreographing and performing at festivals and competitions in Mumbai (Bombay), India. Her experience with teaching kids stems from her choreography for numerous social gatherings/events in Mumbai. Through Dhoonya Dance, she has performed at the America's Polo Cup Fall Classic event, Asia Heritage Festival, and the Dhoonya Dance's sold out Showcase – ‘BollyB!end’ at Atlas Performing Arts Theatre – all in Washington, DC.
Fun Facts: "I 'live' Bollywood! Being born and brought up in Mumbai (Bombay - the Mecca of Bollywood) … it’s in the blood."

"I am a certified Fitness Trainer (Certified by International Sports Science Association). I love ice-cream … anytime … anywhere! … anyone? I love theme parks and any roller coaster … the scarier … the better! I am glad my hubby is a dance-enthusiast!"

Jessica Elengical

NYC Instructor since 2009

Jessica's roots are in classical dance, and much of her choreography has hints of that style. Jessica's dance career began at a very young age with ballet and tap. She then trained in Bharatanatyam for 15 years, Mohini Attam for 5 years, and has also taken classes in Kathak, Odissi and Manipuri. Through the years, she has also taken classes in a variety of other dance styles from hip hop and break dance to salsa and merengue. She has performed at a variety of venues across the east coast, including the Kennedy Center, the National Theatre in Washington D.C, the Indian Independence Day Parade in New York, and the Diwali Show at the South Street Seaport.

When she's not dancing, Jessica works in finance at a premier Investment Bank. Jessica received her B.A. in Economics from Georgetown University. She also recently completed her M.B.A. at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Fun Facts: "I like to cook, travel, play piano, and read books. I’m also kind of a closet daredevil. In 2008, I went ice-climbing in the Adirondacks."

Kajal Mehta

Founding Partner and DC Managing Director Instructor and Performance Company Member since 2005

Kajal is a Founding Partner of Dhoonya Dance and the DC area Managing Director. As the mastermind behind Dhoonya's curriculum and dance style, Kajal has developed a lot of Dhoonya techniques around Bollywood dance so that students can learn and grow in the dance form.

Kajal was raised in Laurel, MS, went to college at Emory University in Atlanta, and received her Master in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Louisiana State University. Before working with Dhoonya Dance full time, she was a Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton.

Kajal has training in western dance forms such as jazz, hip hop, and modern dance (and has also taken clogging!) and South Asian forms such as, Garba/Raas, Kathak and Bollywood dance as well as some lyrical Bollywood dance from the esteemed Terence Lewis Academy in Mumbai.

She has been teaching for 4 years in the DC area and also spent a summer teaching Dhoonya Workout classes in Mumbai. Additionally, she assisted in choreography and instructed the Redskins Cheerleaders as they prepared for their trip to India to jumpstart the India's Professional Cricket League Cheerleading Team. Kajal has performed on the Oprah Winfrey show; at the Youth Aids Gala in front of celebrity guests Ashley Judd and Bono; John F Kennedy Center; National Cherry Blossom Festival; Asia Society Gala - Tribute to chief guest, Mira Nair; and Sony's BoogieWoogie, DC Competition.

FUN FACT: "About me? I sang in a Contemporary Gospel group in MS during high school and was part of an a capella group throughout college. I am a Southern Belle at heart and I love college football (GEAUX TIGERS!). I wish I had been born in India!"

Monica Khurana

NYC Instructor since 2009

Her style which is rooted in classical dance, but fused with contemporary movements is exhibited in her every move.

Monica trained at the Shakti School of Dance, under choreographer Viji Prakash in Bharatanatyam for over 20 years. She completed her Arangetram, professional dance debut, in front of 800+ attendees in October 1994. Her dance experience includes training through the UCLA Dance Department, World Arts & Culture where she trained in several ethnic dance forms such as, African, Jazz, Bollywood and Modern. She has also taken a one-week intensive course in Flamenco dance and music in September 2005 in Seville, Spain. Prior to moving to New York and joining Dhoonya Dance, Monica performed with the Blue13 Dance Company, under choreographer Achinta McDaniel. She trained in a fusion dance form that included hip-hop, jazz, modern, ballet, Bollywood and classical Indian dance. Past performances include the Lincoln Center, Henry Fonda Music Box, Sony Metreon, and various performances all over United States and Canada.

