About Us
Our Story
Rhythmaya Dance was started in 2005 by Nirathi Rao with a vision of spreading her passion and love for Indian dance styles. Growing from humble beginnings, Rhythmaya’s first Bollywood classes were hosted in Nirathi’s garage and basement. With only a handful of students, the dance academy began making a name for itself with performances in local community centers and small gigs/venues. Every year, Nirathi saw an increase of students and Rhythmaya Dance really started to expand.
A few years after starting, Shelia Oak joined the ranks and there was no stopping Rhythmaya Dance. Kathak dance classes were added and Rhythmaya extended into Maryland. Nirathi and Shelia became a dynamic duo who turned this dance academy into something more than just a few dance classes.
Rhythmaya Dance now has 6 locations, 25 experienced instructors and 300+ wonderful students. Apart from Bollywood and Kathak dance classes, Rhythmaya has expanded its services to include special choreography workshops for weddings/special events, a performance troupe, and an array of beautiful costumes available to rent.
At Rhythmaya Dance it is understood that anyone can become a dancer but only with the support of a devoted community. That is why this dance academy is a perfect fit for anyone of any background. When you join the Rhythmaya community, you join a large, loyal and loving family where the only thing that matter is: Are you ready to get up and move?
Bollywood & Kathak Dance Classes
Bollywood is a beautiful blend of classical Indian dance, folk Indian dance and the more current R&B, hip hop music. From the upbeat music to the colorful costumes, Bollywood is a celebration of Indian culture. Come experience it the Rhythmaya way with a chance to perform and be a part of a community!
Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dance that traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathakars or storytellers. Kathakas present their dances with outstanding grace while maintaining quick footwork, expressive faces and tremendous strength. Join Rhythmaya’s modern Kathakas today and become part of this centuries old community!
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Behind the Masterminds
Nirathi Rao
As founder and director of Rhythmaya, Nirathi is dedicated to providing exceptional quality in Indian dance instruction, original choreography, and performance services in the Washington, DC metro area. She teaches and manages multiple Bollywood classes spanning numerous locations at Rhythmaya. Due to Nirathi’s initiative, drive and leadership, Rhythmaya has grown from a small basement dance class to an extensive dance academy and devoted community.
Nirathi’s passion for the performing arts is a product of unshakeable southern roots that can be traced to South India’s Andhra Pradesh and Huntsville, Alabama. Due to the scarcity of dance instructors in her hometown of Huntsville, Nirathi began to master her craft by self-choreographing routines at the age of 10. In addition, she spent two summers in India under Smt. Sumathy Kaushal and learned the basics of the Kuchipudi Indian Classical Dance form.
Today, Nirathi lives with her husband, Jayant, and their three daughters in Northern Virginia. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, bringing her community together, and spending time with her VERY large family.
Sheila Oak
Since partnering with Nirathi in 2013, Sheila has helped develop Rhythmaya from a basic dance school to a full-fledged dance company by managing a franchise in Maryland and developing a unique Kathak classical dance curriculum for the diverse student base across the DC Metro area.
A Northern Virginia native, Sheila Oak Maggin is professionally trained in many forms of dance including Kathak (completing her Raangmunch Pravesh in 2002 under renowned Kathak Guru Asha Vattikuti), Bollywood, Hip Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Belly Dance, and Middle Eastern Tribal. She uses this diverse background to choreograph exceptional dances and to bring new and creative ideas/projects to the team. Whenever Rhythmaya is in need of fresh, innovative, original content, Shelia is just the woman for the job!
Sheila works full time as a manager in Finance and Securitization. She lives with her husband, Daniel, and two adorable sons in Maryland. Outside of dancing, she has a passion for people, family relationships, and culinary cuisine. Sheila is constantly deemed as being the “life of the party” and having a “fun, infectious energy that people constantly want to be around”. Her culture and background are also very important to her as she fully embraces her Half Punjabi, Half Marathi identity along with her newly acquired “Hinjew” culture post marriage.
Meet Our Instructors
Arzoe Singh
Young, driven, and full of energy, Arzoe Singh has been dancing with Rhythmaya since 2015, starting off with Teen Troupe and added teaching Bollywood Tots and Minis at the Maryland branch since 2018 to her schedule. Her love for dance started at the age of 3 and has expanded as she always keeps an open mind to new styles of dance such as Bhangra and Hip Hop.
As a teacher, Arzoe’s main goal is to spread the joy and love that Bollywood has always given her and make her students experience how fun dance can truly be. Outside of dance, Arzoe loves to read novels, rewatch her favorite shows on Netflix, and is President of her school’s National Honors Society. Arzoe hopes to continue her passion of dance in college alongside her dream of becoming a pediatrician.
