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Administrative Staff
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, Founder & Director
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, Founder & Director
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, Founder & Director
Internationally renowned performer, choreographer and instructor, Farah received her training for almost two decades from the late Pandit Chitresh Das. In 2016, Farah founded her own cultural arts organization, Noorani Dance.
In addition to her work as a the Artistic Director of Noorani Dance, Farah oversees all aspects of the administrati
Internationally renowned performer, choreographer and instructor, Farah received her training for almost two decades from the late Pandit Chitresh Das. In 2016, Farah founded her own cultural arts organization, Noorani Dance.
In addition to her work as a the Artistic Director of Noorani Dance, Farah oversees all aspects of the administrative infrastructure and programs for the organization.
Learn more about Farah
Rabia Meghani, Managing Director
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, Founder & Director
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, Founder & Director
Rabia Meghani (she/her) is a Medical Researcher, Behavioral Therapist, Educator, Yoga Therapist and a student of Kathak. Rabia’s formal education is in public health and epidemiology. Merging her knowledge of disease and the ancient science of Yoga and Ayurveda, Rabia aims to make these practices accessible to the masses while honoring th
Rabia Meghani (she/her) is a Medical Researcher, Behavioral Therapist, Educator, Yoga Therapist and a student of Kathak. Rabia’s formal education is in public health and epidemiology. Merging her knowledge of disease and the ancient science of Yoga and Ayurveda, Rabia aims to make these practices accessible to the masses while honoring the roots of the science. Her passion lies in harmonizing western medicine with eastern healing methodologies.
Lakshmi Ravi, School Director
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, Founder & Director
Lakshmi Ravi, School Director
Lakshmi, a trained Bharatnatyam dancer, fluent in several Indian languages is the School Administrator for Noorani Dance. She has about 8 years of Non profit experience working with youth at the India Community Center She has mentored and empowered summer camp counselors to become the best role models they can be for the younger generatio
Lakshmi, a trained Bharatnatyam dancer, fluent in several Indian languages is the School Administrator for Noorani Dance. She has about 8 years of Non profit experience working with youth at the India Community Center She has mentored and empowered summer camp counselors to become the best role models they can be for the younger generation. She has 2 daughters presently learning Kathak under Farah in the Noorani Dance School and would one day love to return back to dancing Kathak.
Shubhra Mathur, AdministrativE MANAGER
Shubhra Mathur, AdministrativE MANAGER
Shubhra Mathur, AdministrativE MANAGER
Prior to being the Administrative Manager at Noorani Dance, Shubhra Mathur was the Youth Programs Manager at India Community Center, managing the planning and execution of classes, camps and other initiatives for youth. Shubhra speaks fluent German besides English and Hindi and hopes to return to learning Kathak someday.
Trisha Chhaganlal, Marketing Manager
Shubhra Mathur, AdministrativE MANAGER
Shubhra Mathur, AdministrativE MANAGER
Trisha is an accomplished Kathak and Bollywood Dance Instructor, starting her Kathak journey in New Zealand under the guidance of her mother, Leena Chhaganlal. After her family relocated to Florida, Trisha followed her many interests at Rollins College in Arts and Dance. After pursuing further training in Kathak from Saveeta Sharma (Canad
Trisha is an accomplished Kathak and Bollywood Dance Instructor, starting her Kathak journey in New Zealand under the guidance of her mother, Leena Chhaganlal. After her family relocated to Florida, Trisha followed her many interests at Rollins College in Arts and Dance. After pursuing further training in Kathak from Saveeta Sharma (Canada), Trisha started Orlando's first school offering dance classes in Kathak, Bollywood and Garba. Upon moving to the Bay Area, she has worked in Social Media Management with a focus in growing authentic connections online.
Ishika Seth, Company Manager
Vidya Warrier, Communications Manager
Vidya Warrier, Communications Manager
Ishika (she/her) is a South Asian choreographer, dancer, dance educator and writer based in the unceded lands of the Ohlone people (Bay Area).
Since 2007, Ishika has presented her work at various venues in and around the Bay Area. She studied Indian Contemporary Dance, jazz, yoga and Mayurbhanj Chhau in India and had the opportunity to be
Ishika (she/her) is a South Asian choreographer, dancer, dance educator and writer based in the unceded lands of the Ohlone people (Bay Area).