Monica is originally from Los Angeles, CA. She completed her undergraduate studies at UCLA and received her MBA at NYU Stern. When not dancing, she works at HBO Sports and loves to travel and spend time with her husband, family and friends.

Fun Fact: "I was lucky enough to perform alongside Ray Manzerek (The Doors), 311, George Pahone (Black Eyed Peas) and Cheb i Sabbah at a fundraising event at the Sunset Room in Hollywood, CA."

Palak Sheth

DC Instructor and Performance Company Member since 2008

Although trained mostly in classical and folk dancing, Palak's dance style is a mix of graceful and funky that branches out into a variety of genres. Whether she's performing a Bollywood dance or a hip hop dance, she aims to incorporate the grace she's learned from her folk dance training, with the control and precision that She's learned from her classical dance training. Palak's teaching style is a mix of passion and humor that is a hit with adult classes and workshops; Her dance classes with Dhoonya were even featured in the Washington Post.

Her dance experience includes the Nartan School of Dance from March 1987-September 1998. She was a dance student of Raksha Dave and focused in Gujarati Folk dances and dance dramas. At Nrityollasa, from 1993-1998 she was a dance student of Rupa Shyamsundram in Classical Bharatanatyam. Her favorite performances to date include the America's Polo Cup Fall Classic event, the half-time show for the Pistons Basketball game (during the basketball season) and BhangraBlowout.

Palak is originally from Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan followed by Case Western Reserve University School of Law. When not dancing with Dhoonya Dance, Palak works as the Program Director for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She also focuses her energy on organizing the Best of the Best (www.bobcompetition.com), the leading National Indian Dance Championship which she started in 2004.

Student Testimonials: "I thought your instructions last night were great. I appreciated that you spent more time deconstructing the moves and running through them a few times without music. I definitely felt much less lost when we ran through the routine with music!"

Fun Fact: "I was born in India. The first time I danced I did a solo for my school talent show. I was 6 years old and performed 'AapJaise Koi' from Qurbani."

Priya Pandya

Founding Partner and NY Managing Director Instructor since 2005

Flexibility, fluidity and grace are key influences that Priya brings to the development of the Dhoonya Dance Curriculum TM.

Priya has been applauded by Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Baachan on the Oprah Winfrey Show and consulted tours of artists such as Jay Sean. Folk, semi-classical and yoga-inspired Indian dance are Priya's forte. Growing up in a family of dancers, Priya began her performance career in Indian folk dance at age three. She spent her early summers studying folk and classical dance in India. She continued to hone her skills through 15 years of formal training in Bharatanatyam. Her early exposure to yoga, gymnastics and karate later became key influences in the development of the Dhoonya Dance curriculum. Priya is also a certified yoga teacher in an Iyengar/Ashtanga blend method.

Fun Fact: Priya was profiled in Washingtonian Magazine with 25 people (including President Obama!) in the article 25 Beautiful People, in Washingtonian Magazine 2005.

Punita Misra

NYC Instructor since 2009

Punita's Bollywood style and technique perfectly exemplify the grace, beauty and emotion behind Indian dance. As one of Dhoonya NYC's first instructors, Punita is extremely excited to share her passion for Bollywood dancing and artistic expression through Dhoonya's BollyBasics and Pop Bhangra classes.

She has been performing to traditional and modern Bollywood music since the age of seven. Grounded in 10 years of classical Indian dance training (Bharatnatyam), Punita continues to evolve her technique by combining her experience with classical and folksy rhythms with her passion for the modern, fusion sounds of the 21st century, creating a Bollywood style that is uniquely her own.

As an instructor at a South Asian dance academy, Punita taught structured classes to students ranging in age, experience level, and cultural background. At Columbia University, she led the choreography of several Bollywood dance performances for student cultural shows, participated in numerous dance competitions along the east coast, and was a member of the university's South Asian dance troupe.

