People

Our passionate and dedicated instructors are the heart and soul of our institution.

Guru Shanta Ponnudurai

Visiting Instructor

Guru Shanta Ponnudurai is a world renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and teacher. She holds a first class diploma from the prestigious Temple of Fine Arts Kalakshetra and had the rare privilege of being under the guidance of its founder, Smt.Rukmini Devi Arundale.

Pamela Rebello O.M.

Executive Director

Since arriving in Manitoba in 1968 from Mumbai, India via Cleveland, Ohio, Pamela has had an ongoing influence and impact on the mainstream and ethnocultural arts at the municipal, provincial and national levels. She began with the Children's Dance Theatre in the 1970s, and over four decades later, Pamela continues to serve as the Executive Director at India School of Dance, Music and Theatre Inc.

Pooja Kulkarni

Visiting Instructor

Pooja pursued her passion towards classical dance and began Kathak training at age of 12 under the guidance of Guru Smt Shilpa Kantak. Pooja has trained in both Jaipur and Lucknow gharana.

Anna Verbytska

Odissi Teacher (Past)

Anna has been dancing Odissi in the Tradition of Guru Surendra Nath Jena for more than six years. Her teachers are Olga Rashko (Ukrainian) and Guru Pratibha Jena Singh (Indian). She was born in Ukraine, Lviv, and moved to Canada in 2019 to study Theatre and Film at the University of Winnipeg.

Revanti Mukherjee

Kathak & Bollywood Teacher

Revanti has taught Kathak & Bollywood since 2022, trained 12 years under Guru Rani Karnaa, and works in cancer research at Paul Albrechtsen Institute.

Shavira Narrandes

Kathak & Bollywood Teacher, Dance Rep

Shavira, Kathak teacher since 2004, was Manitoba's first Rangmanch Pravesh dancer, leads the Kathak dept, and works as a Physician Assistant.

Chitra Joshi Paliwal, MBA

Secretary

Chitra, Board Secretary, drives strategic initiatives. Director of Marketing and Business Development at TRIBBUTE

Amjad Sabir

Music Teacher

Amjad Sabir is a versatile artist on Tabla, Harmonium, Sitar and Indian Banjo. Best known on the Winnipeg Scene as a vocalist.

Ishwar Sawh

Music Teacher

For the last three years, Ishwar has been the Music Teacher for Beginners and Intermediate students, before handing over the aspiring musicians to be mentored by the Guru.

Jaya Sabir

Teacher (past)

Born into a musically gifted family, it was natural for Jaya to be immersed into music and dance. With much dedication and hard work, Jaya has developed into an accomplished dancer and teacher over the past twenty years.

Isha Dave

Teacher

Isha started learning Bharatnatyam at the age of ten. She completed her training in India, where she was born and brought up. Isha has recently moved to Canada to study at the University of Manitoba.

Thanathevy Mithradeva

Visiting Instructor

Thanathevy Mithradev has been a music consultant for the India School from the 1990s, and has received numerous awards at the International level.

Want to be part of the team?

We are always on the look out for instructors and volunteers who can add more to our arts community.

Contact Us