Nina Kay | ZIND Academy Founder & Director

People always ask me about the start of ZIND. Sometimes it feels like  ages ago and sometimes it feels like it was yesterday. I'm going to add every tiny detail of what I can remember from over 9 years ago to today.

At the time you're reading this, I am currently a practicing Pharmacist at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. I know - you're probably wondering how a pharmacist started a dance studio. If there was ever two career fields that have almost nothing to do with each other, this is it.

I started training in Bharatanatyam (Indian Classical Dance) at the age of 6 as a student of Kalairani Natya Salai (KNS) under the teachings of Guru Rani David. After about 8 years, I took a break from dance which I regretted for a long time. I missed it and quickly became bored. So I started choreographing  and teaching for local Indian cultural programs. Every time I saw a performance, I would get an urge to go back to learning. It just so happened that my Guru stopped by dad's shop and asked for me to come back. That was all I needed to return. After my brief hiatus, I graduated from KNS in my senior year of high school. I would have loved to further my training to an Arangetram level, but put it on hold to attend St. John's University Queens, NY to pursue a Doctorate in Pharmacy.

When I went to college, one of the first things my dad told me was to “not even think about dance”. So, of course, being an 18 year old with my first real taste of freedom, I quickly looked up and auditioned for the all female south Asian dance team (SJU Raaz) the very first week of college. After countless performances, placing in numerous competitions, judging various competitions and, oh yeah, receiving my Pharmacy degree, I returned home to Maryland. 

But the dancing DID.NOT.STOP.

I started studying for my pharmacy boards. I would bring up the discussion for my arengetram because I had this urge to complete it. I contacted my Guru and started to train for my Arangetram. I’m sure my parents thought “omg – This girl is STILL trying to dance?!”. But, yes, I was. To add salt to the wound, I didn't pass my boards the first time so I had to wait another 3 months to retake it. I was still living at home so I started retraining in secret. I would take an extra change of clothes (kurta top), shove it in my bag with my textbooks, study at the library all day, head to my dance class and then finally home. This went on for months. 

I passed my boards in November 2012 and started working as a licensed pharmacist in January 2013. As I started working, I remember myself quickly feeling unfulfilled in my career choice. Healthcare was not for the meek of heart, it was heavy and fast paced. So I looked forward to these dance training classes as an outlet where I was free to let loose.

I finally completed my Arangetram in October of 2013. Remember the feeling I mentioned about being bored and unfulfilled? Yup, it was still there. I couldn't imagine a life where all I did was go to work, come home, maybe go the gym, eat and repeat. I had this feeling that there was something more for me to do. I always had this dream of opening a dance studio from the time I was in high school. Bringing that from a dream to a reality was going to be my next move. 

I searched and went to see spaces for months. Google, craigslist, zillow - everything. It was my dad who actually happened to be passing by and found the space we were first in. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it. 

About eight months later, I opened up NinaKshi, LLC on June 21, 2014 (a day before my 26th birthday). We started our studio in June of 2014 and have watched as it has taken a life of its own over the past years and impacted hundreds of lives in the DMV. It has been a rollercoaster of performances, students, instructors, locations and most recently - Covid 19. We are finally back in person and it truly feels amazing to be walking in my gift again.

I still work as a Pharmacist, but dance has always and will always be my gift, my outlet, my blessing and my calling. I knew from an adolescent age that I wanted to open up a dance studio to create dance routines, teach dance lovers and perform the art of Indian Dance. I am blessed enough to know what I want to do and who I want to be in this thing called life.

My love for dance and passing that onto others is what brought me and now, YOU, here today. I believe in the fun, skills and life lessons that dance brings us because it has helped mold me into the person that I am today.

If you're new here, welcome! Send me a hello on the DM's.