MEET OUR Team
When you join our classes, you join our family. Our instructors have various backgrounds, dance experiences, and styles, and the thing that binds us all together is our passion for dance. Meet the lovely ladies who make our classes shine!
Meet Aleena
“I created Sitaara Dance Co. to provide dancers of all levels with a safe space for self-expression, and it brings me immense joy to share this journey with all of you. Dance has been a lifelong passion, starting with my early exposure to ballet, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and Bharatnatyam. During this time, I also had the opportunity to perform as a dancer at the halftime show of the Super Bowl XLV in 2011. In my undergrad at Baylor, I was a member of a Bollyfusion dance team, stepping into the role of captain my senior year, where I spent a lot of time performing on stage. More recently, I'm expanding my skill set through workshops with industry choreographers and body movement training programs. When I'm not in the studio, I enjoy exploring the city, reading, and napping!”
Aleena is the Founder of Sitaara Dance Co. and instructs all-level and intermediate Bollyfusion, BollyFemme, BollyHeels, and Semi-Classical Fusion classes.
MEET Kinnari
“I'm a current Internal Medicine resident and have danced my whole life: trained in Bharatnatyam, a little bit of Kathak, and was on a Bollywood fusion dance team throughout college. I love coffee shops, shopping, reading, listening to podcasts, and spin classes! I’m also obsessed with my new puppy, Sherlock. It’s awesome to meet everyone in class and share our love of dance!”
Kinnari instructs all-level and intermediate Bollyfusion classes.
Meet Meera
“I work as a consultant and have danced my whole life! I started learning Bharatnatyam and learned folk for over 10 years at Nritya Shakti Dance Academy. During my time in school, I was a Bollywood choreographer for Wharton’s Dance Studio and I have choreographed all my closest friends’ wedding dances. Learning dance can be intimidating but I aim to make my choreography fun and accessible for everyone. My favorite part of teaching dance is getting people out of their comfort zones and confident moving their bodies no matter what level they are at.”
Meera instructs all-level Bollyfusion classes.
MEET Aakankhya
“I currently work in tech sales and have enjoyed dancing since I was 5! I have experience in Bharatnatyam, Bollywood, and was on a Raas team in college. Beyond the dance floor, I am an avid potter, where I mold clay into works of art, much like choreographing a dance routine. When not lost in the world of dance and pottery, you’ll find me engrossed in captivating novels, perfecting my tennis swing, or doting on my furry companion, Linda, who holds a special place in my heart.”
Aakankhya instructs all-level and intermediate Bollyfusion and Semi-Classical Fusion classes.
MEET Judy
“Creating and dancing has always been a passion of mine, having onstage dance experience for 26 years. I’ve been doing Bhangra since 2012, starting on the college team before dancing competitively with post grad teams, Alamo City Bhangra and Duniya De Rang. I have experience captaining, choreographing, judging, and teaching to children and young adults. My philosophy is to spread the love of the dance throughout the community, just as how the community embraced me. I just want to spread joy basically!
Other than my dancing, I engage in random hobbies here and there, visit an inordinate number of coffee shops, and published a young adult dystopian book!”
Judy instructs Bhangra Fusion classes.
MEET Meghana
“I’m a Learning Solutions Architect and have been dancing since I was 3! I did my Bharatanatyam Arangetram in 2007 under Guru Smt. Revathi Satyu and have been practicing on my own or branching out and trying new dance styles, such as hip hop and Bollywood. If I’m not dancing though, I’m spending my time being a mother to my 2 year old daughter. Dance is my meditation. It’s gotten me through the tough times in life. I can’t imagine my life without it now and I’m so excited to share that same passion with all of you!”
Meghana instructs Bharatnatyam and Classical Fusion classes.
MEET Anila
“Dance has always been an escape for me. Thanks to friends and too many hours on YouTube, I‘ve been choreographing and teaching my own dances for weddings and events for 13 years. But it wasn’t until I had the opportunity to perform for an audience of 15k amongst extremely talented dancers when I realized there’s always room on the stage/dance floor for anyone who has a love for movement. Attending Sitaara classes in 2022 helped pull me out of a funk and now I’m excited to be on the other side to share my passion for dance, spread happiness, provide a safe space for all level dancers, and have fun!”
Anila instructs all-level Bollyfusion classes.