May is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a month celebrating the achievements and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States. We highlight the people-led small businesses in Asia Pacific and the important role they play in sharing their culture and impacting local communities.
These are companies like Kruti Dance Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. The founder, Dina Sheth, is a former Indian microbiologist and trained classical dancer. She wanted her daughter, Shemoni, to experience the beauty of her culture, so she began teaching dance in the basement of her home.As other parents in the community learned of what Dina was doing, her classes began to grow, and in 1995 the Kruti Dance Academy was officially established. What started as a basement classroom with four students is now a 9,000-foot facility with hundreds of dancers, and Shemoni is Kruti’s artistic director.
With the help of digital tools, they continue to expand the reach of Kruti Dance Academy. For example, YouTube has enabled them to connect with people from all over the world: their channel has over 27,000 subscribers and eight million views. Closer to home, photos and reviews on the company’s Google profile will give those unfamiliar with Indian dance a taste of what Kruti Dance Academy is all about.
Dina and Shemoni are widely recognized for their commitment to the arts and community. Watch this video to learn more about how Kruti Dance Academy shares the richness of Indian culture and heritage through dance in their community and around the world.