Jigi Modi Dahagam
Jigi joined Rhythmaya initially as a parent when her son joined Nirathi's Tots class in 2014. After a year of assisting during class and stepping in as a substitute when needed, Nirathi encouraged Jigi to officially teach Merrifield Tots and Minis! Throughout her childhood in Birmingham, AL, Jigi performed Gujarati and Bollywood dances during many community Diwali, Holi and other Indian programs.
Today, she effortlessly passes on her dance passion and skills to Rhythmaya students --including her two sons! In fact, many of her young pupils, girls and boys, ask if Miss Jigi can continue to be their teacher even after they graduate to more advanced Rhythmaya classes.
Lekha Kachoria
Lekha Kachoria is a recent business graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She currently works in Arlington, VA at Deloitte. She has been dancing for 19 years and her first performance was with Rhythmaya when she was 3 years old! She has 10 years of experience in various classical styles, specifically Kuchipudi. In college she was captain of her Indian fusion dance team, Wisconsin Surma. Now, she is a Bhangra dancer on the professional ladies Bhangra team in DC, DCBC. She is very excited to teach once again and can’t wait to show kids all dance has to offer no matter what age you are!
Jiya Arora
Jiya Arora is excited to return to Rhythmaya Dance School, where she previously taught Indian dance styles to students of all ages. She completed her Raangmanch in 2021 under Gurus Sheila Oak Maggin, Jayantee Payne Ganguly, and Pooja Bhatnagar. Her training in classical and folk dance forms the foundation of her movement vocabulary, which she builds on through more modern and cinematic styles. Jiya creates a fun, engaging class environment that encourages confidence, creativity, and connection. Outside of Rhythmaya, she led her college team, Hurricane Bhangra, to its first out-of-state competition in over five years and continues to choreograph for special events. She is passionate about sharing her love for dance and helping every student grow both on and off the stage.
Riya Menachery
Hello I'm Riya Menachery and I am a junior at Fredericksburg Academy. I love dance and have been learning Bollywood through Rhythmaya for the past 6 years. My hobbies include playing the piano and cello and playing tennis, soccer, and basketball. I enjoy to travel and bake.
Arpita Patel
Arpita has been a fan of Rhythmaya since 2008 when classes were taking place in her friend Nirathi’s basement. Since then, as a mother of three, Arpita began assisting with the Herndon’s Bollywood Tots/Minis Class and Virginia’s Kathak Pearls and Jades. Currently Arpita assists in running operations for Rhythmaya Dance. Arpita grew up in rural Pennsylvania where she never had the opportunity to learn Bollywood or Classical Indian Dance (aside from copying Madhuri Dixit dance videos on TV Asia). It has become her mission to not only assist in teaching her own children and Rhythmaya’s students, but to also expand her proficiency in South Asian Dance.
Eva Santos
Eva Santos is a senior in high school who has been dancing with Rhythmaya for the past 12 years. In 2022, Eva began teaching Bollywood dance classes. She really enjoys getting to teach students of all different ages, and helping them perform dances they are proud of. Additionally, she is happy she can give back and support the dance community that has always supported her. Outside of Rhythmaya, Eva enjoys watching her favorite sitcoms, spending time with her family, and playing soccer and ultimate frisbee. She can’t wait to continue sharing her love of dance in the upcoming semester!
Neera Vyas
Neera Vyas has been dancing since the age of three and has loved every moment of the journey. She is trained in a wide range of styles including Bollywood, Kathak, Jazz, Hip Hop, Street Jazz, and Ballet. Her passion lies in blending classical technique with commercial styles to create movement that tells a story.
Neera continues to grow as both a performer, competitive dancer, and an artist. Some of her favorite memories include performing at Disney and taking the stage in a variety of live shows. Each performance has strengthened her creativity, confidence, and love for connecting with an audience. Whether she is performing, teaching, or working through her nonprofit to support young dancers, Neera believes that dance is a powerful form of joy, expression, and community.
Asha Kolluri
Asha is a junior in high school who started dancing at Rhythmaya when she was just 4 years old. She began with Bollywood in 2013 and started learning Kathak in 2016. For the past four years, she has also been dancing competitively in hip hop. This is her third year teaching at Rhythmaya. Asha loves watching her students grow and gain confidence through dance. Rhythmaya has always felt like home and is where she has found her passion and made some of her closest friends.
