Business Details
14 Years
experience
Your Premier Destination for Dance Education in NJ/NY
Shehnaaz Dance Academy (SDA), founded in 2012, is a pioneering performing arts and cultural institution based in NJ/NY. With over a decade of experience, we have trained more than 1,000 students in diverse dance forms including Indian Folk, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Bollywood, Bharatanatyam, and Kathak. Our mission extends beyond technical training; we aim to ignite a passion for performing arts while creating immersive cultural experiences. SDA collaborates with schools for curriculum integration and after-school programs, partners with corporations for cultural workshops, and actively participates in community events across the Tri-State area. Our team of certified instructors brings global expertise and personalized attention to every class. We offer specialized programs such as the Kathak Certification Program in affiliation with Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, holiday camps, and cultural exploration sessions.SDAs commitment to excellence is reflected in our professionally choreographed recitals, which provide students with stage experience and audience engagement. Our alumni have gained recognition in regional and national competitions, and our community outreach initiatives demonstrate our dedication to social impact. With locations in Edgewater, Hoboken, Livingston, Millburn, and Jersey City, we serve a diverse student population. Our structured semester programs, private lessons, and corporate engagements reflect our adaptability to varying client needs while maintaining artistic integrity.
Services
Bollywood Dance
Kathak Certification
Hip Hop Instruction
Bharatanatyam Training
Corporate Workshops
Private Lessons
Holiday Camps
Cultural Programs
Wedding Choreography
School Partnerships
Details
- Year established: 2012
Highlights and features
- Founded in 2012 with 1000+ students trained in 12+ dance styles
- Certified Kathak instructors affiliated with Indian national institutions
- Community-focused programs serving 200+ audience members per recital
- Proven track record of student confidence and performance skill development
- Unique BollyHIIT fitness program combining dance and physical conditioning
Associations and certifications
- Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal
What people say
Best classes attended
Built confidence
Professional-quality recitals
Creative choreography
Personalized attention
Services
Bollywood Dance
Our Bollywood dance program combines traditional Indian movements with contemporary styles. Students learn dynamic choreography while developing rhythm and stage presence. Classes cater to all ages and skill levels, focusing on cultural storytelling through expressive movements. The curriculum prepares participants for public performances and recitals.
Kathak Certification
This structured program follows the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya curriculum with Prarambhik level instruction. Students master footwork patterns, rhythmic compositions, and expressive storytelling techniques. Twice-weekly classes prepare candidates for formal certification exams while preserving traditional dance heritage through systematic training.
Corporate Workshops
Custom cultural dance workshops designed for corporate teams. Participants learn collaborative choreography that promotes teamwork and cross-cultural understanding. Sessions include Bollywood routines and rhythmic exercises that enhance workplace communication and creative problem-solving skills in a fun environment.
School Partnerships
We provide curriculum-aligned dance education to schools across NJ/NY. Our programs integrate physical activity with cultural learning through weekly classes and special performances. The after-school enrichment initiative teaches traditional dance forms while developing students' coordination, memory, and presentation skills through structured recitals.
Private Lessons
Personalized dance instruction tailored to individual goals. Available in all styles, these sessions focus on technical refinement and performance preparation. Students receive customized feedback to improve specific skills while building confidence through targeted practice and progress tracking.
People
Shehnaaz Jagasia
Founder and Creative Director
Classically trained Bharatanatyam dancer with two Masters degrees, Shehnaaz founded SDA in 2012 after a career in genetics. She developed the BollyHIIT fitness method and oversees curriculum development while teaching Bollywood and Bharatanatyam styles.
Anushya Mamtora
Director of Operations
Senior instructor since 2019, Anushya manages Jersey City operations and resource management. With journalism credentials and Zentangle certification, she combines business strategy with artistic instruction while teaching Bollywood and Kuthu dance styles.
Suvarna Joshi
Kathak Instructor
Prabhakar Degree holder in Kathak from Lucknow Gharana tradition, Suvarna brings 15 years of teaching experience. Currently Head of People at Meetup, she specializes in wedding choreography and advanced Kathak techniques for both in-person and virtual students.