Since 2007, Ishika has presented her work at various venues in and around the Bay Area. She studied Indian Contemporary Dance, jazz, yoga and Mayurbhanj Chhau in India and had the opportunity to be a part of Santosh Nair’s company Sadhya. She came to the U.S. She obtained her B.A. in Dance from SJSU studying modern, jazz, ballet and choreography.
She was the Assistant Artistic Director of the Mona Khan Company from 2011-2021.
Vidya Warrier, Communications Manager
Vidya Warrier, Communications Manager
Vidya Warrier, Communications Manager
Vidya is a Kathak dancer, filmmaker, and yoga practitioner. Although she grew up in Michigan, she spent 11 years in India, volunteering with Isha Foundation. She is an absolute lover and proponent of India’s rich heritage. She seeks to use film as a means to promote culture, yoga, and the arts. Vidya sees creative collaboration as an orga
Vidya is a Kathak dancer, filmmaker, and yoga practitioner. Although she grew up in Michigan, she spent 11 years in India, volunteering with Isha Foundation. She is an absolute lover and proponent of India’s rich heritage. She seeks to use film as a means to promote culture, yoga, and the arts. Vidya sees creative collaboration as an organic meeting of human hearts - a way towards creating a more harmonious humanity.
Board of Directors
Uma Menon, Board President
Arti Dusane, Board SECRETARY & Treasurer
Arti Dusane, Board SECRETARY & Treasurer
Uma Menon met Farah Yasmeen Sheikh over 15 years back, when introducing her daughter Athena to Kathak through Chhandam. Later on she became a student, TA, volunteer as well and worked with Farah in many dimensions. Since inception of Noorani, she has gratefully seen FarahDi's mentorship and teaching touch many lives including hers.
Uma wor
Uma Menon met Farah Yasmeen Sheikh over 15 years back, when introducing her daughter Athena to Kathak through Chhandam. Later on she became a student, TA, volunteer as well and worked with Farah in many dimensions. Since inception of Noorani, she has gratefully seen FarahDi's mentorship and teaching touch many lives including hers.
Uma works at Google and is passionate about leveling children's education around the world. Performing and fine arts are synonymous to godliness in her family.
Arti Dusane, Board SECRETARY & Treasurer
Arti Dusane, Board SECRETARY & Treasurer
Arti Dusane, Board SECRETARY & Treasurer
A true desi at heart, Arti gravitates towards the arts from South Asia, be it dance, music or poetry. Having originally enrolled her daughter in classes at Noorani Dance, Arti was drawn not only to the dance technique, but also the culture, etiquette, expression and self confidence that is imparted to each student, and for the high standa
A true desi at heart, Arti gravitates towards the arts from South Asia, be it dance, music or poetry. Having originally enrolled her daughter in classes at Noorani Dance, Arti was drawn not only to the dance technique, but also the culture, etiquette, expression and self confidence that is imparted to each student, and for the high standards of discipline and of community that exists at Noorani Dance. Art is a VP, Americas Compliance, PMO at Bank of the West
Somya Chauhan
Arti Dusane, Board SECRETARY & Treasurer
Somya Chauhan
Somya Chauhan, CPA, is an Indian-American business executive. She is currently in the Finance team at Alphabet Inc. where she leads a team that is responsible for the company’s global expenses, month close reporting and day-to-day operations.
Somya has trained to be a career coach. She facilitates a leadership development program at Googl
Somya Chauhan, CPA, is an Indian-American business executive. She is currently in the Finance team at Alphabet Inc. where she leads a team that is responsible for the company’s global expenses, month close reporting and day-to-day operations.
Somya has trained to be a career coach. She facilitates a leadership development program at Google and also offers one-on-one career coaching sessions.
Prior to joining Google, Somya worked in corporate accounting at HP and prior to HP in the audit and advisory services at EY in Chicago and the Bay Area.
Somya hosts Talks at Google Speaker Series bringing Googlers from around the globe face-to-face with today’s most prominent and innovative thought leaders including Darren J Gold, Bobbi Brown and Dylan Werner.
