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MINOTI RAMACHANDRA
Founder & Director, Motley Dance Company
Minoti Ramachandra is one of India’s most prominent Latin dance figures, an international competitor, and the Founder and Director of Motley Dance Company. With a career spanning nearly two decades of elite performance and instruction, Minoti has dedicated her life to building vibrant, inclusive social dance communities across Bengaluru.
Before founding Motley, Minoti established herself as a cornerstone of the Indian dance scene, serving as a Principal Dancer, Lead Instructor, and Regional Head at the prestigious Lourd Vijay's Dance Studio (LVDS). A true pioneer in the community, she has brought her insights on rhythm and connection to the global stage—delivering a powerful TEDx Talk ("Let's talk Salsa!") and contributing widely to cultural dialogues on the evolving dynamics of social dance.
Under her direction, Motley is built on explicit boundaries of consent and mutual respect, intentionally running the studio as a safe space for women and a completely inclusive environment welcoming to individuals from all walks of life.
Championship Pedigree & Global Recognition
Minoti’s technical precision and artistry have earned her top accolades on the world stage, competing at the highest tiers of international Latin dance:
- International Acclaim: Won the prestigious Stargate Championship at the Warsaw Salsa Congress in Poland (2017) as a core member of the elite Sazon de India professional Latin team.
- World Competitions: Semi-Finalist at the World Salsa Championships in Hong Kong, and a consecutive Qualifier for the World Latin Dance Cup and the World Salsa Summit.
- National Titles: Multi-time podium finisher at the All India Salsa Championships and Champion at the India International Dance Congress (Same Gender Category).
- Television & Media: Finalist and featured recurring performer on Sony TV’s hit reality show “Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega.”
Teaching Philosophy
As a Santo Rico certified instructor, Minoti pairs world-class technical pedagogy with a warm, infectiously energetic teaching style. She is widely celebrated for her unique ability to break down complex body mechanics and partner work into simple, joyful steps, making the dance floor accessible to absolute beginners. At Motley, her mission is to remove the intimidation from dance, proving that anyone can discover their rhythm, build deep confidence, and find a home in Bengaluru's most welcoming dance family.
KALPANA BALAKRISHNAN
Co-Founder, Director & Lead Instructor, Motley Dance Company
Kalpana Balakrishnan is a highly acclaimed exponent of Latin dance, a certified instructor, and the Co-Founder and Lead Instructor of Motley Dance Company. With over a decade of intensive experience as a performer, choreographer, and educator, Kalpana has earned a stellar reputation as one of the most knowledgeable and creative forces in the Indian social dance scene.
The dance journey originally began in Hyderabad, where she emerged as a pioneer of the local Salsa community, choreographing and performing extensively with the renowned Furor Hyderabad team at major international salsa congresses. Upon relocating to Bengaluru, she advanced her artistry through intensive training under Alex Diaz (USA) and traveled across global dance hubs—including New York and San Francisco—to study directly under legendary Salsa masters. Expanding her versatility, she has also trained deeply in Rumba, Afro, Boogaloo, Mambo, and Afro-Cuban styles under elite international artists like Luanda Pau (London).
As a Co-Founder, Kalpana actively champions the etiquette of partner-work consent and absolute non-judgment, ensuring the studio remains a secure sanctuary for female dancers and an inclusive home for everyone regardless of age or skill level.
Championship Pedigree & Performance Accolades
An exceptional stage performer and competitive athlete, Kalpana’s track record highlights her technical precision and musicality:
- International Acclaim: Won the prestigious Stargate Championship at the Warsaw Salsa Congress in Poland (2017) as part of the elite Sazon de India professional Latin team.
- National Championships: Led the Furor Team to consecutive back-to-back Team Championships at the India International Dance Congress (IIDC).
- Social Dance Elite: Awarded "Best Social Dancer" at the Chennai Dance Festival, and has shared the international stage with global icons, including Mambo diva Selene Tovar.
Teaching Philosophy
Kalpana is widely celebrated not just for her depth of technical knowledge, but for her uniquely affable, patient, and humorous approach to instruction. Her classes are recognized for balancing rigorous attention to detail and musical interpretation with an atmosphere filled with laughter and fun.
As a Co-Founder of Motley Dance Company, Kalpana focuses on building strong fundamentals, body mechanics, and a genuine connection to Latin music, ensuring that dancers of all walks of life walk away feeling inspired, challenged, and fully confident.
PRATIK SHINDE
Head of Curriculum & Artistry (Kizomba) & Instructor, Motley Dance Company
Pratik Shinde is a formidable and versatile Mumbai-born dancer, instructor, and choreographer specializing in Afro-Latin and street dance forms. As the founder of Kizomba With Pratik and a member of the elite House of Rhythm Crew India, Pratik serves as the creative director of Motley’s Kizomba vertical, completely spearheading the department on his own. He formulated the studio's specialized Kizomba syllabus and progressive teaching methodology, bringing over a decade of rigorous training and global experience to the team in Bengaluru.
As an educator, Pratik actively champions the etiquette of partner-work consent and absolute non-judgment, ensuring the studio remains a secure sanctuary for female dancers and an inclusive home for everyone regardless of age or skill level.
