top of page
Meet Our Staff
DEVIKA DHAWAN
FOUNDER/DIRECTOR
Devika has been training in dance for over 20 years with a background in Hip Hop, Bollywood, and Indian Classical. She trained in Bharatnatyam at the Triveni School of Dance under the instruction of Smt. Neena Gulati for 11 years. In college, she was a dancer on, and later captain of, Boston University Chankaar, the university’s premiere South Asian dance troupe. Post-graduation, she trained and performed with the Urban Connection Dance Company in Boston. As the founder and director of DFD, her goal is to increase access to dance training in South Asian fusion styles through a formalized, yet personal, training approach and ultimately help students engage with and embrace their identity within the Indo-American diaspora.
Devika Dhawan
Founder / Director
RAGA KOMANDUR
INSTRUCTOR
Raga has been an avid dancer for the last 16 years. She started dancing Bharatanatyam at the age of 8 under Guru Smt. Kripa Baskaran and her grandmother Guru Smt. Revathi Narasimhan. She has won several competitions and performed all over the US and India. She went on to compete with Wisconsin Surma, a Bollywood Fusion team, and was captain and lead through the years. She is currently an active member of Ministry of Bhangra, a Chicago-based Bhangra team, and WatchList DanceCo, an independent Hip Hop team. Outside of dance, Raga works at a digital marketing agency.
Raga Komandur
Instructor
PARITA AMIN
HEAD OF OPERATIONS / INSTRUCTOR
Pari has been dancing since she was five years old starting with Bollywood dances at family weddings and events. Throughout the years, dance was always a part of her schedule as a routine. In grade school, she competed in Fogana – a Garba competition in the New England area and danced on a Hip Hop/ Step team for four years in high school and college. Pari also joined and captained a Garba/Raas team while in college. While continuing her passion for dance, Pari currently works in non-profit consulting and online media.
PARITA AMIN
HEAD OF OPERATIONS
Pari has been dancing since she was five years old, starting with Bollywood dances at family weddings and events. Throughout the years, dance was always a part of her schedule as routine. In grade school, she competed in Fogana – a Garba competition in the New England area and danced on a Hip Hop/ Step team for four years in high school and college. Pari also joined and captained a Garba/Raas team while in college. While continuing her passion for dance, Pari currently works in non-profit consulting and online media.
Parita Amin
Head of Operations
DEVAM DHAWAN
AV PRODUCER
Devam is a Film and Television major at Boston University with extensive experience in performing arts. In high school, he was a part of the North Andover High School Marching Band for four years along with the reputable Spartan’s Drum Corp. In 2016 he was selected as a member of the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band to perform at the elite U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He continued his passion for the performing arts in college through his leadership in Boston University’s Bhangra Team, where he served as the Co-President.
Devam Dhawan
AV Producer
KIRAN DHAWAN
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Skilled in handicraft, design, and needlework, Kiran brings the vision to life at DFD. Kiran has been a part of dance and theater since she was in grade school. Her background is in education and as a high school teacher, she directed many student plays. She was trained in Hindustani classical music at a young age and also participated in Indian folk dance shows and competitions. Kiran holds a double masters, in Linguistics and Hindi, is a part-time aesthetician in North Andover, MA, and a devoted mother of two.
Kiran Dhawan
Production Designer
bottom of page