Pia Sutaria
Ballet and RAD
Pia Sutaria is a graduate of the “Royal Academy of Music” where she was a recipient of the Disney Theatrical Scholarship and is also a registered teacher with the “Royal Academy of Dance”, London. Most recently, Pia played the principal role “Mala” in the UK tour of the musical “Bombay Superstar” and also performed with the Welsh National Opera’s “Migrations”, and “Settling” at the Criterion Theatre, London.
Pia has performed in India and Internationally for over a decade and has toured internationally with “Navdhara India Dance Theatre” in Turkey, Israel, Canada, USA, and Japan. A soloist at the, “National Centre for the Performing Arts” and the, “Royal Opera House”, in Mumbai, Pia has also represented global brands like Dove, Jockey, Puma, and Nike as a recognised Ballerina in India. She recently gave a TEDx talk on dance and classical ballet in India.
In 2018, Pia founded the “Institute of Classical and Modern Dance” to fill the deep void that existed for vocational training for young dancers in India. As a result, Pia’s vision is to make vocational training in dance accessible to young artists. Moreover, to make Ballet, an otherwise elitist art form, to be within the grasp of anyone who wants to pursue it. The school has successfully sent students on scholarships to top performing arts Institutions in Europe, the UK, and USA.
Ashifa Sarkar Vasi
Ballet ABT
Ashifa Sarkar Vasi began ballet at age 6 and trained for 14 years in the USA. She received intensive summer training at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City and the reputed Rock School for Dance Education (Philadelphia Ballet) in Pennsylvania, USA. She performed for 11 years, including roles like Clara, Chinese, Doll, Arabian, Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker; soloist in La Bayadere and Sleeping Beauty; and lead roles in Les Sylphides, Carousel, and multiple original works. Her experience ranged from local community engagements to full scale pre-professional performances.
Ashifa is currently an independent ballet teacher based in Mumbai, India. She is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She has been teaching ballet since 1999 both in the USA and India and has worked with students of various ages, levels, abilities and backgrounds in different settings (communities, schools, dance academies, and private studios). In India, she has taught for Terence Lewis, Sumeet Nagdev, The Danceworx, Shiamak Davar, the Institute of Classical and Modern Dance (ICMD), children’s centers and workshops, private studios, as well as conducted private classes.
Her latest endeavor in the ballet space since 2017 is the Ballet Festival of India that aims to promote learning, networking, collaboration and performance opportunities in ballet with an emphasis on artistic and technical excellence. Read more about Ashifa at www.ashifa.net/ballet.
Ankita Kalsi
Pilates Instructor
Ankita is a Qualified Pilates and Movement Instructor, educator and a Student of Pilates method for the past 9 years.She is certified in the STOTT Pilates Method from the Zone Studio in Bangalore, and is currently pursuing an academic study of the Eric Franklin Method of Movement.
She specialises in Strengtning, Rehabilitation and Athletic Conditioning through Pilates on the Reformer, Mat and Chair. She’s trained and certified in Rehabilitative exercise by the Rehab Trainer company in Australia.
Apart from Pilates, she has been a trained dancer, with Ashley Lobo’s Danceworx academy and an alumni of The future school of performing arts. Where she has also been a faculty to students instructing them in the pilates method. She is trained in classical ballet, Jazz and Latin ballroom dance forms.
She believes her education in dance with her respective teachers has made her the movement instructor she is today, and has formed the base of her repertoire majorly.
Her approach towards movement lies in building a deep connect with the mind and body.
She is passionate about animals and is constantly working on sustainable ideas for better animal habitats and their welfare in the world.
Shivani Mistry
Ballet RAD
I’ve been dancing since the age of 5. I’m a dancer, choreographer and dance educator in India. I’ve studied Ballet, Modern Theatre, Jazz, Latin American, Musical Theatre and Contemporary. I’m also a Biotechnology graduate. I’ve been training, travelling around the world for intensives and workshops, teaching and creating. I’ve pursued dance with great zeal, passion and honest dedication. I’ve been featured in various international magazines as an influencer for women empowerment, physical and mental well-being and for dance achievements. My aim is to expand the extent of my knowledge, mind, and body whilst acknowledge my capabilities and limits only to push beyond them. I wish to constant strive to refine myself in the art I love the most. It is my endeavors to inspire people and show beyond doubt the possibilities of possessing a thriving career in the field of art.
