Today we’d like to introduce you to Inara Dance Co
Hi Inara Dance Co, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Inara Dance Co. was born out of our deep love for dance and the connections we formed along the way. We’re Samy, Rishika, and Anjali. Samy and Rishika grew up immersed in Bollywood, and Anjali’s roots are in folk dancing. For us, dance has always been more than just movement; it was a safe space that helped us find our confidence and friends and connect to our culture, especially as kids navigating our identities.
Our paths crossed on a college dance team, where we bonded over a shared passion for dance and our creative visions. The years we spent on that team alongside the blood, sweat, and tears truly cemented our friendship. After graduating, dancing had burnt us out. When were ready to come back into it, we were faced with a stark reality: the opportunities to keep dancing at that level, in our styles simply weren’t there. Additionally, there wasn’t a community that spoke to our experiences.
That’s when we decided to create Inara Dance Co. We wanted to provide a space where dancers of all backgrounds could come together, express themselves, and feel supported. Each class we teach is about more than just the steps; it’s about building confidence, fostering creativity, and nurturing a vibrant community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The first thing we had to overcome was our own anxieties, doubts, and fears. We were our biggest obstacles. Weeks were spent trying to plan out what our approach would be to our first class. Whether it was how we should approach the choreography, how we should market, or even what we would wear, we would go back and forth for days. At one point we were so concerned about what others thought, that our vision became unrecognizable. Eventually, it took some blind faith in hosting that first class to realize that all we could do was give it our best.
Next, was learning to deviate from perfectionism. All 3 of us are perfectionists. We always wanted each style we taught to be perfectly synced and executed. It took a few classes for us to give in and let the movement take over our work. That’s when the fun came back into dancing. Finding our unique style has been an ongoing process. As a result, we can all confidently say we have become better dancers and teachers.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Inara Dance Co. is a culmination of our upbringing and what we envision for the future. We teach workshops twice a month in three rotating styles: Bollywood, Bhangra, and Kuthu. Bollywood is the style you see most often in Indian movies with colorfully coordinated outfits and dramatics. Bhangra is a folk style originating from the farmers of the Indian state of Punjab. Kuthu is a celebratory South Indian folk style with an emphasis on percussions. We wanted to bring these styles that we grew up with to the Dallas community. By adding our own take, we’ve found a niche in fusion choreography and have built a strong community in the metroplex.
At the end of the day, we want people who come to our workshops to have fun and embrace it as a learning experience. If they can leave with one newly learned skill and a smile on their face, what more could we ask for?
In addition to these workshops, we offer event performances of all kinds, including choreographed sets and flash mobs. Our team of dancers are all highly skilled performers.
We also teach private event choreography for birthdays, sweet sixteens, weddings, etc., and create both modeling and dance content with global and Dallas brands.
We hope to start teaching more styles, creating more video projects, and venturing into the professional media space!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
We always talk about what would’ve happened if we never decided to host that first workshop. When you feel so compelled to do something, just do it. If there are things you find missing from your life, do something about it. Don’t wait around for someone else to figure it out for you. We are in charge of our own narratives and we are so privileged to have the opportunity to do something about it. Wasting that chance would be letting yourself down. Another thing is that the community creates itself. If you are incredibly passionate about something and you work towards that, you will find other people who recognize and match that energy. We were blessed to find each other through dance and have continued to find our community through this platform.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Kenny Nguyen
Hannah Varghese