Elijah Amond
Elijah Amond is an Alexandria, VA native and Kathak graduate of Rhythmaya Dance School under the guidance of Guru Sheila Oak Maggin. He started Kathak when he was 12 and completed his Rangmanch Pravesh three years later at age 15. He plays three musical instruments, including the tabla, sitar, and the flute, and holds his Bangladeshi heritage and culture very close to his heart. He believes that if we truly want our culture to continue to grow and thrive it is our responsibility to pass it on to the next generation.
Leela Rustgi
Leela is a rising junior at Georgetown Day School. She has been
dancing since she was 4 and teaching for the past two years. She loves
teaching and showing the young kids the beauty of dance. She loves
Rhythmaya because she has learned so much about her culture through
dance and is able to spend time with her amazing friends. She also
loves to play tennis, hangout with friends, and work for her
non-profit. She is ecstatic to be teaching this upcoming year and to
meet everyone.
Kareena Gupta
Kareena is a 12th Grader at Poolesville High School. She has been dancing Bollywood for 11 years and the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak for 10 years with Rhythmaya. Under the guidance of Guru Sheila Ji, she completed her solo Kathak Rangamanch Pravesh graduation performance in September 2024. Beyond dance, Kareena enjoys piano, tennis, hiking, and reading.
Lina Khanna
My name is Lina Khanna. I reside in Bethesda, Maryland, with my husband and three children. I grew up in Montgomery County and have a passion for dance as one of my hobbies. Outside of dance, I enjoy having a dental practice working as a family dentist in Bethesda, Maryland.
My Kathak journey began at the age of six, and I had the privilege of learning under the guidance of Guru Tina Sharma. Since then, I’ve participated in various competitive dance teams and have had the opportunity of exploring various dance styles, in addition to Kathak and Bollywood.
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Medha Chandorkar
Medha's dance background began with copying Bollywood dance moves for parties in her parents' home as a child, but it really took off in college. At Georgetown University, Medha organized Rangila, a South Asian dance showcase with over 500 participants, held at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House! Medha joined Rhythmaya Dance in 2015, performing with the adult troupe at events ranging from nonprofit galas to weddings. These days, she teaches teens and junior classes, helping students build confidence, have fun, and grow as dancers.
Aryana Bhatt
Aryana started dancing when she was 3 and joined Rhythmaya when she was 6. Once Aryana moved to advanced level classes, she decided she wanted to extend her love for dance into teaching younger kids. After three years of being an instructor, Aryana teaches all the elementary level classes in the Arlington branch and assists in Vienna classes every week with full commitment. Dance has always been a meaningful part of her life and she loves working and dancing for Rhythmaya because of the community surrounding the studio and the connection to her culture. Aryana is in 12th grade and also loves to bake, hang out with friends and read in her free time.
Siyana Rao
Siyana is a senior in high school and has been dancing Bollywood at Rhythmaya since she was 3 in 2011 and started learning Kathak a few years later. She’s also been dancing competitive hip hop and jazz and loves exploring different styles. For the past three years, she’s been teaching Tots and loves getting to share something that means so much to her. Rhythmaya truly feels like a second home, it’s where she grew up dancing and made lifelong friends. She loves working with kids and helping them fall in love with dance too. When she’s not dancing, Siyana is probably playing soccer or working with her nonprofit. Teaching at Rhythmaya feels extra special to her because it's where her own dance journey began.
Maya Marathe
Maya Marathe is sophomore in college. Maya started doing Bollywood dance with Rhythmaya at the age of 3, and has been dancing ever since, doing both Bollywood and competitive hip-hop.
She has been assisting with and then teaching the Herndon Minis class for 3 years. Maya loves interacting with the kids, introducing them to different styles of dance, and helping them enjoy dancing as much as she does.
In addition to dancing, Maya enjoys volunteering at rescue dog adoption events, tutoring, and drawing.
Meher Harnal
Meher has been dancing with Rhythmaya since she was 5 years old, learning both Bollywood and Kathak. She is now in 8th grade and for the past year has been teaching Bollywood to the Vienna Tots and Minis classes. Through Rhythmaya, Meher has been able to create friendships that will last forever and a dance community that she is very proud to be a part of. Meher is very passionate about dance and loves getting to teach younger kids at Rhythmaya where she started her own dance journey. When she is not dancing Meher loves to play tennis, is part of her middle school tennis team and enjoys her time outdoors with long runs and bike rides.
Alumni Instructors
Megha Thomas
Megha Thomas is an instructor for junior level dancers in the Rockville branch. She has been with Rhythmaya for 5 years and has previously received training in Bharatnatyam. Megha’s time with her middle school dance company also gave her experience in jazz, modern, and ballet. The various styles that she is familiar with can be seen through her fun and energetic choreography. When she’s not dancing, Megha spends her free time running, singing, and reading.
