Smita Khatri, Dance Teaching Artist

About the Artist

Smita is a lover of movement and enjoys sharing with others her passion for dance. She began learning and performing Indian folk dance at the age of 5. Smita teaches Indian folk dance (Bhangra, Garba, and Dandiya Raas), Bollywood dance, Creative Dance for Kids, and Nia (a holistic cardio-dance movement class that combines modern dance arts, martial arts and healing arts). Her dance classes have reached dance studios, fitness centers, community centers, senior centers, schools, holistic retreat centers, non-profit organizations, and large festivals and events in California, Hawaii, New York, Colorado, Maryland, Greece, Scotland and India. Some of the venues where she has taught include the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Findhorn Foundation, and Honolulu Museum of Art. She also taught dance to adults and children in India, as a volunteer through an organization connected with the Gandhi Ashram. Movement is healing — for body, mind and spirit. Through her classes, Smita encourages you to tune in to the body and breath; to discover ease, freedom and individual expression in each movement; to connect with others in the class; and most importantly, to enjoy and play!

Artist's Statement

The Indian folk dances I teach — Bhangra, Garba, and Dandiya Raas — are traditionally done in community during special events, holidays, and festivals. I love teaching these dances to groups of people, as they very naturally bring people together and offer an opportunity to connect with others in community.