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Meet The ZIND TEAM
Founder & Creative Director: Nina Kay
I am so glad you're here! I started training in Bharatanatyam (Indian Classical Dance) at the age of 6 in Maryland. In high school, I started choreographing cinematic and folk dances and continued to teach and choreograph for local Indian community programs. 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. Johns 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 returning back from college, the dancing still didn’t stop. 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. I finally completed my arangetram in October of 2013. About eight months later, I opened up ZIND Performing Academy (formerly known as NinaKshi, LLC) on June 21, 2014 (a day before my 26th birthday!)
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.
Staff Manager: Sridevi K.
Sridevi has been dancing in one form or the other since she was about four years old. Bollywood dancing, in particular, has always been her passion. Growing up, she performed in front of her family and friends to choreographed routines.
In high school, Sridevi continued dancing by joining a local dance team and presenting at a showcase at the end of each year. Sridevi took a break from dancing when she went off to college, but she continues her passion for Bollywood dance at Zind Performing Academy.
Enrollment Coordinator: Rhea G.
At the age of 5, Rhea started learning Kathak, and later started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of 9. Throughout her childhood, she continued learning Indian classical dance, as well as Bollywood, and completed her Kathak Visharad and Bharatanatyam Arangetram in 2016 and 2018. In college, she danced on NCSU Nazaare, where she was exposed to styles such as Bhangra, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, and more, and served as the Captain during her senior year. Following graduation, Rhea joined ZIND as an instructor where she found her love for teaching. She is excited to be back with ZIND as an enrollment coordinator!
Instructor: Jhumur B.
Jhumur has enjoyed dancing since she was four years old. She has participated in dance performances from middle school through her high school years at various school cultural events, via her Bengali community cultural programs in NY, and the annual North American Bengali Convention. She continued to embrace her love for dancing by helping choreograph and perform various dances in college, graduate school, friend’s weddings, and for fun. Her dance styles include Rabindra Nritya, Kathak, Bhangra, Tollywood and Bollywood. As a ZIND instructor, she hopes to maintain her passion by inspiring everyone ignite their love for dancing!
Instructor: Devu K.
Devu is a classically trained dancer from Northern VA. She has trained in Bharathnatyam and Kuchipudi and has completed her Arangetram in 2015. In addition to classical, she enjoys Bollywood style dancing and has choreographed numerous pieces for competitions, weddings, and showcases! Now at ZIND, she hopes to keep sharing the love of dancing.
Instructor: Sophia S.
Sophia has been dancing from a young age. She started out self-taught before joining a dance company in high school where she began performing, choreographing, and teaching. While at the University of Texas, Sophia joined Texas Nach Baliye as a dancer, and later became captain and choreographer. She enjoys all styles of dance, but will always have a soft spot for Bollywood—it’s a classic!
Instructor: Ckloudia R.
Dance will always hold a special place in Ckloudia's heart and she is very blessed to have the opportunity to share her passion since her mother introduced her to the world of dance when she was three. Ckloudia started dancing bengali classical, folk and contemporary throughout her life and she has been actively involved in the Bengali community by performing at numerous events and religious functions. It is truly a magical universe where she can express herself through dance and share her culture.
Instructor: Trisha R.
Trisha began her dance journey at 5 years old in Cleveland, Ohio, training in Bharatanatyam under Guru Padma Rajagopal. At age 16, Trisha completed her arangetram and started to teach dance classes. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, Trisha regularly performed at community events, showcasing Bollywood, Classical and Fusion styles. In college, Trisha joined Buckeye Fusion, a national-award winning all-female Bollywood Fusion team. Here, Trisha was exposed to new dance forms like Bhangra and Contemporary, while continuing to grow her skills in Bharatnatyam and Bollywood. Since graduating, Trisha has moved to DC and joined the Zind family as an instructor. She has loved sharing her culture and passion for dance with her students. When she isn’t working or teaching, Trisha loves to learn different styles of dance at various neighborhood workshops and classes.
Instructor: Tejas G.
Tejas embarked on her dance journey at the age of 6, immersing herself in the ancient art of Kuchipudi under the guidance of her guru, Saikantha Raparla, at India International School (IIS). As the years unfolded, so did her passion for Indian Classical dance alongside her growing confidence and stage presence. Fueling her artistic exploration, Tejas delved into diverse dance styles such as Bollywood, Bhangra, Hip-Hop, and various regional folk dances. Her performances stretched throughout various events like IIS Annual Days, the Asian Festival, Marathi Kala Mandal (MKM) gatherings, and Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal (BMM) National Conventions. Tejas' passion for dance continued, persistently driving her to impart that love to others. Now, she eagerly embraces a new chapter as a dance instructor with the ZIND family, eager to share her lifelong passion for dance and culture.
Instructor: Prakhya C.
Prakhya has been exploring various dance styles, from classical to modern. She has been trained in Kuchipudi for seven years. She loves to choreograph and perform to Bollywood songs with her friends!
Our Core Values?
Our main principles shape our community and guide our commitment to delivering an enriching dance experience for all.
Fostering community
We create a welcoming and inclusive environment where diverse individuals unite to form lasting connections and celebrate each other's contributions.
Performance opportunities
We provide opportunities for students to showcase their best talents and gain confidence through exciting performances.
Honoring culture
Our team celebrates cultural diversity by offering students a platform to explore different dance styles and traditions with appreciation and respect.
Adopting fun
Our classes and workshops prioritize enjoyment and creativity, ensuring students have a great time while learning new skills.
Encouraging growth
We support personal growth by providing personalized guidance and encouraging students to discover their potential.
Join The ZIND Team!
We’re always on the lookout for passionate and energetic individuals who want to be part of something positive and inspiring. Whether you dream of teaching dance as an instructor, working behind the scenes to support studio growth, creating exciting content for social media, or building systems and organization to keep everything running smoothly, there’s a place for you here at ZIND.
Apply now, and we’ll review your application to consider you for upcoming position openings. Let’s grow, create, and make an impact together!
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