Fun Fact: "Bollywood to me is artistic and cultural expression, beauty...and escape!"

Rupal Akruwala

NY Instructor since 2009

Rupal is classically trained in Bharatanatyam under Smt. Kamala Narayam and has completed her arangetram for an audience of over 700. She also performed in several national Indian folk dance competitions as part of her training. Rupal’s style is very expressive and is a strong choreographer who is able to adapt to a wide range of dance styles from Indian classical and folk to hip- hop and jazz. Her goal is to capture the essence of the music in her choreography using facial expressions and specific movements to emphasize nuances in the music.

Rupal is originally from New York and attended the George Washington University where she furthered her dancing repertoire. Her experiences included choreography and performing for large scale competitions such as Bhangra Blowout at Constitutional Hall.

Fun Fact: “I think in dance. As I’m listening to a song I visualize an entire dance”

Sini Jacob

DC Instructor and Performance Company member since 2008

Sini's dance style usually fuses typical Bolly-style footwork/rhythms with hip-hop/jazz styles and classical Indian graces. Sini is very conscious of how dances look from an audience's perspective and puts emphasis on the visual and sensual appeal of her movements when choreographing.

Sini has taken Bharatanatyam at the Nrithya Shala school in MD, as well as various classes in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-hop, Belly dance, and Ballroom/Latin. Prior to teaching with Dhoonya Dance, she spent a year co-teaching Tap, Jazz, and Hip-hop for youth through the Parkville Recreational Association in Baltimore County MD. Her favorite performances include the Oprah Winfrey Show, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and the DC Arts on Foot Festival.

Sini is originally from Baltimore, MD and received her Bachelor's degree in Biology from Towson University in MD. She now lives in Silver Spring, MD and works in the contracts department at the Environmental Protection Agency. Sini attends the St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church of Baltimore where she sings in the choir and teaches Sunday School and participates on church councils.

Fun Fact: "Bollywood dance is the perfect avenue for me to combine 2 important parts of my person. It enables me to dance and perform, as well as provides a way to maintain and enrich my life culturally."

Sunita Chaphalkar

NYC Instructor since 2009

Sunita is one of Dhoonya’s most upbeat and energetic teachers and brings 20 years of Bollywood dance experience to her students. Her teaching style is the perfect first class for those who have never dance before. She helps students develop sharp movements and "pop" style energy integral in Bollywood dance.

Sunita’s love for dance began at a very early age by learning Bharatanatyam, classical Indian dance. Sunita has performed on the Oprah Winfrey Show with the Dhoonya Dance Team and her classes have been featured in Time Out NY Magazine.

Sunita is originally from Chicago and attended the University of Illinois (Champaign - Urbana) and the University of Minnesota. When she is not dancing, she works as an HR Manager at a biopharmaceutical company. She also loves to bake and attend her sister’s art events.

Fun Fact: "For me, Bollywood dance allows me to stay connected to my culture and pass that cultural knowledge along to others that I teach."

Anjani Deshpande

DC Instructor and Performance Company Member since 2006

Anjani's dance style is best described as "Pop Bollywood". Her students have particularly enjoyed her choreography to "item numbers" like Beedi, IshqKamina, ChammaChamma, and KhwabDekhe from Race. Her students love her energy and the excitement that it brings to each of them. Anjani is also known for her communication with the students, helping them to understand the feelings/meaning behind every song in order for them to feel passionately about what they are performing.

Anjani has been dancing to Bollywood and Bhangra music since early childhood. She was influenced by traditional Indian styles of dance while growing up in Mumbai and then later exposed to modern, hip-hop, and ballroom dance in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. She was a lead choreographer and performer of Bollywood and Bhangra dance at Diwali and Holi cultural shows at Ohio State University. Her favorite performances include YouthAIDS Charity Gala, Kennedy Center, Indian Embassy, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Asia Heritage Festival and Dance DC Festival.

Fun Fact: "Bollywood dance to me is a means to express my talents as a dancer, to express my identity as a South Asian, and enjoy sharing my love for Bollywood with others."

