Ishita Singla, founder of Madhuban Performing Arts, channels her lifelong dance passion into a journey of empowerment. Influenced by icons like Madhuri Dixit and Madhubala, she founded the organization in 2016, initially a dance team but quickly evolving into a diverse artist haven. The music team was born in 2017, adding depth to Madhuban’s legacy. Ishita seeks to integrate art into lives, shifting South Asian art in Calgary from an afterthought to a cornerstone. Her impact on the community aims to make art integral to personal journeys.

From belly dancing to bhangra, Rashmeet is a self-taught dancer who has been with Madhuban since its inception. Whether it’s performing in various projects, helping out backstage or teaching Madhuban’s dance classes in Edmonton, she has been actively involved in Madhuban’s growth from day one. As a performer and teacher, Rashmeet enjoys sharing the art of dance and watching others grow confident in their abilities. The expressiveness, individuality and creativity are what make South Asian dance forms her favorite.

Having tried her hand at dancing as a child, Nmeshivi got more interested in pursuing it after joining Madhuban. Through her time with Madhuban, she has grown from attending dance workshops to teaching her own adult and kids dance classes. While she enjoys passing on everything she has learnt to her students, performing is still her favorite part about being a dancer. Opening for the Atif Aslam concert in Calgary felt like a dream come true and is her most memorable moment with Madhuban.

Hansika grew up dancing to bhangra and Bollywood music before she joined Madhuban in 2018. She brings her creativity and passion for dance to the team and enjoys the fusion of different dance forms to create the unique pieces Madhuban is known for. Hansika loves dancing for a cause and appreciates the work Madhuban is doing within the Calgary community. From watching University of Calgary’s prestigious Dance Montage to performing at it, she is proud of how far the team has come and is excited for what the future holds.

From teaching dance since middle school to attending workshops on Zoom to performing on the streets of downtown Calgary, Komal has a soft spot for Bollywood dancing. Whether she’s teaching Madhuban’s dance classes or emulating Madhuri’s expressions on shoot days, dance is an outlet that gives her the strength to take on the world. She attributes her growth as a person to her experience with Madhuban and is excited to contribute towards the team as it goes from strength to strength.

In search of new ways to stay fit, Bhu knew she needed to “keep moving to stay moving” and that’s when she happened to stumble upon dance. For Bhu, Madhuban is about a group of artists making art where she gets to explore her Punjabi and Canadian identities through Bhangra-fusion forms of dance. As an artist at heart, dancing with Madhuban and managing its social media are just two of the many ways she channels her creativity.

Ari, a dedicated dancer for 23 years, found Madhuban through Montage. She brings a wealth of experience in various dance forms to the group, including Ballet, Jazz, and Bollywood. Her fondest Madhuban memory is a video shoot in Banff, a bonding experience with the team. Despite challenges in embracing South Asian culture, Ari appreciates the group’s loving and supportive atmosphere. As a mother, her artistic pursuits have slowed, but her passion for dance remains. She aims to merge different dance styles within Madhuban’s close-knit family.

Through her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Calgary, Danielle brings her specialization in contemporary forms of dance to the team. She finds that her understanding of jazz really helps her perform South Asian cultural dances. Danielle believes it’s Madhuban’s inclusivity and uniqueness that make it stand out within Calgary’s arts and culture scene. Dancing on the streets of downtown Calgary for Chinook Blast is a memory that she’ll always cherish.

Ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop and Afro are just some of the dance forms Shelby is familiar with. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Calgary and a six-year stint in a competitive hip-hop crew, she finds the energy and collaboration in Madhuban is what sets it apart. As a non-South Asian team member, she enjoys the inclusiveness, comfort and confidence she gets dancing with Madhuban and is interested in learning more about different South Asian dance forms.

Shiv has been dancing for over a decade, with his mom being his first ever choreographer. For him, picking a favorite form of dance is like picking a favorite word – there’s too many to choose from! Apart from dance, he enjoys artistic expressions of all kinds and likes to explore different musical instruments in his free time. As a strong believer of dance as a collective experience, Shiv identifies deeply with Madhuban and the community it continues to cultivate.

Akshat’s sense of rhythm comes from his mother, who is a classically trained singer. Having grown up in India, his involvement in the culture has played a major role in influencing his art. He enjoys dancing with Madhuban because of how it represents the diverse dance forms of South Asia. Akshat believes that it is Madhuban’s understanding of fundamentals and exploration of different artforms that make it stand out. He encourages everyone to follow their true passions no matter the experience or professional training you may have had.