Dhoon Dance
Recognized by City of LA’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Dhoon Dance is a dance academy and creative community dedicated to training students in Kathak as well as creative fusion and semi-classical dance forms that blend Indian rhythmic foundations with contemporary and traditional expression.
Classes in Kathak and other dance forms are offered in LA County and Orange County. To support accessibility, Dhoon Dance offers selected hybrid options for long-distance commuters as well as online classes for advanced dancers who wish to continue learning for personal enrichment rather than performance.
For committed and consistent students, the academy provides annual recitals and local performance opportunities. Advanced dancers are further supported with opportunities to perform at prestigious venues, including international dance festivals and city, county, and state-level programs. Regardless of age or background, every student is welcomed and guided along a path that fits their goals. Check out the classes and performances page.
Class sizes are intentionally kept small to emphasize quality over quantity, allowing for individualized attention and artistic growth. Students are also offered structured pathways for advancement through certifications, fostering long-term development, confidence, and a deeper connection to the art form.
No matter where you are in your dance journey, there is a place for you at Dhoon Dance.
Affiliations
Dhoon Dance is affiliated with:
National Dance Honors Society
National Dance Education Organization
International Dance Council (affl. UNESCO)
Sarvabharatia Sangeet O Sanskriti Parishad
Sourabhi Sen - Founder, Artistic Director, and Teacher
Sourabhi is a Kathak dancer, creative fusion dance composer, and the founder of Dhoon Dance. Trained extensively in both India and the United States, she has studied under esteemed gurus including Guru Shree Pranab Sanyal, Smt. Piyali Mukherjee, Smt. Anjani Ambegaokar, and Dr. Tina Tambe, with occasional workshops from legendary artists such as Pandit Birju Maharaj ji, Smt Saswati Sen, and Smt. Geetanjali Lal, and consistent guidance from Professor Amita Dutta. Sourabhi is also trained in Indian classical music.
Rooted in classical Kathak, Sourabhi’s artistic creations seamlessly blend traditional Indian technique with contemporary expression. Her choreographic work bridges storytelling, rhythm, and musical innovation, and her performances have been featured across the United States, India, and Greece. Her work has been recognized as a Featured Artist by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and performed at prestigious venues such as San Pedro Festival, Mix and Match Festival, International Dance Council, and United Indian Association of SoCal, amongst many others. She has led Dhoon to become an affiliated member of the National Dance Education Organization, National Honors Society for Dance Arts, International Dance Council CID, and Sarvabharatiya Sangeet O Sanskriti Parishad.
Through Dhoon Dance, Sourabhi leads a growing and diverse community of students across different counties, offering structured honors programs, examinations, and certifications. Her teaching philosophy extends beyond technique—she mentors students to become confident leaders by organizing fundraisers, performance initiatives, and outreach projects that bring the healing power of movement to underserved communities. Advanced students are encouraged to choreograph, assist in teaching, and develop ownership of their artistic voices.
For young dancers, Sourabhi emphasizes cultural literacy by teaching the meaning behind lyrics, rhythmic structures, and the historical context of Indian dance forms—an approach shaped by her upbringing in India. Performing since the age of three across various venues and troupes, her early exposure to Kathak, Odissi, folk dances, and Rabindra Nritya informs her ability to teach Kathak in its purest classical form while also creating meaningful fusion works inspired by India’s rich, multi-layered dance vocabulary.
Sourabhi’s artistic mission is to preserve the beauty and integrity of classical dance and other Indian dances while making it inclusive, relevant, and resonant for a global audience and creating a social impact through dance.
Seasonal choreographers and instructors
Kathak
Anusha Ghosal
Student dance mentor
Anusha Ghosal supports Sourabhi in teaching Kathak to young students at Dhoon. She brings prior advanced training in Kathak and Rabindrik dances, and has been learning semi-classical dances that incorporate Kathak vocabulary under Sourabhi’s guidance from a very young age, steadily developing both her choreography, technique, and teaching skills.
Ipsita Saha
Student dance mentor
Ipsita Saha assists with Kathak instruction for children at Dhoon Dance. She has several years of formal Kathak training backed by certifications from India and enjoys assisting in creating traditional pieces that reflect the essence and purity of the form. She continues to study Kathak at Dhoon.
Creative dance forms
Dr. Chameli Panja
Dr. Chameli Panja is a scientist and volunteer performing arts practitioner who specializes in applying Indian classical dance vocabulary to create dynamic, expressive choreography. Trained in Odissi and Rabindrik Nritya, she is also the co-founder and artistic director of Academy of Cultural Arts and Exchange (AACE), an organization dedicated to training children in Indian theater arts in Los Angeles. Dr. Panja has offered choreography, mentorship, and artistic guidance to Dhoon Dance productions and many performing arts productions across SoCal and India. She enjoys being part of the advanced fusion dance group at Dhoon.
Sayanti Das
A teacher by profession, specializes in choreography that brings a fresh perspective and storytelling to contemporary Indian dance. Trained in Kathak and Rabindra Nritya, she contributes her creative choreographic work to Dhoon Dance on a periodic basis, enriching productions with her distinctive artistic voice and fluid, versatile movements. She has been part of the advanced fusion dance group at Dhoon.
Joy (JD)
Joy (JD) is an IT professional and a trained dancer from India. A seasoned dancer with performances in both India and US, he specializes in teaching world dances: folk, hip hop, and street style on English and Bollywood songs. His classes emphasize musicality, fun, and energy, making them engaging for dancers.
Tisya Barua
Student dance mentor
Tisya Barua occasionally helps Sourabhi in teaching semi-classical and contemporary dances to youth groups at Dhoon Dance. With many years of training in Bharatanatyam, she brings a strong classical foundation along with contemporary influences to her choreography. She is currently expanding her artistic range through semi-classical dance training at Dhoon.