Somya is on the board of California Society of CPAs that serves over 45,000 members and is an advisor to various non profits including GirlVentures and NextLevel.
Najma Noorani
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, Founder & Director
Somya Chauhan
Born in pre Partition India, and moving to Pakistan as a young child, Najma grew up in Karachi where she trained to be a Physical Therapist. Upon moving to the US in 1971 and starting her family, she opted to manage a physical therapy practice with her husband for over 20 years in Salinas, CA. Avid patrons of the South Asian arts, Najma a
Born in pre Partition India, and moving to Pakistan as a young child, Najma grew up in Karachi where she trained to be a Physical Therapist. Upon moving to the US in 1971 and starting her family, she opted to manage a physical therapy practice with her husband for over 20 years in Salinas, CA. Avid patrons of the South Asian arts, Najma and her family would regularly attend classical, Qawwali, and dance performances for many years, enduring the one way 2-hour long drive to the Bay Area where most of the events took place. Upon retiring in the early 2000’s, Najma and her husband, Amjad, decided to move closer to where the action was so they could enjoy even more of such events.
Philanthropy has always been a core value for Najma and her husband, both dedicated volunteers and supporters of education in Pakistan through their commitment to The Citizens Foundation (TCF), and of countless causes and organizations with the intention of doing their part to better humanity and the world we live in.
And yes, if you’re wondering about the connection to Najma’s name, she happens to be the mother of Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, founder of Noorani Dance.
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, Founder & Director
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, Founder & Director
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, Founder & Director
Internationally renowned performer, choreographer and instructor, Farah received her training in Kathak for almost two decades from the late Pandit Chitresh Das. In 2016, Farah founded her own cultural arts organization, Noorani Dance - presenting and producing traditional and innovative training and performances, and collaborative partn
Internationally renowned performer, choreographer and instructor, Farah received her training in Kathak for almost two decades from the late Pandit Chitresh Das. In 2016, Farah founded her own cultural arts organization, Noorani Dance - presenting and producing traditional and innovative training and performances, and collaborative partnerships across other forms of performing arts, displaying Farah’s unique artistic expression and vision coupled with the classical and innovative style of her Guru, the late Kathak maestro, Pandit Chitresh Das. Farah directs all aspects of the administrative and artistic aspects of Noorani Dance and has received recognition and awards for her work from the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, New England Foundation for the Arts, Zellerbach Family Foundation, Alliance for California Traditional Arts, San Francisco Foundation, SVCreates, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts and Dancers’ Group and the California Arts Council.
Adisory Board
Bhumi Patel
Iram Parveen Bilal
Iram Parveen Bilal
Bhumi is a queer, desi artist/activist who creates intersectional feminist, multidisciplinary art. Her work traverses dancing, choreographing, curating, educating, writing, and arts administration. She earned her MA in American Dance Studies from Florida State University and her MFA in Dance from Mills College. Patel is on faculty at West
Bhumi is a queer, desi artist/activist who creates intersectional feminist, multidisciplinary art. Her work traverses dancing, choreographing, curating, educating, writing, and arts administration. She earned her MA in American Dance Studies from Florida State University and her MFA in Dance from Mills College. Patel is on faculty at West Valley College, Lone Mountain Children’s Center, and Shawl-Anderson Dance Center. Bhumi is a member of Cat Call Choir.
Iram Parveen Bilal
Iram Parveen Bilal
Iram Parveen Bilal
Iram Parveen Bilal is a Filmmaker, and a global content creator and enabler, who focuses on thought-provoking stories that are socially impactful and envision an inclusive world. Her third feature I’LL MEET YOU THERE just premiered in the narrative competition at South x Southwest. Iram is now focusing on TV directing and creating, and Ir
Iram Parveen Bilal is a Filmmaker, and a global content creator and enabler, who focuses on thought-provoking stories that are socially impactful and envision an inclusive world. Her third feature I’LL MEET YOU THERE just premiered in the narrative competition at South x Southwest. Iram is now focusing on TV directing and creating, and Iram’s Pilot, DETAINED, about two detained matriarchs in an ICE detention center, just made the top twenty un-produced, female written pilots’ list for WeForShe. Eager to raise while rising, Iram is an active mentor for women in film and tech. She believes genuine curiosity is the only antidote to fear.