Jamila’s introduction to dance was through ballet by way of competitive gymnastics, then she added tap and jazz to her repertoire. Jamila credits her introduction to Bollywood and Bhangra dance to Dil Se, Stanford’s Hind Film Dance team. She danced competitively with Dil Se for 3 years, earning a spot on the national stage at Best of the Best in NYC. She later competed in Ballroom. Originally from Canada and Arkansas, she’s delighted to have found a home in San Francisco with the Duniya community.

Deepika has been dancing since the age 5. Growing up in India, she trained in Bharatnatyam from Nrityanjali Dance School in Pune, India and completed her Arangetram (Graduation) when she was 15. She has performed Bharatnatyam, Bollywood, Semi-Classical and Folk dances styles in different cities in India and Sri Lanka, and had the privilege to perform alongside the Bollywood Actor Meenakshi Sheshadri. She moved to the US 13 years ago to pursue her Graduate Degree and nurture her passion for dance, by training in and performing a variety of dance styles - Bollywood, Semi-classical, Indian Contemporary and most recently Bhangra & Bollywood with Duniya. She felt a strong drawing to Joti's dancing, leadership and style and is very excited and honored to be part of the Duniya family and continue to learn and grow her dance experience

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Priya (she/they) began her dance journey as a young Bharata Natyam student of Gurus Viji Prakash and Mythili Prakash, with whom she danced in story-driven performances at venues such as LACMA and Ford Amphitheatre. After moving to the Bay Area for college, they continued dancing with Stanford Bhangra and participated in national competitions across the state and country. During a short stint in London, Priya danced with BollyQueer and performed in the Bend it Like Bollywood BBC documentary. Now based in Oakland, she has found her artistic and political home in Duniya Dance & Drum Company, a place to practice cross-cultural solidarity, intergenerational storytelling, and dance as a tool of resistance. Outside of dance, Priya is an Oakland Unified teacher and strives to bring creativity and restorative justice into her classroom every day. They also enjoy walking around Lake Merritt, spicing popcorn, and eating samples at the farmers market. ◡̈

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Renuka is a fat queer Indian-American multidisciplinary artist and community organizer born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a writer-poet and dancer, Renuka knows that language — spoken and embodied — can help us face truths about ourselves and the world we live in, and then give us the strength to sustain the difficult work of liberation. She has engaged art as political storytelling through numerous programs and productions, including Novalia Collective's "this is my body" 2024 cohort, Duniya's 2025 presentation of Ghadar Geet, and most recently as a choreographer in Nava Dance's 2025 Unrehearsed Artist Residency Program. She is following this path in her Master's in Global Studies at UC Berkeley, where she is examining how yoga and classicized art forms engender both othering and belonging in the Indian American diaspora.

My love for Bhangra runs deep—it’s more than just a dance form, it’s how I connect to my culture, express my soul, and feel truly free. Growing up in New York as an American-born Indian, I was always drawn to movement—Bhangra, Bollywood, and styles from all the friends and cultures I grew up with. Dance became my way of exploring who I am. Through Bhangra, I’ve been able to rediscover my roots, learn the Punjabi language, and open my heart to a powerful community. I’ve had the honor of learning and teaching with Bhangra Empire, which helped sharpen my technique and deepen my passion for performing with a team. There’s something magical about moving in sync, sharing energy, and celebrating culture together. Being part of this new dance group is about more than choreography—it's about connection, growth, and embracing every part of who I am. I’m excited to keep learning, sharing, and dancing alongside others who feel the rhythm of tradition and freedom in every beat.

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Oakland-based multidisciplinary dancer Danielle Smith (she/her) brings a vibrant energy and a deep commitment to social engagement to her artistry. Hailing from "the 216" (Cleveland, Ohio), her diverse experiences include a 2023 BASE Residency with PUSH Dance Company, a 2022 HART Residency with Zaccho Dance Theatre, and performing alongside Afghan pop singer and women's rights activist Aryana Sayeed in 2024. For Danielle, movement is a powerful tool for building community and sparking crucial conversations on social justice issues. Whether on stage or in the workshop setting, she cultivates meaningful connections with audiences and fellow dancers that extend beyond the studio. Her distinct choreographic voice, a dynamic blend of hip hop, afro-beats, stepping, and modern dance, was cultivated after graduating with a B.A. in Dance and Social Justice from the University of San Francisco in 2018 and has been presented nationally since 2019. Balancing her performance work with Duniya and PUSH Dance Company in San Francisco, Danielle also contributes her skills to an immigration nonprofit, highlighting her multifaceted dedication to both the arts and social impact.