Sanjana Meduri
Sanjana has been dancing with Rhythmaya for over 15 years, and has been teaching with the studio for the last 2 years. In addition to Bollywood, Sanjana has been learning Kuchipudi for 12 years, and completed her Rangapravesam in 2018. She has also recently taken up Bhangra. Sanjana not only loves to dance, but choreograph as well, something she has done for Rhythmaya and events at her school. She is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science at Technology, and is studying computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. She plans to continue dancing both in college and with Rhythmaya in the future.
Tanisha Ducharme
Tanisha started dancing when she was in first grade, and dance has always had a special place in her heart. She journeyed through everything from ballet to Bollywood to Bharatanatyam to Bhangra over the course of her childhood and young adult life. This included doing her Arangetram in high school in Vermont, choreographing for large groups and shows in college in Michigan, being a captain of an Indian fusion competitive dance team, and teaching. Since moving to the DC/VA area, Tanisha has continued to search for ways to incorporate dance into life while working and raising two young kids. Tanisha has been thankful for finding Rhythmaya and is really enjoying continuing her dance journey and watching other young dancers pursue theirs!
Preetha Vikram
Preetha joined the team early last year as one of the many teachers at Ryhmaya's Rockville Studio. Prior to joining Rythmaya as a Juniors and Advanced Junior teacher she spent time training in Bhartaynayam and is even part of the University of Maryland's Premier Classical Indian Dance team, UMD Moksha. Moving forward, Preetha hopes to expand her skills in Bollywood dance!
From a young age, she has spent time watching and dancing to Bollywood movies. To expand on these skills, she has also been trained in Bollywood Dance from the Strathmore Music center. Preetha hopes to spread her love for Indian dance and culture to kids, as well as create a positive and fun environment for learning dance!
Rashi Gupta
Rashi has been dancing with Rhythmaya since 2015 and has fallen in love with bollywood dancing ever since. She started taking dance classes from Sheila and participated in the annual Holi and Diwali show from 2015-2017. Rashi joined Rhythmaya's Rockville teen troupe in 2018 and began teaching dance to Rhythmaya's younger students in 2020. Rashi loves Bollywood dancing and the thrill of performing at places such as Kings Dominion, the Afghan Embassy, and the NBA Wizards Halftime show but her favorite thing about dancing with Rhythmaya is the lifetime friendships formed with her fellow dancers and with Sheila and Nirathi as they have had an instrumental impact on Rashi's dance career and have inspired her love for dance.
Diya Kachoria
Diya is a senior at Winston Churchill High School and has been dancing with Rhythmaya Dance since she was just 2 years old. She is an active member of the Advanced Teen Troupe. After 14 years of dancing, Diya decided she wanted to take her passion to the next level and also teach. As a mentor, she inspires her Minis and Tots classes to appreciate their culture and values and express themselves through dance.
Diya is patient and enthusiastic, and she encourages her students to step beyond their boundaries and enjoy the thrill of performing on stage. Besides dancing, Diya spends time playing on her high school varsity lacrosse team, competing nationally for her varsity debate team, and is the founder of her high school’s No Place for Hate Club.
Vidya Govil, Bride's Mom
Working with Sheila had been a joyful experience. She is talented, creative and experienced enough to know how to choreograph to the group. She is very punctual, communicative and a good listener too. Her energy permeates the room and she is able to capture the attention of a very big group too! She’s a dynamo at work!
Smitha, Rhythmaya Customer
We live in an area without easy access to Bollywood dance classes, but my 10-year-old daughter was very keen on learning a dance with her friends for an upcoming Indian festival. I reached out to Nirathi and she was so helpful to teach us from afar. She chose beginner level steps and paired them with fun, current songs. When we hit some stumbling blocks, she patiently broke down steps for us. She put together a few dances, consistently checked up on us, sent us an audio file for our event with the medley of songs, and rented us beautiful colorful costumes. My daughter and her friends had a wonderful experience with Rhythmaya Dance and would like to continue dancing. I would definitely recommend her services if you have an event in the future that requires a fun Bollywood dance for any age group.
Sanjana Meduri, Rhythmaya Past Student, Now Teacher
I love being a teacher with Rhythmaya because it gives me a chance to give back to the studio I’ve been with since I was pretty much a baby. This means a lot to me because it gives me a sense of pride for helping the studio which gave so much to me. These dance classes are heartening and give people a positive and healthy way to spend time. I’m so glad I get to be a part of this community!
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