Tarini Tripathi
Kathak rep
I’m a third-generation Kathak dancer who has trained under my Grandmother, Guru Padma Sharma, and mother, Gauri Sharma Tripathi. Hailing from a strong female lineage of Kathak dancers, my base allows me to explore different aspects of the art without losing the formal vocabulary. As a former athlete and fitness professional, I see a synergy between movement and energy. With the experience of performing in the UK, USA and India, I experience the art form through the global lens and as a vibrant, dynamic dance form. For me, dance is a dynamic extension of one’s being, where we express what we are afraid to do in routine life.
Shruti Maria Datar
Performer, Teacher & Choreographer
Shruti Maria Datar is a Mumbai based performer, teacher and choreographer. She has completed her Professional Training in Contemporary Dance from Danscentrumjette, Belgium and holds a Diploma in Movement Arts from ‘Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts’, Bangalore.
She trained for 10 years as a Bharatanatyam dancer and since 2014 has been a freelance dance artist. Her choreographic work-in-progress ‘Phi’ was showcased at The Prakriti Excellence in Contemporary Dance awards 2016. She was featured in the Dance films series “Moving Cities Brussels”.
She has trained a number of Dance schools and Professional dance training programs in Flying Low and Floorwork techniques and continues in her practice of the form. She is the festival coordinator for Sanskar International Dance festival, India. Additionally, she has taught several workshops as a guest faculty at various Dance schools in Europe and in India. She is currently based in Mumbai and working in the field of Dance Education.
Neeraj Lohani
Faculty and Resident Choreographer
Neeraj started dancing at the age of 15, but took up professional training not until he turned 18. After completing 2 years of training in New Delhi, Neeraj received a scholarship at Sumeet Nagdev Dance Arts (SNDA) in Mumbai in 2014. At SNDA, his primary subjects of training were Modern Contemporary, Jazz and Modern Ballet alongside other subjects including Hip-Hop, Gymnastics, Kathak, Aerial Silk and Kalaripayattu. At SNDA, Neeraj has had the opportunity to further hone his skills in various dance techniques and styles through intensive training and master classes with SNDA’s guest faculties including Ghislaine Carrara (Ballet),Richard Chen See (Paul Taylor Dance Technique) and Steve Rooks (Graham Technique). Neeraj completed his graduation in SNDA’s Full-time Professional Dance Certification (PDC) program in 2018. A year earlier, in June 2017, Neeraj received a 6-week full scholarship at the American Dance Festival (ADF), where he had the privilege of training under Jennifer Nugent (Release technique) and Andrea Weber (Advance Cunningham). At ADF, Neeraj was introduced to various international dance forms through workshops with Saar Harari (Gaga Technique), Christian Von Howard (Jazz) and Nia Love (Modern) among several other faculties. Neeraj got the opportunity to perform in Serendipity arts festival where performed “PURUSH” choreographed by Robert Moses. He was one of the semi finalists in one of the prestigious Contemporary Dance Awards in India (PECDA). Neeraj also worked as a company member with Mystic Ballet USA, Connecticut, where he performed in productions like Nutcracker , Flash and The little mermaid.Neeraj got the opportunity to Choreograph new piece on ‘Atlas Dance Collective (USA) named ‘Inner voices’ which later premiered at Red Rock Dance Festival in 2021.
In 2022 he formed Lohani Dance Theatre and is currently touring his new work ‘Letter’. He is currently an independent choreographer, performer and dance educator spreading his knowledge all around India. He aims to create more opportunities for young artists by making more dance productions with his company Lohani Dance Theatre and further promote Contemporary Dance in India.
Manish Chauhan
Contemporary
Manish Chauhan was born and raised in Mumbai India. He is self-taught in the urban street dance known as b-boying. Manish studied ballet at the Danceworx School in Mumbai under the guidance and mentorship of Yehuda Maor. He completed his dance training at Oregon Ballet theater school in Portland USA and Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Israel and did an International dance program through Peridance, New York. He is a full time company member of Peridance Contemporary Dance Company in New York.
Manish played the leading role in the Netflix film, Yeh Ballet 2020, a fictionalized version of his life. He is also the lead character in the documentary Call Me Dancer 2023. He was featured in many film festivals including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Dance On Camera Film Festival, Doc Edge New Zealand, London Indian Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, San Francisco Dance Film Festival and many more. He also appeared in a feature of Elle magazine, Vogue, Grazia, Point, Deadline, Variety and many other magazines. He made his USA dance debut at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC where he performed a solo choreographed by Igal Perry, which was also performed at the Alvin Ailey Theatre, Jack H Skirball Center, Meridian International Washington DC, Indian embassy New York, KNJ theater and many more.
Manish has worked with choreographers like Igal Perry, Johannes Wieland, Mike Tyus, Marco Palomino, Garrett Smith, Elisa Clark, Dolly Sfeir, Chanel Dasilva, and many more.
