Today we’d like to introduce you to Trupti Raykar.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Shimoga, Karnataka, India, where I completed my education and began my career as an assistant professor at an engineering college. On paper, my path looked traditional and structured, but long before I stepped into a classroom as a lecturer, I had already discovered my first love: dance.
I’ve been dancing since I was about two years old, with my older sister. Whether it was school functions, college events, or community programs organized by my parents, I always found my way to the stage. Dance was never just an activity for me, it was joy, expression, and freedom.
After getting married, I moved to Dallas with my wonderful husband, who at the time was juggling his master’s degree, a full-time job, and building a business all at once. Watching him manage so many responsibilities inspired me deeply. Like many immigrants, that transition came with its own set of limitations and uncertainty. My professional path felt paused, and I was navigating a new country, new identity, and new beginnings. While I initially planned to pursue my master’s degree, I was also searching for something that gave me purpose during that season. But around that time, I came across a Facebook ad for a Bollywood fitness instructor certification. Something inside me instantly clicked, and without overthinking it, I enrolled.
In January 2017, I launched my very first Bollywood fitness class, and to my surprise, 40–45 people showed up. Leading a room full of people for the first time was both surreal and empowering. That moment gave me the confidence to believe that maybe this lifelong passion could become something more.
I continued performing at cultural events and was later part of a vibrant broadway style theatrical production, Rang De: Color Me India, where we performed nine shows over three weeks, an experience that deepened my love for storytelling through dance.
Soon after, life shifted again. I became a mother and paused my dance journey for about a year. During that time, I gained nearly 40 pounds. I still remember looking at a photo of myself and realizing how much had changed. Instead of discouraging me, that moment became a turning point. Through discipline, dance, and consistency, I regained my strength and confidence, I was able to lose 40 lbs in 6 months, and that transformation helped me connect more deeply with the women I teach today.
As our family grew, I also knew I wanted to rebuild my academic and professional path. I went back to school and completed my master’s degree in Human Resources at UT Arlington. Returning to student life as a new mom wasn’t easy, but it was deeply fulfilling. During that time, I also worked part-time as a fitness instructor at UTA. Eventually began working full-time in the public sector. When we moved to North Dallas, I once again rebuilt my dance classes from scratch.
Around 2022–2023, encouraged by the women in my classes, Ever since I was a little girl learning from my own dance teacher, I had imagined one day starting my own academy, a place where children could learn not just steps, but confidence, discipline, culture, and joy. It had quietly lived on my vision board for years. I finally pursued a dream I had carried since childhood, starting my own dance academy. I taught my first kids’ class in a local park with just eight students. Parents stood watching, kids were enjoying, and something about that moment felt right.
That small beginning grew into Trupti Dance Academy. Today, I teach multiple weekly classes for children and adults, and we perform at cultural events across the Dallas area. More than choreography, what we’ve built is a community, especially here in Melissa, where families connect, culture is celebrated, and confidence is nurtured.
For me, this journey has never just been about dance. It’s about creating an environment where children feel confident, where women rediscover themselves, and where culture is celebrated with pride. I feel incredibly grateful that what started as a spontaneous decision years ago has grown into purpose-driven journey that touches so many lives.
For me, dance is no longer just performance or fitness. It’s empowerment. It’s identity. It’s creating a space where women, especially mothers – feel strong again, and where children stay connected to their roots.
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?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but every challenge has shaped me into who I am today.
Adjusting to life in a new country was one of my earliest challenges. There were professional limitations and moments of uncertainty, and I had to redefine my sense of identity. Dance became a way to reclaim confidence and independence during that transition.
In the early days of teaching BollyX- Bollywood fitness, there were moments that tested my commitment. I remember waiting for classes where no one showed up. Some days, just one person would attend and I would still teach with the same energy as if the room were full. Other days, twenty people would walk in unexpectedly. Those fluctuations taught me consistency, humility, and the importance of showing up regardless of the outcome.
Then came COVID, a period that impacted everyone deeply. Studios closed, gatherings stopped, and the uncertainty was overwhelming. During that time, I continued teaching multiple classes without charging a fee. It was never about the money for me, it was about keeping the community connected, active, and emotionally uplifted during a difficult season. Even beyond COVID, there have been moments where I chose service over profit, simply because I believe dance is meant to heal and bring people together.
