Team Members
Aanya Gupta
Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Volunteer
Aanya is currently a junior at Basis Independent Silicon Valley. She has loved dancing different styles, including a fusion of ballet, Bollywood, and more, for the last 13 years. She discovered her passion for teaching dance three years ago and has since taught a large range of ages 3-80+. She started this initiative after noticing how much happier her grandparents were after they danced with her, realizing that dance benefits everyone, both physically and mentally. Now, she can't wait to see the same smile light up more faces by reaching a wider audience through DHP.
Rinisha Golani
Chief Operations Officer
& Volunteer
Since the age of 3, Rini’s world has revolved around dance, exploring styles like hip-hop, contemporary, and Bollywood. Growing up with her grandparents, she’s developed an appreciation for the importance of movement and exercise, especially for seniors. Now in 11th grade at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, she’s eager to share her passion for dance with the older generation, hoping to brighten their days and bring joy through music and movement.
Himani Rajoria
Lead Recruit East Coast & Volunteer
Himani is a dynamic middle school student with a passion for movement. She plays basketball for both a competitive league and her school team, bringing determination and teamwork, and is a dedicated classical dancer, learning the intricate art of Kathak. Beyond her personal pursuits, Himani is a proud member of the National Junior Honor Society, where she demonstrates her leadership and responsibility, and is committed to giving back through community service. She is excited to join DHP and utilize her interests in community service to share her love of movement with seniors across the country.
Pavi Palaniappan
Chief Marketing Officer & Volunteer
Pavi is currently a sophomore at Evergreen Valley High School and has been passionate about dance since the age of 6. Through dance, she has gained valuable skills and life lessons that she now applies in her daily life. Dance has brought her such joy, and she is always eager to share that joy with others by inspiring them through dance as well.
Twisha Khokhani
Chief Communications Officer
& Volunteer
Twisha has been engaged in the art of dancing ever since she was an infant, jumping around to the sound of The Beatles with her brother. She started doing Kathak in first grade to connect dance with her cultural side. Although she began pursuing other passions unrelated to dance, she’s always kept the art close to her heart. Now, given the opportunity to get back into dancing, Twisha enthusiastically joined the Dancing Hearts Project to give back to the community through a physical art form. She looks forward to teaching senior citizens how to dance and helping more people in the future!
Mahika Gupta
Volunteer
Mahika has been a dance enthusiast ever since she could walk. Her journey began with ballet and hip-hop classes as a child, which soon expanded to include the vibrant styles of Bollywood and the classical grace of Bharatanatyam. Over the years, Mahika’s deep passion for dance has not only refined her skills but also taught her valuable lessons in collaboration, responsibility, and leadership. Mahika hopes to bring her energy and experience to teaching dance to senior citizens, creating joyful spaces that foster movement and connection.
Jay Yadav
Volunteer
Jay Yadav is a sophomore with a passion for dance. He truly enjoys not only performing but also sharing the joy and energy of dance with others.
Wania Chanveer
Volunteer
Wania has been involved in dance since the age of four, through various styles. She has also performed for many Indian organizations. Her love for dance continues growing as she shares the art with young Bharatanatyam students. She has worked with older patients through volunteering and in her own family, and she wants to help bring smiles to their faces with DHP. Currently, Wania is a sophomore at Basis Independent Silicon Valley and performs Bollywood for her school team. Wania explored other forms of dance, separate from her Indian heritage, and is currently learning hip-hop. She has volunteered at senior centers and hospitals, working closely with ages 40+; she wishes to use her interpersonal skills to help DHP spread the love of dance. As her love for dance continues to prosper, Wania will use her skills and experience to help DHP share the art form with new audiences.
Diya Marla
Volunteer
Diya is a freshman at Naperville North High School, Illinois. She is a kind soul with a desire to help those in need. DHPs mission to serve the senior members of our community resonates with her calling. Diya is an artist and loves to create beautiful art in her spare time. She is also passionate about badminton and plans to try out for her school team. She enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with her family and friends. She hopes to contribute to the DHP mission and make an impact in the lives of our elders and in turn learn from their experiences.