Annie Sampson

DC Instructor since 2007, Performance Company member from 2005-2008

Annie's dance style is very much classically rooted. As one of our BollyNatyam experts, she brings this strong classical background developed in childhood along with her experience in various forms including western and eastern, and a genuine passion for dance and music to the classes that she teaches.

Annie has trained in tap, jazz, Bharatnatyam, belly dance, Bollywood, and folk styles of dance. Her favorite performances include Kennedy Center (Washington, DC), Queen Elizabeth Hall (London, UK), National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Washington Metropolitan Opera's Midwinter Gala, and the YouthAIDS Gala with celebrity guests Bono, Ashley Judd, and Nancy Pelosi.

Annie is originally from the Washington DC Metro area. Annie studied the classical dance form Bharatnatyam under Smt. Rani David of Kalairani Natya Salai, of MD. She completed her undergraduate degree in Philadelphia, and graduate school at the London School of Economics in London, UK. Annie's full time job is in public health for the federal government in the field of cancer research. In addition to being an instructor for Dhoonya Dance she is also the resident Makeup Artist and Consultant. Annie has begun doing some freelance makeup specializing in wedding, performance, and Bollywood makeup.

Testimonial about Annie as private wedding dance instructor: "...our dance was a HUGE success! Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into creating the routine and for the patience required to teach it to us. We loved working with you and it was great fun...even after it was all over, my mother said that of everything ... our dance was her favorite part."

Fun Fact: "I dance in the car, I dance in the elevators at work, I dance at my desk, I dance in my sleep...dance is a part of my soul."

Shailee Adinolfi

DC Instructor and Performance Company member since 2007

Shailee brings her Jazz/Hip Hop background with an Indian twist to Dhoonya Dance's program and is therefore our leading Bolly-Hip Hop expert. As an instructor, Shailee is a big proponent of not only teaching the technique behind moves, but also teaching stage presence. If you have it, she will make you show it in the class room!

Shailee's vast dance experience includes dancing with the Washington Wizards, Culture Shock DC, DCypher Dance, and American University Dance Team. She has performed at the Verizon Center (Washington, DC), Taj Mahal (Atlantic City), and Jacob Javitz Center (NY, NY).

Shailee is originally from Burtonsville, MD and attended American University in DC. She works in international development and is very passionate about her job.

Fun Fact: "Bollywood dance means that I can fuse my American self with my Indian heritage in the one way I know best how to express myself - through dance!"

Sushmitha Narsiah

DC Instructor since 2006

Sushmitha brings a sense of happiness to all of her classes. Her emphasis on smiling is a big hit with the kids, which is why she is one of Dhoonya's most loved Tots instructors. Sushmitha began learning bharatanatyam classical Indian dance at the age of six. She has studied dance for over ten years and describes her style as classic and graceful. She went on to perform Bhangra in college, and then to eventually teach Bollywood with Dhoonya Dance. Past performances include Zee TV, touring with Bombay Dreams, and various Bhangra competitions. While serving as the NYU Bhangra Team girls' dance captain, the team won competitions at Boston Bhangra, Cornell, and Seaton Hall.

Sushmitha is originally from Potomac, Maryland and is an Economics graduate of NYU. She is currently working on her Master's degree in International Relations at the John's Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. When not dancing, she is traveling to new places and learning about new cultures.

Fun Fact: "I have taken bellydancing and hip hop lessons to expand my dance perspective :)”

Marwa Sherzad

DC Junior Instructor since 2009

Marwa brings energy and a fun attitude to the classroom which is definite necessity for the age group she teaches (Kids, age 5-7). As an advanced level student herself she tries to express the song through her movements the best she can and instills that in her students as well.

Marwa took Ballet when at the age of 6, Jazz at 7, and has been learning Bollywood at Dhoonya Dance since its inception in 2005. Through Dhoonya Dance, Marwa has performed at Bhangra Blowout with renowned Bhangra singer Malkit Singh, GW University's Raas Chaos, the Cherry Blossom Festival and many other DC-based Dance Festivals.

