Ajna Dance

Devi was a great dance instructor. She was very patient and kind. We had busy schedules to try to squeeze in dance practice and she worked with us to get our sessions in. Very skilled at dance and most of all, skilled at teaching. We definitely recommend Devi for anyone’s dance lessons.

I can’t believe I haven’t yet reviewed my favorite dance workout ever. I have been taking Ajnadance classes when I can for around two years, and I never tire of it. It’s the perfect extracurricular if you have a high stress job, because you can’t be angry or depressed when you’re doing a Bollywood dance routine. It’s physically impossible. Embrace the cheesiness, smile, and shake your head side to side!
Minila is a great teacher with a sense of humor, and a creative choreographer. She almost never repeats a routine. I like the 440 Studios class because the room is pretty big and the AC decent. The first half hour is cardio focused, and we dance continuously and try to follow along the best we can. There is always at least one really sweaty Bhangra song with a lot of kicks. The second half of the class is spent learning a Bollywood routine of about a minute in length or so. Minila also teaches classical Indian dance, so she sometimes works a little bit of that in, which is interesting. The class is usually a pretty even mix of regulars and those new to the ways of Bollywood dance. I am not about to get cast in a Bollywood movie anytime soon, but this class is primarily about having fun and not about drilling choreo till it’s perfect. Whether you’re a dancer or not, you will most definitely have a good time.

I’ve only tried the semi-​classical class, and it’s pretty good. It’s hard to find drop-​in training for classical Indian dance, so I appreciate Ajna’s existence. The room they have classes in is really small but it’s usually not crowded.

I tried to register for Ajna during NY Dance Week but it was full, so they emailed me a free pass which I ended up redeeming a few months later. I went for the Bollywood & Bhangra class on a Wednesday night at Pearl Studios. It was taught by a girl subbing for Minila (I don’t remember her name, but she was awesome). It was also a really small class — only three of us that night.
The first thirty minutes was such a workout, lots of jumping around and cardio doing basic Bhangra moves. Bring water because you will definitely work up a sweat. The second half was focused on learning some brief choreography. We learned maybe only thirty seconds of the song, so it would’ve been cool if the overall class was longer so we could learn more. I enjoyed the class though, it was definitely a fun and different kind of workout!

Took this class with my girl friend and I have to say I really enjoyed the first portion of it. Although the class was late in getting started, we did a lot of traditional moves but with a cardio slant to it. It was nonstop movement and I was sweating. When I sweat I feel like I’m burning calories, and that’s what I go to dance classes to do.
However, the second half of the class we did a choreographed dance that was very stop and go and my heart rate wasn’t really up for the last 30 mins. Also, the instructor spent a lot of time recalling the movements so we spent a lot of time just watching. I’m not sure if she had intended to teach us that choreography that night but that was a little bit of a bummer.
I wish we could have just done what we did the first half of class the entire way through or that the choreography would have been a bit simpler so that it would be easy to break down/​learn/​and actually spent time dancing.
I would consider joining the class for a longer time if they allowed students to do performances though every quarter or something. That’s be really fun!

Ajna Dance offers awesome Bollywood dance classes in NYC. I did a drop in class. Minila taught my class, and she has such a great energy. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, (I grew up dancing, but have never done Bollywood.) It was so much fun and a great workout! Loved the music, loved the choreography, loved Ajna Dance!

Ajna Dance is a great new company in NY founded by Minila Shah! The Bollywood dance classes at Ajna are super fun, high energy, amazingly choreographed, and a healthy dose of cardio. Minila’s love of dance is apparent in her enthusiasm to teach and share dance with others. I’ve taken several classes around NY with various choreographers. Hands down… Bollywood classes with Minila are the best! If you love to dance, find a way to include her classes into your regular work-​out routine!

Minila did an awesome job of choreographing a Bollywood themed routine for my company’s dance competition. As we learned the routine she explained the movements really well and went through everything slowly. It was easy to learn, and a lot of fun when we got the hang of it. The actual performance was a blast, and we won!

LOVE these classes! Super easy to follow, a lot of fun and a great workout! I’ve been to a couple classes led by Minila and she is supremely talented. But more importantly for attending a class or looking for a teacher she is really patient, easy to follow, great at breaking down things and has amazing energy. I highly recommend checking out a class… you will get addicted!

Minila Shah choreographed and taught dances for my wedding and it was amazing. Not only did she teach me and my groomsmen (who do NOT have dance skills. lol) how to do a coordinated and complex routine, but she had my wife and I integrate another dance into it! It was such a hit at the wedding!
Although I didn’t have much ‘Bollywood dance’ experience Minila was a great teacher, was able to teach in a way that was easy and really fun. I was able to catch on quickly and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I think the most important part is that she knows how to TEACH, not just how to dance. She makes it fun and spends enough time to have you learn the moves.
I highly recommend Ajna Dance. You won’t be disappointed.