Shahil Patel and Sian Bentson, Directors, have fused their artistic visions and diverse experiences to create the magic that is Ishaara.

Shahil, a first-generation born Indian-American, has been immersed in Bollywood culture since childhood. Having grown up watching Bollywood films, singing their songs, and performing their dances, Shahil has truly become an expert in Bollywood. He has developed proficiency in a wide range of Indian dance styles including Bhangra, Tollywood, Bharatanatyam, Filmy and Fusion. He also brings unique experience as a trained dancer in Raas Garba--the traditional folk style of Gujarat.

With a fully Indian mother and American father, Sian has brought a different set of valuable experiences to Ishaara. She has trained professionally in Western styles such as tap, jazz, and hip hop, receiving the honor of sharing the stage and dancing with the late Gregory Hines in 2002. Additionally, she has spent her summers in India performing alongside Bollywood stars such as Deepika Padukone and Zayed Khan, as well as modeling for top Indian fashion designers. Sian's passion for the performing arts is evident in all the work she does.

Together, Shahil and Sian have striven to create a world where Bollywood and Hollywood collide. Their mission has been to provide the most energetic, synchronized, and entertaining form of Bollywood dance found in this day and age. Through a combination of unique dance styles, creative production and unparalleled musicality, they are taking Ishaara--and Bollywood--to an entirely new level.

Shivani is professionally trained in the classical North Indian dance style, Kathak. She has 14 years of training under her mentor and guru Anjani Ambegaukar, recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship Award. This unique style dates back over 2000 years and is traditionally a story-telling art form that recounts mythological and moral tales from ancient scriptures. Incorporating hand gestures, facial expressions, lightning-fast spins, and intricate footwork, Kathak is able to evoke intense emotion and excitement in its viewers.

Shivani's extensive knowledge of Kathak has also allowed her to excel in Bollywood. She brings an unusual, refreshing flavor to Ishaara and immensely contributes to the troupe's high energy, fast-paced and dramatic routines. Her ability to move so quickly with such poise and grace makes her a true asset to Ishaara.

Nickesh's expertise lies in the highly unique Indian style, Tollywood. Based in the state of Andhra Pradesh in southern India, Tollywood is the Tamil and Telegu language film industry that produces more films per year than any other industry in the world. Originating in 1912, Tollywood films now incorporate extremely high energy and fast-paced dances, emphasizing tremendously skilled footwork that cannot be found across any other dance style.

Nickesh has brought his love and passion for Tollywood to the forefront of the South Asian dance community by showcasing these energetic dances at numerous productions in the San Francisco Bay Area. With extensive experience teaching over 40 students at a time, he greatly contributes to Ishaara with his leadership skills. More importantly, his strong grasp on South Asian dance elements and ability to pick up a wide range of dance styles has proven to be an essential part of Ishaara.

Amlu has been a dedicated student of Bharatanatyam for over 14 years, having professionally trained under her lifelong mentor and guru Smt. Indumathy Ganesh. Bharatanatyam is a classical dance of South India, made up of Nritta, or rhythmic movements, and Nritya, the expression of emotions. This unique art form serves to tell religious stories while combining creativity, beauty, and grace into an emotive presentation.

Amlu’s skill with this classical style makes her a powerful dancer for Ishaara. She is known for having tremendous precision, extremely close attention to detail, and unparalleled discipline in her movements. She also offers unique insight into the incorporation of classical dance elements into Ishaara Bollywood productions, contributing to the organization's high level of creativity and originality.

Harpreet is one of the nation’s strongest and most successful Bhangra dancers. Native to the northwestern Indian region of Punjab, Bhangra is a fast-paced, energetic and lively folk dance performed in celebration of life's most joyous occasions. Originating as far back as the 1400's, the dance and music of Bhangra has evolved over the years to express both traditional and modern trends.

Having danced this style for over 15 years, Harpreet Singh has channeled his passion for Bhangra into captaining a nationally ranked team - "Da Real Punjabiz" - from 2006-2008. Leading DRP to first place victories at intercollegiate competitions across the country, Harpreet has proven himself to be a top choreographer and performer. The raw power and energy he brings to Ishaara is both unprecendented and invaluable. Harpreet plans to continue to spread the Punjabi culture with ishaara through hard work, innovative choreography, and electrifying performance.

As a first generation Indian-American girl, Niki grew up mesmerized by Bollywood films and dance. Her favorite pastime as a child was to teach herself Bollywood dance numbers and perform for her family. After expanding her knowledge through 8 years of formal training in Bharatanatyam, Niki began to focus more on Bollywood and filmy styles of South Asian dance.

Niki’s proficiency and talent level is evidenced by her numerous awards at prestigious national events. Last year, she was crowned Miss India California 2008 and Miss India Galaxy 2008. With these titles, Niki was able to propel her abilities to the next level, earning a spot as a captain and lead dancer on Ishaara’s 2009 team. Having graduated from UC Berkeley, Niki is eager to continue her career as a Bollywood dancer and proud to be a member of Ishaara Dance Company.

Smriti has been a Bollywood fanatic her entire life, pursuing classical training in Bharatanatyam and Kathak at a young age. She began her journey with Hindi film dance in her early childhood and competed with dance groups throughout high school and college. She is also classically trained in vocal music and dramatic theatre, and has actively participated in theatrical productions over the last ten years, exploring disciplines including direction, production, choreography and acting.

Having spent two summers and her post-grad year in Mumbai working with a production company and an acting school, Smriti's hands-on experience in the Hindi film industry has proven to be an invaluable asset to Ishaara. In addition, her extensive knowledge of theatre and dance has contributed to turning Ishaara's routines into grand and exciting productions.