Marwa's family is from Kabul, Afghanistan but she was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Springfield, VA. She is currently a sophomore at Robert E. Lee High School. When she is not busy studying or preparing for her Dhoonya Dance classes, she plays volleyball and practices the sitar.

Fun Fact: "Ever since I was born I have been watching Bollywood movies and always tried to copy the moves that the stars did.”

Jayati Nath

NYC Instructor since Jan 2010

Jayati has been dancing since she was 5, learning various dance forms such as Tap, Jazz, and Modern dance, and most recently, Salsa, Cha Cha, and Meringue. She also has trained in various South Asian forms such as, Rajasthani Folk, Garba/Raas, Bhangra, Kathak, and Kuchipudi. She has formal training in Bharatanatyam for over 20 years. For four consecutive years she attended the dance camp run by the Dhananjayans of the Bharata Kalanjali school. She also completed her Arengetram under the guidance of her guru, Lesandre Ayre and the Dhananjayans.

Jayati’s dance experience includes dancing through the UCLA dance department, where she learned various styles of dance, including Indian Folk, Jazz, and Modern. She was also a member of the UCLA Bhangra team. She has actively participated and choreographed dances for the UCLA South Asian Club as well as performing for various community events in Fresno and Southern California.

Jayati is originally from Fresno, CA. She did her undergraduate studies at UCLA. She received her Masters in Mediation and Restorative Justice and then went on to obtain her law degree in Southern California. Before moving to New York, she worked as a mediator/attorney in Los Angeles.

FUN FACTS: “For me Bollywood dance isn’t a form, it’s a way of life. I love to incorporate my moves into every day mundane activities, from vacuuming the carpet to just walking on the streets of New York, it gives me an escape into a theatrical world, away from the real.”

Saniya Suri

DC Student since 2006 and Junior Instructor since 2009

Saniya describes her teaching style as "gently authoritative". She takes command of the class, but her instruction style is gentle to foster open learning in children. She easily connects with children and makes their dance class a fun experience.

Saniya has 4 years of Jazz and Hip-hop training and 3 years of Kathak. She has been taking Bollywood dance classes at Dhoonya Dance since 2006 and is now one of the company's advanced students. Her performances include Raas Chaos 2008, DC Dance Festival 2007 and 2009, Cherry Blossom Festival 2008, and various other local festivals. Saniya's family is originally from Lucknow, India but she was born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Bakersfield, CA. She currently lives in Mclean, VA and is a freshman at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. In addition to dance, Saniya learns classical Indian singing, plays soccer, and is on her school's debate team.

Fun Fact: "I have been doing Bollywood dance since I was little and it means the world to me; not being able to do it would be taking away my identity."

Yasmeen Mushtaq

DC Student since 2007, Junior Instructor since 2009

Yasmeen brings her love of dance, her joy of working with young children, and enthusiasm for all things Bollywood to each class that she teaches. Yasmeen's dance style is a fusion of modern and classical which is a reflection of her dance training. She has taken 10 years of classical Vaganova (Russian) ballet, performing twice a year in productions like the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, The Toymaker, etc. She has also been a student of Bollywood dance with Dhoonya Dance since the summer of 2007. Through Dhoonya Dance, she has performed at the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Dhoonya Dance production, "Jalwa." Yasmeen was born in Newport Beach, California and currently resides in McLean, Virginia. Her family is from Lucknow and Delhi, India. She is currently a freshman at the National Cathedral School in Washington, DC. In addition to dance, Yasmeen enjoys traveling, playing the piano, playing tennis, and ballet.

Fun Fact: "I collect dolls from all countries I've visited, compiling an International Doll Collection. I started the collection when I was 1 year old."

Namita Kansal

VA Instructor since 2009

Namita has always brought fun and enthusiasm to the Kids classes. Namita describes her dance style as a "mix-and-match" of steps from all the different types of dances she has learned and observed.