Naina Akkati
Volunteer
Naina is a sophomore at Irvington High School with a lifelong passion for dance. She has been learning and performing various dance styles since preschool and is currently a proud member of her school’s raas and garba team: Irvington Soor. Over the years, Naina has showcased her talent at numerous cultural festivals and community events across the Bay Area, celebrating the joy and vibrancy of dance. In addition to her dancing, Naina is an active volunteer, contributing over 100 hours to non-profits like Ekal and El Camino Hospital. She believes in the power of movement to inspire and connect people of all ages. By joining DHP, Naina is excited to combine her love for dance with her dedication to community service, bringing smiles and positivity to seniors through music and movement.
Sharanya Ponnala
Volunteer
Sharanya is currently a 10th grader at Irvington High School. She has been dancing for over 10 years, and it is one of her favorite hobbies. In her free time, she also also really likes playing with her dog and hanging out with her friends. Teaching others dance is something that Sharanya loves. She has taught elementary kids for a year now, and is super excited to now share her passion with others and bring joy to many seniors.
Shriya Iyengar
Volunteer
Shriya is a freshman at Mission San Jose High School and have been learning dance at her dance studio, Aerodance, for around 4 years now. She dances competitively and perform on stages all around the Bay Area. Before semi classical dancing, Shriya dabbled in ballet, hip hop, and was also a competitive gymnast when she was younger. Music has always been a part of her life. Her great-grandmother, grandmother, and mom are all dancers as well as singers and Shriya is honored to carry their musicality on. Over the years she realized the different kinds of benefits of dancing and can’t wait to let others feel these benefits for themselves when they dance as well.
Ayushi Singh
Volunteer
Ayushi has been dancing since elementary school! She is currently a sophomore at Irvington High School. She is really excited to continue working with DHP since she gets to work with seniors and teach an activity she's passionate about!
Rhia Kulkarni
Volunteer
Rhia is an 8th grader at Bowditch Middle School and has been passionate about dance since childhood, training in both ballet and Bollywood styles. She transformed this passion into artistic leadership and community engagement by founding a Bollywood Dance Club at her school where they perform at local community events like libraries and fairs. To further her growth, she became a certified BollyX instructor, allowing her to refine her skills, share her knowledge with others, and expand her dance education and professional development.
Sia Varma
Volunteer
Sia is an incoming 9th grader at Amador Valley High School, and having lived with her grandmother her entire life, she’s developed a deep appreciation for culture and movement. A passionate dancer and active competitor for over two years, she has truly found her calling in dance. She hopes to spread her love of movement to others, offering a welcoming space for anyone eager to learn and have fun. Her goal is not only to grow as a dancer but to share the joy and energy of dance with everyone around her.
Shreya Pichika
Volunteer
Shreya is a sophomore at Irvington High School. She has a passion for dance and has been dancing for 13 years. She has been teaching dance for the past 2 years and enjoys it very much. By joining DHP, Shreya is excited to share her love for dance by teaching seniors and creating a fun, uplifting environment where they can enjoy movement and music. She hopes to bring joy and connection through every step.
Manaswi Chilukuri
Volunteer
Manaswi is a freshman at California High School with a passion for dance that began at the age of three. She has explored a variety of dance styles, including ballet, Bollywood, Kathak, Hip Hop, contemporary, and jazz, and has been a competitive dancer for seven years. In addition to her own training, Manaswi has also taught dance and is deeply committed to community service. Her goal is to bring the joy and healing power of dance to senior centers, spreading happiness and creating meaningful connections through movement.
Krisha Mahurkar
Volunteer
Krisha is a sophomore who loves classical dance. She has been training in Bharatanatyam for 10 years and is part of her school’s classical dance team Natya. She also works with the organization Ekal to raise money for children’s education in India. Krisha is involved in her schools DECA clubs and is also a member of the badminton team. She enjoys using her passion for dance, service, and leadership to make a positive impact in her community.