Sunrise Dance

What led you to your journey of becoming a dance choreographer?

My love for dance and choreography started at a very young age when I was in my Kathak Class. My Guru, Mrs. Shiva Mathur, opened the world of improvisation for us through her teaching. She would have us create our own movements to little stories that she would share with us to help spark our imagination. It was not too long after that I fell in love with expressing stories through dance. It was such a beautiful feeling to experience, and I knew dance was going to be something special in my life.

Throughout my dance journey, I have had the opportunity to share my knowledge and passion with others, especially when I was instructing at Rhythm India. When I saw clients put so much dedication into learning their routines and enjoying the process of it all, that's when I knew I needed to keep going!

What do you love most about being a dance choreographer?

What I love the most about being a choreographer is that I get to curate each client's story and bring it to life through dance. It's not only just about teaching the choreography, but about seeing how each individual, whether they’re a wedding client or kids in a private lesson, “Rises and Shines” with each and every lesson. And that is what Sunrise Dance is all about – “Rise and Shine” to be the best version of yourself!

What styles of dance do you specialize in?

I've been trained in Kathak for 12 years and Bollywood for 8 years. Other styles I am currently learning are Ballroom, Latin and Shuffling!

What does your process look like working with clients to teach them a dance for their wedding?

Once we curate a package that is best suited for the client, we then start to finalize songs and availability prior to starting rehearsals. The choreography is ready to go when they begin their first session. We take the choreography at their pace and tweak any steps along the way if needed. My priority is to ensure that the clients feel comfortable every step of the way.

How do you teach clients who have never danced before or are self-conscious?

There have been many clients who, at the beginning, have vocalized that "They have two left feet" or "They don't have much experience with dance". Regardless of everyone's dance background - I truly believe that everyone CAN dance. All you need is the right mindset and once you have that, you'll surprise yourself with how much you can learn and achieve. And this applies not only to dance, but with aspects of life as well!

How should the couple decide which dance to learn?  

Couples should reflect on the favorite parts of their relationship and think to themselves, "If there was a song that perfectly described this moment or feeling, what would it be?" And there's your start!

Where do you provide training sessions?

I am based out of Houston but am available to travel to hold sessions as well. Additionally, I do hold sessions virtually through Zoom and provide video tutorials for out of state clients or those with busy schedules.

How many lessons does it typically take to prepare a performance dance? 

Typically, if a dance performance is around 3-4 minutes, I would advise scheduling 4 rehearsals.

How far in advance do you recommend friends and family members start practicing for their sangeet or reception performances?

I know that planning for performances isn’t always at the top of the list during wedding planning, but I would advise starting to inquire about choreography 2-3 months out. The more time there is to rehearse and become comfortable with the choreography, the better the performance!

What other tips would you share with the couple and other performers?

Remember this is YOUR special day! You want to perform for yourself and have fun along the way so you can make memories to smile back on! The choreography is there just to help guide you along the way :)