Mahi Malhotra
Millburn Location Partner
Third-degree taekwondo black belt and National Merit Scholarship semifinalist, Mahi launched the Millburn location in 2022. She combines dance instruction with leadership development, having performed at NYC's India Day parade and JC Dance Stars competition.
Chinmay Ashar
Head Choreographer
15-year dance veteran specializing in hip hop and urban styles, Chinmay co-founded Masala Beats dance company. With a business degree from Indiana University, he blends choreographic expertise with management consulting experience to develop innovative performance programs.
Questions
What dance styles do you offer?
We teach Bollywood, Kathak, Hip Hop, Bharatanatyam, Contemporary, Bhangra, Garba, and semi-classical styles with specialized programs for different age groups.
Do you have recitals for students?
Yes, we produce professional recitals twice yearly with 200+ audience members, featuring themed choreography and full production elements like lighting and costumes.
Are instructors certified?
All lead instructors hold advanced degrees from recognized institutions and have professional performance experience in their respective dance disciplines.
Do you offer corporate programs?
We provide customized cultural dance workshops for corporations focusing on team-building through collaborative choreography and rhythmic exercises.
What locations do you serve?
We operate in Edgewater, Hoboken, Livingston, Millburn, and Jersey City with school partnerships across NJ/NY metropolitan areas.
Is there a trial class option?
Yes, we offer drop-in classes for prospective students to experience our programs before committing to full semester enrollment.
Reviews (6)
Nisha Hingorani
Sep 26, 2021
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My 6 year old daughter has been going to SDA since she was 2 years old. Shehnaaz and her team are fantastic, patient and an extremely talented group. We recently invited her to host my girl’s 6th birthday and it was a huge hit! The kids had a blast, and the parents were equally entertained. I strongly recommend SDA for a wholesome entertainment at a party! Thank you Shehnaaz!
Akshata Sukhathankar
Sep 06, 2021
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Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality,Value
Great instructors and professionally run classes. Instructors take very good care of kids! Pictures and videos are professionally done. At the end of the season, it's satisfying to see the results in their final dance videos. BollyHIIT sessions are great as well.
Great instructors and professionally run classes. Instructors take very good care of kids! Pictures and videos are professionally done. At the end of the season, it's satisfying to see the results in their final dance videos. BollyHIIT sessions are great as well.
Pritha Chakraborty Basu
Aug 23, 2021
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SDA is such a wholesome environment for kids interested to pursue dance. We enrolled our 6 yr old for the Summer Season & was super impressed with the way they worked with him. The teachers are wonderful & make up for a great Team. Though they had to ditch a public performance due to COVID related concerns, the Team made sure that a beautifully choreographed video was shot on the final D-Day & shared with Parents. We miss our Wednesday dance days already but can’t wait to start soon for a second round during the Fall. All the Best Team SDA. You rock, literally!!🕺💃
Anushya Rajagopalan Mamtora
Apr 27, 2021
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Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality,Value
Excellent dance classes for kids and adults. Very professional yet warm in their approach. The kids thoroughly enjoy the classes and their BollyHIIT classes are amazing for adults.
Excellent dance classes for kids and adults. Very professional yet warm in their approach. The kids thoroughly enjoy the classes and their BollyHIIT classes are amazing for adults.
Minnie Punj-Introne
Nov 22, 2020
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Great experience with shehnaaz dance academy. We had my daughters 6th birthday party on zoom and it was a fun filled and very engaging session. Kids had a blast. They incorporated my daughter’s favorite songs and catered to a wide range of age group.
Kavita Rajdev
May 30, 2020
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Love the academy.. Love the instructors... My daughter loves going to her classes at SDA. she adores both her instructors, Ms. Shehnaaz and Mr. Rajul. Their fall recital was fun to watch with son many amazing performances... Cant wait for the next session to begin
