Ajna Dance Company was created to share artistic and authentic Indian dance with a global and diverse audience. We specialize in both contemporary and classical Indian dance forms. Ajna Dance Co. was founded by the dance artist and distinguished choreographer, Minila Shah. The experience she gained traveling the world to further her art coupled with her experience working as the Artistic Director of Bollywood Grooves Dance Company in London, UK has made Manilla an expert in many different forms of Indian dance including contemporary bollywood, classical, and folk. Minila is passionate about sharing Indian dance and culture through classes and performances by making them easily available and accessible to everyone. Our team is trained in a diverse range of dance styles and we pride ourselves in offering high quality instruction and performances.
The Ajna performance ensemble has had the honor of performing at various high profile events for clients such as the United Nations, Macy's, Barclays, Wells Fargo, S&P, Google, Nasdaq, MoMA Film and The Rubin Museum. We offer educational programing at public and private schools and colleges catering to young people of all age groups. Ajna works with a number of nonprofits including the Women's Education Project, offering classes and performances at their events. Ajna partnered with the New York Indian Film Festival in 2014 and choreographed flash mobs (covered on BollySpice and TV Asia), promoting the festival at Union Square and Times Square.
Ajna offers professional choreography for film, theatre, television and media. We have experience working in film, reality TV, live theatre productions and social media ad campaigns. Minila was responsible for a stylish routine set to composer A. R. Rahman's Slumdog Millionaire hit "Jai Ho," which helped Hayley Tamaddon win the Dancing on Ice crown in 2010. Minila has also worked with the BBC and Sky One providing them with performances and choreography.
Ajna offers classes for dancers of all levels with our professionally trained instructors and choreographers. We offer classes in Bollywood, Bhangra, classical Indian dance (Bharatanatyam and Kathak), Gujarati folk dance, cardio dance, and yoga-movement. Our weekly classes teach technique, conditioning, expression and choreography. Ajna offers Bollywood, folk and classical children's classes as well. Our experienced instructors also provide private classes for technique and choreography, educational programs in schools, and workshops about Indian dance.