Nina Rajarani MBE
Artistic Director, Choreographer, Dancer and Bharatanatyam Teacher
Srishti is led by award-winning choreographer, dancer and teacher Nina Rajarani MBE. Nina founded Srishti over thirty years ago in 1991, and since then both the touring company and the dance & music school have been based at the Harrow Arts Centre. Nina has presented both her solo and ensemble work widely nationally and internationally. She is a renowned dance teacher, a founder committee member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing’s (ISTD) Classical Indian Dance Faculty and is their lead examiner for Vocational & Teaching Qualification Bharatanatyam examinations. In 2006, Nina won the Place Prize, Europe’s largest choreographic competition sponsored by Bloomberg, for her piece QUICK! She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2009 Birthday Honours, in recognition of Services to South Asian Dance.
Yadav Yadavan
Composer, Karnatik Vocalist and Teacher
Originally from Sri Lanka, Yadavan completed his Bachelor’s degree in Indian music from Madras University, India, and is also a diploma holder from the Music Academy of Chennai. He has received the “Sangeetha Rathna” title and won the GNB Memorial Award for “The Best Male Vocalist” in the 1999 Music Academy annual competitions. Since 2002, Yadavan has been collaborating with Srishti – Nina Rajarani Dance Creations and touring with the company across the UK and internationally. He has been involved in all of Srishti’s education initiatives. In addition to this, Yadavan teaches Karnatik vocal music at Srishti’s dance & music school as well as on an individual basis.
Sarah Trist
Tour Booker
Sarah is a dedicated dance producer and tour booker who connects artists with presenters and communities, communicating with audiences nationally and internationally and meeting a range of cultural objectives. Her organisation Sarah Trist Dance Management Agency centres on the individual needs of the artist, developing market opportunities to facilitate artistic growth and career progression. Sarah has provided sophisticated management support to dance artists in the UK for nearly thirty years, and now focuses full-time on tour booking.
Ambika Kucheria
Social Media Consultant
Ambika is a London-based marketing consultant and Director at Raw Mango Communications. She has diverse experience in the marketing and communications industry across digital and social media marketing, PR, corporate communications and events marketing, and brings a unique cross-platform approach to her work. Her clients include education, arts and hospitality organisations amongst others. Ambika is a keen writer and has written for a variety of publications including India Today UK and the Pulse magazine. She is currently working on her first book, a poetry collection.
Pritpal Ajimal
Website and Graphic Designer
Pritpal’s work is well-known in the South Asian Arts sector with clients including SAA-UK, Milapfest, Pulse, Talvin Singh, Soumik Datta and Sachal Music amongst others. Apart from creating promotional materials, he has also been involved in photography assignments for Manasamitra, Talvin Singh, Deedar Zaman, Eric Truffaz, Soumik Datta, Bernhard Schimpelsberger and Jyotsna Srikanth. Pritpal has been working with Srishti for over five years. He has created Srishti’s website, manages it and designs all of the company’s publicity material.
Suhani Dhanki Mody
Bharatanatyam Dancer and Social Media Manager
Suhani is a Bharatanatyam dance artist trained under Guru Dr Sandhya Purecha performing professionally as a soloist and with leading dance companies across the UK. In the domain of patronising the arts, Suhani has been a confident public speaker compering classical dance events, conducting cultural awareness programmes and writing articles. She has a keen curiosity to delve into studies of the Indian cultural heritage and thus compiled an informative series called #WednesdayWisdom for Akademi South Asian Dance UK. She joined Manch UK, a digital platform, during the first lockdown and has been engaged in arts administration, online event management and social media management. Suhani is also an actor with experience of working in Indian television, theatre and cinema.
Anjana Jeevan
Bharatanatyam Dancer, Teacher and Dance School Administrator
Anjana is one of Srishti’s Bharatanatyam Tutors and Dance School Administrator. She has been teaching at Srishti – Nina Rajarani Dance School for eight years, having completed all of the ISTD’s vocational graded examinations. She has performed extensively with Srishti’s youth group ‘Srishti Culture’ at prestigious venues and festivals.
Jahnavi Sheth
Bharatanatyam Dancer, Teacher and Dance School Administrator
Jahnavi is one of Srishti’s Bharatanatyam Tutors and Dance School Administrator. She has been teaching at Srishti – Nina Rajarani Dance School for fourteen years, having completed all of the ISTD’s vocational graded examinations. She has performed professionally with Srishti’s touring company Srishti – Nina Rajarani Dance Creations, including at the Natya Kala Conference, Chennai, India in 2019. Jahnavi has also been part of Srishti’s production SEVENS.
Varsha Vijay
Bharatanatyam Dancer, Teacher, and Srishti Administrator
Varsha has been training in Bharatanatyam under Nina Rajarani MBE for several years. She has completed all of ISTD’s vocational graded examinations and aims to embark on the DDE (Diploma in Dance Education) teaching qualification in the near future. She is one of the Bharatanatyam Tutors in Srishti’s Dance School. Additionally, she is an administrator for the Srishti organisation, working across the School, Srishti Yuva Culture and Srishti Dance Creations.
Karthika
Bharatanatyam Dancer, Teacher
Karthika has trained in Bharatanatyam for several years under Nina Rajarani MBE and has completed all ISTD graded examinations. After returning to dance later in her career, she now aims to embark on the DDE (Diploma in Dance Education) teaching qualification. Karthika is currently one of the Bharatanatyam tutors at Srishti’s Dance School.
Srishti Board Members
Srishti’s team is supported by board members who bring in expertise and provide valuable input on various aspects of the company’s operation.
Monisha Bharadwaj
Board Member
Monisha trained in Bharatanatyam in Mumbai for over twenty-five years and has performed extensively around the world as a solo artist, both as a freelancer as well as a government of India artist. She has performed at prestigious venues around the world, including at the Music Academy in Chennai, Springdance in Utrecht, and the V&A Museum, London. Monisha also runs regular Bharatanatyam classes in west London. Monisha is a trained chef, and over the last several years has developed a career In this field. She now runs her own business with one of the UK’s most popular Indian cookery schools. Monisha has also written many award-winning cookery books.
Kavita Chauhan
Board Member
Kavita is a qualified personal trainer level 3, specialising in strength and conditioning coaching. She is involved with a charity and sits on their executive board as an assistant Secretary. She has been involved in extensive community work on a charity basis for over twenty years, helping elderly as well as young people to become involved in a community environment. Kavita has a keen interest in both dance and drama. She trained in Bharatanatyam for several years, has participated in many dance productions and stage dramas. Kavita has experience in event management and has organised community events of varying scale.
Andrea King-Holder
Board Member
Andrea has worked in a wide range of job roles. She started her working life as a legal secretary, spending many years developing her experience in this field. As a mature student she went on to study at university, training to become a social worker, an area of work in which she is very passionate. She has worked in a variety of settings as a social worker, both with the local Council as well as in hospital. Andrea’s interest in care has extended to her personal life whereby she has fostered children, providing them with a home alongside her own son. Andrea also has experience of working with charities.