KRUTI SHAH

DIRECTOR | CHOREOGRAPHER | INSTRUCTOR | DANCER

ABOUT KRUTI SHAH

Kruti Shah garnered global attention as a top-10 finalist on Hrithik Roshan’s reality series Just Dance, which aired on Star Plus in 2011. Since her international debut, she has continually pushed boundaries and redefined choreography and teaching by seamlessly integrating Eastern and Western cultural elements.

Trained in Bharatnatyam and Kathak, Kruti enriches traditional Indian dance with her extensive expertise in ballet, pointe, tap, hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, and modern dance. Her innovative creations resonate with audiences both domestically and internationally. During her time in Mumbai, she earned widespread acclaim for her talent and received support from Bollywood icons like Hrithik Roshan, Farah Khan, Vaibhavi Merchant, Terence Lewis, and the legendary Saroj Khan, who honored her with the esteemed Rs. 101 ka Shagun.

Upon returning to the United States after Just Dance, Kruti channeled her creative energy into Mystic India: The World Tour, a Bollywood dance extravaganza. As a Principal Dancer, Choreographer, and Assistant Director, she performed to captivated audiences across the United States, Bahrain, South Africa, Canada, and China. She also served as the chief Indian choreographer for Bollydoll, the lavish LA-based live musical directed by Amrita Sen.

In 2016, Kruti established Sanskruti Dance LLC, showcasing her commitment to innovation, exploration, and her unique fusion of Eastern and Western artistry. In addition to her work at Sanskruti, Kruti currently serves as a lecturer in the dance department at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

A strong advocate for formal academic and performing arts education, Kruti combines her diverse background—including being the sole recipient of the New Jersey Honored Dance Excellence Award and a Rutgers University graduate in Evolutionary Anthropology—with her experience to help dancers navigate the intersection of their Indian heritage and American experiences.

REPERTOIRE

Sanskruti Dance LLC Owner | Director | Choreographer | Instructor | Dancer 2016 - Present

Mystic India: The World Tour Assistant Director | Head Choreographer | Principal Dancer 2011- 2016

AATMA Performing Arts Director | Choreographer | Instructor | Principal Dancer 2009- 2016

COMPANY WORK

TELEVISION/COMMERCIAL/MUSIC VIDEO/FILM

Just Dance, Star Plus Top 10 Finalist | Dancer Mumbai, India

The Bombay, Francesca Maria Choreographer | Dancer NYC

Truffle Butter|Ambarsariya, Vidya Vox & Shankar Tucker Choreographer | Dancer NYC

Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda, NBC Choreographer | Dancer NYC

Street Rat, Kaly, AireBedd Productions Choreographer | Lead Dancer NYC

South African Broadcasting Corporation TV Choreographer Johannesburg, South Africa

Breakfast Television Toronto Choreographer | Lead Dancer Toronto, Canada

New Age Mantra, Film: Hastey Hastey, Go Cam Films Dancer NYC

DIRECTION AND CHOREOGRAPHY

Coffee In Glam Ft. Nargis Fakhri Choreographer Martinsville Gardens, NJ

Integra LifeSciences Diwali Celebration 2019 Choreographer | Dancer Princeton, NJ

India Day Parade 2018, Hotstar Director | Choreographer | Dancer NYC

India Day Parade 2018, Fazlani Foods Director | Choreographer NYC

Best Buddies Miami Gala 2017 Director | Choreographer | Dancer Ice Palace Film Studios, Miami, FL

Stardust Global Indian Icon Awards ft. Neetu Chandra Choreographer | Dancer Plaza Hotel, NYC

US Hispanic TV Summit, Zee Mundo Choreographer | Dancer Grand Hyatt, NYC

India Day Parade 2017, Star Plus Director | Choreographer | Dancer NYC

Vodacom CEO Awards Assistant Director | Choreographer | Dancer Johannesburg, South Africa

Choreographer’s Carnival 2015 Choreographer | Dancer Highline Ballroom, NYC

Choreographer’s Carnival 2016 Choreographer Avalon, Los Angeles, CA

NBA Halftime Performance 2015, 2016 Choreographer | Dancer Wells Fargo Center, PA

Shakti by Share and Care Foundation Assistant Director | Choreographer | Dancer BCPAC, Englewood, NJ

Just Dance Live, Star Plus Co-Director | Lead Dancer EBPAC, East Brunswick, NJ

Deepak Chopra: Sages + Scientists Choreographer Los Angeles, CA

Bollydoll: The Musical, Amrita Sen Choreographer Los Angeles, CA

Titans of Bollywood: Vishal & Shekhar Choreographer Ritz Theatre, Elizabeth, NJ

Association of Performing Arts Presenters Choreographer | Dancer Hilton, NYC

INSTRUCTION/WORKSHOPS

Rutgers University Contemporary Fusion Movement Practices, University DanceWorks Sept 2021-Present

Sanskruti School of Cultural Dance Bollywood, Semi-Classical, Contemporary, Tap, Fitness Aug 2016 - Present

Metuchen Downtown Alliance Bollywood Fitness Workshop Sept 2018

Beijing Championship Dance Culture Ltd., China Bollywood, Semi-Classical, Folk Workshop Dec 2017

Arts in Motion Academy, Matawan, NJ Int/Adv Tap, Bollywood, Lyrical Contemporary 2013-Present

AATMA Performing Arts, NJ Adv Bollywood, Indo-Contemporary, Technique 2009-2016

Miramar Cultural Center, Miramar, FL Bollywood Workshop Nov 2014, 2015

Broadway Dance Center, NYC Bollywood Workshop Aug 2015

Philadelphia Sixers Dancers, Philadelphia, PA Bollywood Training April 2015

Emperors Palace, South Africa Bollywood Workshop May 2013

Bollywood America, Philadelphia, PA Indo-Contemporary Workshop May 2012

PERFORMANCES (SELECTED)

Durban ICC, South Africa April 2016

Teatro Montecasino, Johannesburg, South Africa April 2016

Casino Rama, Ontario, CA Jun 2015

New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ Mar 2015, 2014

House Of Blues, Los Angeles, CA Jan 2014

BEIC Center, Manama, Bahrain Sept 2013

Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, CA Aug 2013

Avalon Ballroom Theatre, Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, Canada Jul 2013

Theatre of Marcellus, Emperors Palace, South Africa May 2013

Dollywood Theme Park, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Mar 2013

Janmashtmi Festival, Vrindavan, India Aug 2011

AWARDS/RECOGNITION

Dance USA Dance - Best choreography and 1st place in Juniors

Vibha Vibe - 1st Place Winner - 2018, 2019
Rs. 100 Ka Shagun from Saroj Khan - 2011
NJ Governor's School of the Arts Award for Dance Excellence - 2008