Namita began learning dance at the age of six and has since taken classes in Ballet, Jazz, Kathak and Bollywood. Her performances include the Kennedy Center, Wolftrap, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Namita's family is originally from Delhi, India but she was born and raised in Vienna, Virginia. She is currently a freshman at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Along with dance, she has a passion for sports, especially travel soccer and county basketball. She also recently joined the high school volleyball team. She has been playing the piano for 8 years and also enjoys reading mystery and realistic fiction novels.

Fun Fact: “I am very fond of visiting new places around the world! I have been to different parts of Europe, India, Australia, the Caribbean islands, Hawaii, and more..."

Aalap Shah

NY Instructor since 2010

Aalap's dance style is traditional folk blended with high energy and passion! His classes are perfect for students who not only wish to improve, but want to sweat and have fun. Aalap's students enjoy his cheerful nature, and his love of 'head-bobbing.".

Before Dhoonya, Aalap was a competitor in Fogana for 4 years. He has also choreographed and performed at the collegiate level in events such as Bhangra Blowout, Rass Chaos, and numerous cultural conferences. A performer at heart, Aalap has danced in a variety of settings, including shows, weddings, and events.

Aalap was born in Houston but has regrettably lost his Texan accent. He attended Georgetown University. He is now working in economic development and livelihood, supporting artisans, producers, and farmers in poverty-alleviation strategies.

Fun Fact: "I am training for my 4th triathlon!"

Amruta Yeolekar

DC Instructor and Performance Company Member since 2008

Amruta teaches Tots, Juniors, and Beginner Adults through Dhoonya Dance. Her passion and energy instills confidence in her students. The most rewarding part of teaching to her is the end result: lots of smiling faces and brilliant performers. Amruta's dance style is what she calls, "Mixed-Bag." Although the roots are Bollywood, she loves to learn and add new styles to my arsenal. Her style also reflects high energy moves and intense facial expressions.

Amruta's experience includes choreographing and performing at festivals and competitions in Mumbai (Bombay), India. Her experience with teaching kids stems from her choreography for numerous social gatherings/events in Mumbai. Through Dhoonya Dance, she has performed at the America's Polo Cup Fall Classic event, Asia Heritage Festival, and the Dhoonya Dance's sold out Showcase – ‘BollyB!end’ at Atlas Performing Arts Theatre – all in Washington, DC.

Fun Facts: "I 'live' Bollywood! Being born and brought up in Mumbai (Bombay - the Mecca of Bollywood) … it’s in the blood."

"I am a certified Fitness Trainer (Certified by International Sports Science Association). I love ice-cream … anytime … anywhere! … anyone? I love theme parks and any roller coaster … the scarier … the better! I am glad my hubby is a dance-enthusiast!"

Anjani Deshpande

DC Instructor and Performance Company Member since 2006

Anjani's dance style is best described as "Pop Bollywood". Her students have particularly enjoyed her choreography to "item numbers" like Beedi, IshqKamina, ChammaChamma, and KhwabDekhe from Race. Her students love her energy and the excitement that it brings to each of them. Anjani is also known for her communication with the students, helping them to understand the feelings/meaning behind every song in order for them to feel passionately about what they are performing.

Anjani has been dancing to Bollywood and Bhangra music since early childhood. She was influenced by traditional Indian styles of dance while growing up in Mumbai and then later exposed to modern, hip-hop, and ballroom dance in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. She was a lead choreographer and performer of Bollywood and Bhangra dance at Diwali and Holi cultural shows at Ohio State University. Her favorite performances include YouthAIDS Charity Gala, Kennedy Center, Indian Embassy, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Asia Heritage Festival and Dance DC Festival.

Fun Fact: "Bollywood dance to me is a means to express my talents as a dancer, to express my identity as a South Asian, and enjoy sharing my love for Bollywood with others."

Kajal Mehta

Founding Partner and DC Managing Director Instructor and Performance Company Member since 2005

Kajal is a Founding Partner of Dhoonya Dance and the DC area Managing Director. As the mastermind behind Dhoonya's curriculum and dance style, Kajal has developed a lot of Dhoonya techniques around Bollywood dance so that students can learn and grow in the dance form.