Motherhood was another major turning point. Physically and emotionally, that season was challenging. But instead of letting it discourage me, I used it as motivation. Rebuilding my strength through dance not only transformed my health but also deepened my empathy for the women I now teach. I understood firsthand what it feels like to lose confidence, and how powerful it is to regain it.
Balancing graduate school, part-time teaching, motherhood, and eventually a full-time HR career was not easy. There were long days of studying, teaching back-to-back classes, and coming home to care for my family. When we moved to North Dallas, I had to rebuild my dance community from scratch again, which meant starting over, earning trust again, and putting myself out there.
Even launching Trupti Dance Academy came with uncertainty. But I’ve learned that growth often begins before everything feels “ready.”
Each challenge pushed me to evolve, to refine my choreography, step outside my comfort zone, learn new dance styles, and grow not just as a performer, but as a leader and mentor.
Looking back, it hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road, but it has been a meaningful one. And every obstacle strengthened my purpose.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work centers around building confidence, discipline, and cultural connection through Bollywood dance and fitness.
Alongside my full-time career, I continue to grow and lead Trupti Dance Academy, something that reflects both my passion and my commitment to community. Balancing both worlds has strengthened my leadership, time management, and organizational skills, which I bring into my academy as well.
I am a certified BollyX instructor, community mentor, ambassador, and choreographer, which allows me to stay connected to a broader national dance fitness network while continuing to evolve creatively.
Through Trupti Dance Academy, I specialize in structured Bollywood dance training for children and high-energy fitness and choreography classes for women. For children, my focus goes far beyond teaching steps. I emphasize stage presence, teamwork, discipline, rhythm, and cultural appreciation. Each class is designed to help them grow not just as dancers, but as confident individuals.
For women, especially mothers, my classes become more than a workout. They become a safe space. Many of the women who join are balancing careers, family responsibilities, and personal goals. In my classes, they get an hour that belongs just to them. They leave feeling strong, energized, and seen.
What I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built, especially here in Melissa TX. Families come together to perform, celebrate culture, and support one another. Watching a shy child step confidently onto a stage for the first time, or seeing a mother rediscover her strength after years of putting herself last, those moments mean more to me than anything.
What sets me apart is that I blend performance, fitness, mentorship, and emotional empowerment. I’ve experienced the journey personally from starting over in a new country, to rebuilding confidence after motherhood, to balancing career and passion. Because of that, I understand my students deeply.
I also constantly push myself outside my comfort zone, learning new dance styles, refining choreography, and growing as an educator. I don’t just teach routines; I build confidence and community.
For me, dance is not just about movement, it’s about transformation.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to stay connected to the one thing that grounds you — no matter what season of life you’re in.
I believe everyone has something that brings them back to themselves. For some, it’s reading. For others, it’s sports, travel, or music. For me, it has always been dance.
Dance has been my constant companion, in moments of joy and in moments of grief. When I lost my father, dance became a quiet form of healing. It gave me space to process emotions I couldn’t always express in words. It reminded me that movement can hold both strength and softness at the same time.
There were days when no one showed up to class. There were times during pregnancy when I showed up to teach while dealing with morning sickness pushing through because I had committed to my students.
Those moments weren’t glamorous. They weren’t Instagram-worthy. But they built resilience.
I learned that growth doesn’t always happen in big, visible milestones. Sometimes it happens in empty studios, in park classes with eight kids, in free sessions during COVID, or in teaching while you don’t feel your best physically.
I’ve also learned not to wait for the “perfect” time. If I had waited until everything felt aligned, the right venue, the right schedule, complete confidence, I would have never started. Progress begins with imperfect action.
Most importantly, I’ve learned that when you lead with authenticity and service, the right community finds you. Dance began as passion, but consistency turned it into purpose.
And that lesson, to show up fully, even when it’s hard, has shaped not just my academy, but who I am as a woman, a mother, and a leader.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://truptidance.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truptidanceacademy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BollyXwithTrupti/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@truptidance
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/truptidancefit/
