Bio
New Delhi to New York
A Multi Talented Choreographer and Artist
Pooja Uberoi is now recognized globally as a Bollywood dance director and choreographer and has been responsible for some of the biggest Bollywood musicals in India and the US. She has been part of some of the best Bollywood films such as Tamasha, Jab We Met and No one Killed Jessica.
Classical Indian Dance is the South Asian science of dance, just as ballet is in Europe. Bollywood dancing fuses Classical Indian Dance with Jazz and Hip-Hop. It includes the popular Bhangra. It’s a mashup of many South Asian traditions, just as India is a mashup of traditions and so is New York City. Uberoi’s life dream is to put authentic Bollywood Dance choreographed and performed by South Asian Artists on Broadway.
Pooja born in Tamil Nadu [southern India] and grew up in New Delhi. Later she moved to Mumbai to work in the Bollywood film industry. From Mumbai, she came to New York to bring Bollywood to the world platform.
Her company IKIGAI USA is working on expanding the Artistic Dance and Movement classes and setting up a school in Florida after establishing work and classes in New York City and India. IKIGAI USA aims to develop and spread Indian Cultural and Bollywood Dance, Yoga and Movement through classes, workshops and events. IKIGAI USA was created to foster artistic collaborations and help artists follow their passion without being short of the resources or finances.
FULL BIO:-
Pooja Uberoi is the Artistic Director and owner of IKIGAI USA and loves helping people follow their passion and create opportunities for artists in the USA and INDIA through dance, Yoga and Movement exploration. Pooja is the producer for a 10 day dance festival called NYC Dance Week which is now a Global festival for Dance and Fitness. Pooja was awarded the South Asian Women Achievers Award for the year 2017 in New Jersey for her achievements in bringing Bollywood Dance to the forefront in USA.
Pooja is trained in Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Jazz, Contemporary, Classical Ballet, Salsa, Street Funk and Contact Improvisation. Pooja has performed and choreographed extensively nationally and internationally representing her company. Pooja Uberoi is an experienced choreographer, and has choreographed extensively for both stage and film. She has worked as assistant choreographer with Ashley Lobo in India while working at The Danceworx Performing Arts Academy. She has also choreographed for stage shows, corporate events, trade exhibitions, feature films and Iive Broadway style musicals in India and USA. Pooja has also curated and conducted experimental/ collaborative projects with Indian and international collaborators, like ‘Experimenta’ while in India. Pooja has worked with some of the best teachers from all over the Globe including:-
Ashley Lobo (Australia/India): Jazz, Funk and Contemporary,Ronnie Shambik Ghosh (Hong Kong): Matt Mattox, Jazz, Yehuda Maor (USA): Ballet, Yuko Harada (Japan): Modern, Raymond Esterhuizen (Netherlands): Limón technique, Tino Sanchez (Spain): Contemporary, Anthony Noa (USA): Ballet, Jacquie Bird (USA): Old School and Broadway Jazz, Robin Merchant (Canada): Jazz Funk, Santosh Nair (India): Chhau, Mandeep Raikhy (India/ U.K.): Laban Contemporary, Caesar Augusto Moniz (Portugal): Contemporary/ Classical Ballet, Nik Hills (Australia): Contemporary, Jaan Freeman (USA): Horton Technique
Soraya Franco (Dominican Republic): Yoga Ballet/ Yoga Dance Therapy.
Pooja Uberoi is now recognized globally as a Bollywood dance director and choreographer and has been responsible for some of the biggest Bollywood musicals in India and the US. She has been part of some of the best Bollywood films such as Tamasha, Jab We Met and No one Killed Jessica. Classical Indian Dance is the South Asian science of dance, just as ballet is in Europe.Bollywood dancing fuses Classical Indian Dance with Jazz and Hip-Hop. It includes the popular Bhangra. It’s a mashup of many South Asian traditions, just as India is a mashup of traditions and so is New York City. Uberoi’s life dream is to put authentic Bollywood Dance choreographed and performed by South Asian Artists on Broadway.
She has spent the majority of her career in the Dance, entertainment and Television industry, gaining experiences in areas such as Dancing, Teaching, and Choreographing, Producing Festivals and Musicals and Creating digital content for Social media.
As a Dancer Pooja has been part of many dance and theatre shows touring India, Israel and the USA. She has also been part of a Fitness show by Reebok called “Bootylicious”. She has choreographed for Sesame Street kids. She has directed two Bollywood Musicals in India and USA which toured Israel, South Africa, China and Germany. She has choreographed many Bollywood musicals including a Kids Musical – “Wizwits” based on Wizard of Oz.
Uberoi is focused on creating something unique and special for the dance world with her brand “BollyJazz” – a fusion of two styles of Dance Jazz and Bollywood.
Pooja has been producing a dance festival in New York for the last few years called NYC DANCE WEEK which attracts artists from all over the globe who participate. She is also a curator for Funkar, a performance night for emerging artists in New York City. Uberoi curates this show to provide an opportunity to new dance movement and artists in New York by fully supporting the performances.
She is currently expanding and setting up her yoga and dance school in Florida and continues to run her school in New York. Pooja is working on creating and training instructors for her new style BollyJazz. IKIGAI also has their own movement wear called Wear Ikigai especially created by Pooja with her experience with various forms of Movement over the years.