Alicia Misquitta
Kids Division Leader
Alicia Misquitta is a dedicated ballet instructor with over 12 years of professional teaching experience. She began her ballet training at the age of 15 and currently leads the children’s ballet division at ICMD. Passionate about dance education, she is in the process of completing her Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) teacher training course to further enhance her expertise. Previously, Alicia played a key role in shaping young dancers as the head of the children’s ballet division and the ballet program for the Professional Dance Program at The Danceworx. In addition to ballet, she has trained in multiple dance styles, including Jazz, Contemporary, Jive, and Modern, giving her a well-rounded approach to movement and performance.
Bio: Alicia Misquitta is a dedicated ballet instructor with over 12 years of professional teaching experience. She began her ballet training at the age of 15 and currently leads the children’s ballet division at ICMD. Passionate about dance education, she is in the process of completing her Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) teacher training course to further enhance her expertise.
Previously, Alicia played a key role in shaping young dancers as the head of the children’s ballet division and the ballet program for the Professional Dance Program at The Danceworx. In addition to ballet, she has trained in multiple dance styles, including Jazz, Contemporary, Jive, and Modern, giving her a well-rounded approach to movement and performance.
Mukta Nagpal
Contemporary
A contemporary dance performer and teacher with an experience of 12 years in the field. Her associations with reputed institutes and companies including Innopraktika and Russian Seasons School in Moscow, The Boris Eifman Ballet in St.Petersburg, Terence Lewis Institute in Mumbai and more.
She is the co-founder of Program Trinity, contributing to the encouragement and evolution of the contemporary dance landscape in India.
Kunaal Sangtani
Jazz
Kunaal Sangtani is a Mumbai-based contemporary dance artist with over 15 years of experience. His formal training includes prestigious institutions such as the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in the UK and the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Israel. He has further honed his craft across Europe, attending internationally renowned festivals and intensives including Deltebre Dansa, B12, and the Henny Jurriëns Studio Summer Intensive.
Kunaal is a prominent figure in Mumbai’s dance community—not only as a dedicated practitioner of contemporary dance but also as a sought-after teacher and choreographer. His creative work spans across commercial and artistic realms, with numerous credits in ad films and music videos as well as inclusion in the PECDA contemporary dance awards, 2024.
He is the founder of The Movement Hub, a dance company committed to promoting the joy and necessity of movement across all ages, styles, and backgrounds. Through regular classes, workshops, and community-driven initiatives, The Movement Hub serves as a space for people to connect, grow, and express themselves through movement. In 2025, Kunaal expanded this vision with the opening of The Movement Hub Studio in Khar West, Mumbai—a dedicated space to nurture the next generation of movers and artists.
Arushi Nigam
Jazz
Kunaal Sangtani is a Mumbai-based contemporary dance artist with over 15 years of experience. His formal training includes prestigious institutions such as the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in the UK and the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Israel. He has further honed his craft across Europe, attending internationally renowned festivals and intensives including Deltebre Dansa, B12, and the Henny Jurriëns Studio Summer Intensive.
Kunaal is a prominent figure in Mumbai’s dance community—not only as a dedicated practitioner of contemporary dance but also as a sought-after teacher and choreographer. His creative work spans across commercial and artistic realms, with numerous credits in ad films and music videos as well as inclusion in the PECDA contemporary dance awards, 2024.
He is the founder of The Movement Hub, a dance company committed to promoting the joy and necessity of movement across all ages, styles, and backgrounds. Through regular classes, workshops, and community-driven initiatives, The Movement Hub serves as a space for people to connect, grow, and express themselves through movement. In 2025, Kunaal expanded this vision with the opening of The Movement Hub Studio in Khar West, Mumbai—a dedicated space to nurture the next generation of movers and artists.
Amit Vats
Strength and conditioning
M.S. exercise science
S&C coach
15 year experience of training people
Vicky Gupta
Calisthenics
Mrigya Tiwari
Tap
Mrigya Tiwari is a tap dancer, performer, choreographer, and teacher. She has been tap dancing for 13 years, and right from the start, knew she had found something special. Tap became her foundation and first love, a passion that has shaped her journey through many other dance styles.
She has had the privilege of training in both India and New York under some of the finest teachers in the field — experiences that have deepened her understanding of the art form and nurtured her growth as a dancer, choreographer, and educator.
For Mrigya, tap dance has always been a source of joy, rhythm, and connection, and her mission now is to share that with others. Whether performing, creating, or teaching, she is driven by the excitement of introducing people to the magic of tap and helping them discover their own beat.