Championship Pedigree & Global Recognition
Training under leading international and national Afro-Latin masters since 2010, Pratik began teaching professionally in 2017. He has since trained over 1,000 students across the country and has proudly represented the Indian dance community on the world stage—teaching and performing at major international festivals in Paris and Vietnam. His competitive track record spans dominant victories across multiple disciplines:
- International & Continental Titles: Asian UrbanKiz Champion at Muxima India (2022) and UrbanKiz Couple Champion at the Muxima Kizomba Festival (2025).
- Solo & Battle Dominance: Consecutive multi-time Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba Solo Champion (2025 & 2026), and a multi-time Street Dance Champion, holding the House Dance Championship title (2018–2019).
- Major Podium Finishes: Secured top-tier podium placements at the World Salsa Summit India Qualifiers, the India International Dance Congress (IIDC), Bailamos, and the prestigious Red Bull BC One.
Teaching Philosophy
Pratik is widely celebrated for his extraordinary versatility, flawless musicality, and a rock-solid foundation in social dancing. His approach to instruction focuses heavily on body mechanics, rhythmic awareness, and understanding the deep cultural roots of Afro-Latin movement.
At Motley Dance Company, Pratik is dedicated to pushing his students to break through technical barriers, helping them build effortless style, deep musical intuition, and absolute confidence on any social dance floor.
LEONA SEQUEIRA
Bachata Sensual Specialist & Instructor, Motley Dance Company
Leona Sequeira is an exquisite and expressive Bachata Sensual artist, choreographer, and educator who serves as the designated Bachata Sensual Specialist at Motley Dance Company, running the entire vertical single-handedly. Widely recognized for her fluid styling and exceptional artistic vision, Leona has been teaching and performing at the highest levels of the Indian Latin dance scene since 2017, bringing a refined, modern perspective to the team in Bengaluru.
As an educator, Leona actively champions the etiquette of partner-work consent and absolute non-judgment, ensuring the studio remains a secure sanctuary for female dancers and an inclusive home for everyone regardless of age or skill level.
Professional Pedigree & Performance Expertise
Leona's artistic journey includes a rich history of collaboration, mainstream media features, and national competitive titles:
- Media & Recognition: Her teaching credentials earned her a feature as an invited guest instructor on Madhuri Dixit’s online dance academy, Dance with Madhuri.
- Competitive Placements: She won the Bachata Jack & Jill competition at the Latin Fiesta Bengaluru Weekender (LFBW) precursor event.
- Elite Collaboration: Having previously trained, taught, and performed with the globally renowned dance duo Cornel and Rithika, Leona developed a world-class pedigree in Bachata Sensual technique and stage presentation.
- Choreography & Production: An elegant storyteller on stage, Leona has conceptualized, choreographed, and performed in numerous high-profile showcases, events, corporate socials, and wedding dance productions across the country.
Teaching Philosophy
Leona is celebrated for creating a classroom environment that is both welcoming and creatively inspiring. Her classes focus heavily on the micro-mechanics of connection, fluid weight transitions, and intentional movement that goes far beyond just memorizing steps.
At Motley Dance Company, Leona is dedicated to helping her students grow not just as social dancers, but as confident performers. She specializes in guiding both absolute beginners and advanced dancers to unlock their natural elegance, master body awareness, and discover their own unique sense of style and self-expression on the floor.
SALONI MISHRA
Instructor, Motley Dance Company
An engineer by profession and an elite dancer and educator by passion, Saloni Mishra brings a unique blend of analytical precision and infectious energy to the Motley Dance Company team. What began as a spark of curiosity quickly evolved into a dedicated career in movement, rhythm, and community building. Trained extensively at Motley Dance Company in Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba, Saloni has established herself as one of Bengaluru’s most vibrant and technically sound instructors.
As an educator, Saloni actively champions the etiquette of partner-work consent and absolute non-judgment, ensuring the studio remains a secure sanctuary for female dancers and an inclusive home for everyone regardless of age or skill level.
Championship Pedigree & Competitive Accolades
Saloni is a formidable competitive athlete and an exceptional social dancer, holding a flawless track record across prestigious national and international Latin dance stages:
- International Recognition: Finalist in both the Salsa and Bachata Jack & Jill Championships at the standard-setting SBTA in Thailand (2025), where she was also a featured stage performer.
- National Championships: Winner of the Salsa Jack & Jill Championship at Danzapura in Goa (2026), Winner of the Bachata Jack & Jill Championship at LFBW Bengaluru (2025), and Winner of the Spill Your Skill Bachata Couple Battle (2025).
- Local Dominance: Multi-time Winner of Solo Bachata Battles and numerous local Jack & Jill competitions across Bengaluru, as well as a Finalist at the Bailar Conmigo Bachata Jack & Jill (2025).
Teaching Philosophy
Saloni is widely celebrated for her high-octane teaching style that perfectly bridges structured, technical clarity with the pure joy of musical connection. Her classes are designed to be equal parts rigorous and lighthearted, blending laughter with continuous growth.
At Motley Dance Company, Saloni thrives on watching her students transform—guiding them as they build absolute confidence, celebrate their individual breakthroughs, and discover the deep, transformative joy of social dancing.
Registered address:
Motley Dance Company,
A Venture Of Motley Dance Pvt. Ltd.
304, Kt1, 9th Cross, 8th Main,
Malleshwaram, Bangalore - 560003