Kajal was raised in Laurel, MS, went to college at Emory University in Atlanta, and received her Master in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Louisiana State University. Before working with Dhoonya Dance full time, she was a Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton.

Kajal has training in western dance forms such as jazz, hip hop, and modern dance (and has also taken clogging!) and South Asian forms such as, Garba/Raas, Kathak and Bollywood dance as well as some lyrical Bollywood dance from the esteemed Terence Lewis Academy in Mumbai.

She has been teaching for 4 years in the DC area and also spent a summer teaching Dhoonya Workout classes in Mumbai. Additionally, she assisted in choreography and instructed the Redskins Cheerleaders as they prepared for their trip to India to jumpstart the India's Professional Cricket League Cheerleading Team. Kajal has performed on the Oprah Winfrey show; at the Youth Aids Gala in front of celebrity guests Ashley Judd and Bono; John F Kennedy Center; National Cherry Blossom Festival; Asia Society Gala - Tribute to chief guest, Mira Nair; and Sony's BoogieWoogie, DC Competition.

FUN FACT: "About me? I sang in a Contemporary Gospel group in MS during high school and was part of an a capella group throughout college. I am a Southern Belle at heart and I love college football (GEAUX TIGERS!). I wish I had been born in India!"

Palak Sheth

DC Instructor and Performance Company Member since 2008

Although trained mostly in classical and folk dancing, Palak's dance style is a mix of graceful and funky that branches out into a variety of genres. Whether she's performing a Bollywood dance or a hip hop dance, she aims to incorporate the grace she's learned from her folk dance training, with the control and precision that She's learned from her classical dance training. Palak's teaching style is a mix of passion and humor that is a hit with adult classes and workshops; Her dance classes with Dhoonya were even featured in the Washington Post.

Her dance experience includes the Nartan School of Dance from March 1987-September 1998. She was a dance student of Raksha Dave and focused in Gujarati Folk dances and dance dramas. At Nrityollasa, from 1993-1998 she was a dance student of Rupa Shyamsundram in Classical Bharatanatyam. Her favorite performances to date include the America's Polo Cup Fall Classic event, the half-time show for the Pistons Basketball game (during the basketball season) and BhangraBlowout.

Palak is originally from Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan followed by Case Western Reserve University School of Law. When not dancing with Dhoonya Dance, Palak works as the Program Director for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She also focuses her energy on organizing the Best of the Best (www.bobcompetition.com), the leading National Indian Dance Championship which she started in 2004.

Student Testimonials: "I thought your instructions last night were great. I appreciated that you spent more time deconstructing the moves and running through them a few times without music. I definitely felt much less lost when we ran through the routine with music!"

Fun Fact: "I was born in India. The first time I danced I did a solo for my school talent show. I was 6 years old and performed 'AapJaise Koi' from Qurbani."

Sameer Yeolekar

Sameer Yeolekar
DC Performance Company Member since 2008

Sameer has choreographed, performed in, and won numerous intra-college and inter-college festivals and competitions in Mumbai (Bombay), India. He has also been involved in choreographing and performing sequences for numerous social gatherings/events and assisted in the choregraphy for the Bollywood Music Video, "Confused Love". Sameer's favorite performances include: Dhoonya Dance Showcase –  "BOLLYB!end" at Atlas Performing Arts Theatre; Born2Dance Studio Showcase - "Awaken the Dancer Within".

Sameer is from Mumbai where he completed his Bachelors in Computer Engineering from the University of Mumbai (Bombay), India. He then came to America where he received his Masters in Computer Science from the University of Missouri. He now works for a government contracting firm in Arlington, VA and is involved with technology and process improvement. Aside from dancing, Sameer's interests include cricket (he plays cricket for the DC United Cricket Club - www.dcunitedcc.org), kickboxing, and working towards a six-pack!

Fun Facts:
"Bollywood … partially but, primarily implies ‘Rendering Indian culture via Dance and Music’. Visit www.sameeryeolekar.com"

"My wife is a dance fanatic. She's already performed for a music video and on National Television in the USA and is also a member of Dhoonya Dance."