Hemali (Founder & Artistic Director) is a passionate dancer, choreographer, and the visionary founder of T&D Dance Academy, established in 2015. As a certified low-impact aerobics instructor, she brings a unique blend of fitness and artistic expression to her work. Specializing in semi-classical and folk dance forms, Hemali’s expertise includes Lezim, a vibrant traditional Indian folk dance, and she is also trained in the classical dance form of Kathak. 

Beyond her academy, Hemali has made a significant impact in the community, choreographing performances for nonprofit organizations such as Shakti, Narika, and Rungmunch, helping to elevate their fundraising events through powerful dance presentations. Her troupe has earned accolades, including a win at the OSAAT competition, and performed at prestigious Bay Area events like EBMM Ganpati, RZ1550, the Pleasanton Holiday Parade, and the Livermore City Diwali opening.

In 2022 Hemali and team produced and presented Ajay Atul musical.   Mana Re IndraDhanu, a groundbreaking musical, dance, and skit production, was presented at BMM 2024—an accomplishment that exemplifies her creative leadership and dedication to the arts.

For Hemali, dance is not just an art form but also a therapeutic practice. Her motto, “Dance is cheaper than therapy,” reflects her belief in dance’s power to heal and inspire. Through her academy and performances, she continues to inspire others to experience the joy and therapeutic benefits of movement.

Deepali is a dynamic, self-taught dance instructor and passionate partner at T&D Dance Academy. With a natural talent and an unwavering dedication, Deepali has gained a strong understanding of movement through years of practice, and learning on her own.

Though Deepali didn’t have formal training, her unique approach to teaching focuses on accessibility, creativity, and self-expression. She is very patient and hardworking. She believes that “Dance is all about freedom, expression, and having fun”. Her goal is to pass that on to each student by breaking down complex steps and techniques into easy-to-understand lessons, allowing dancers of all levels to build confidence and grow at their own pace.

As a business partner, Deepali is dedicated to the dance school and plays an integral role in the studio’s administration. From managing day-to-day operations to organizing the annual recitals, Deepali brings a hands-on approach to both the creative and business sides of T&D Dance Academy.

Trupti is a versatile dancer and choreographer. She has learnt Kathak for 15 years, initially from Guru Mukta Bala Joshi (disciple of Sitaradevi, Jaipur Gharana)and later from Guru Pandita Dr Sujata Natu (disciple of Sundarlalji Gangani, Jaipur Gharana). At 6, she started learning Kathak and completed a bachelor's in Kathak from TMV, Pune. Though her base is in Kathak, she is also trained in western, folk, and Bollywood dancing styles at Shaimak Davar's institute for performing arts and has been awarded as a student with special potential.

Choreography: 

Along with her dancing talent, teaching is her strength. For many years, she has been choreographing and teaching Kathak, folk, and fusion of contemporary and hip hop with Bollywood dance styles in India as well as North Carolina and California, USA. She has been with T&D Dance Academy for over 7 years and has established the T&D Mountain House chapter successfully. She has experience in choreographing concerts and productions like Kavitha Krishnamurthy's concert, Ajay Atul production, and Maan re Indradhanu production performed at the BMM convention.

Classically Trained Dancer(Kathak) 

Meghana Joglekar is classically trained dancer in Kathak for over 20 years. She also loves all Indian folk dances and Bollywood dance form. Over the years, she has choreographed and performed at many dance shows in India and in the Bay Area. She has been an instructor with T&D dance academy for past 4 years. By profession, she is a tech director at Amazon.

Aditi is a software professional and a trained Bharatanatyam classical dancer, graduating with distinction from the prestigious Nalanda Institute of Dance, Mumbai. For her, dance is more than an art form — it is a form of meditation that brings peace, joy, and a sense of wonder.

While Bharatanatyam remains her foundation, Aditi’s passion for movement extends to diverse styles such as Belly Dance, Salsa, and Hip-Hop. Over the years, she has choreographed and performed in numerous stage productions, each experience deepening her love for rhythm, storytelling, and expression.

An experienced teacher, Aditi has worked with students ranging from toddlers as young as three to adults, creating a nurturing and inspiring environment for all. Whether in classical or contemporary styles, her mission is to help every student experience the transformative power of dance — just as she has throughout her own journey.

Dance Instructor (Kathak)

Trupti, an awardee of a prestigious Scholarship to the young Artists in Kathak Dance from the Ministry of Culture, India, started her Kathak training at the age of 7.

She completed her Kathak Visharad at the age of 20 under the able guidance of Guru Sanjeevani Kulkarni at Kalanand Kathak Nritya Sanstha, Nashik, India. She was fortunate to have the opportunity to get trained under world-renowned Kathak maestro Pt Birju Maharaj and Guru Munna Lalji Shukla (Delhi, India).

She has choreographed and performed at several events in India and the Bay Area. She strives to create choreographies with the inherent beauty of dance and subtle abhinaya (expression).

Trupti enjoys teaching young groups of students at her school in Pleasanton, East Bay.

She has been working as a kathak examiner for Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mandal, Miraj, since 2006.

Trupti has been associated with T and D since 2016 and has performed and choreographed in many shows.

Ruchira has been a Yoga enthusiast for many years. Although it all started with the simple goal of attaining body flexibility and physical health, she soon realized true practice of Yog comes with benefits much more than just that. This marked the beginning of a deeper journey and a desire to share that knowledge with as many people as possible.

Ruchira has completed a Diploma in Yoga Teachers Training and  has been certified by the Ministry of AYUSH as a Yoga Teacher and evaluator (Level 3) and Yoga Therapist (Level 6)

By profession, Ruchira is an Information Security Leader at Cisco