Performers

Shalaka Kulkarni (Artistic Director/ Choreographer/Dancer)
Born and brought up in India until the age of 15, her dance training started around the age of 6 or 7. She is a recent graduate from Columbia College Chicago with Bachelors in Performing Arts Management. She has been performing in and around Chicago for some years now.

In India, her 'Bharatnatyam' (South Indian Classical Dance style) training was divided under two teachers - "Tungbhadra Shelikari" and "Anagha Joshi" - in the city 'Pune'. She began choreographing in school and in the community at the age of 12. She moved to USA in year 2000 and began her 'Bharatnatyam' training under Pranita Jain at Kalapriya Foundation. She has also been training with Sandhya Desai at Anila Sinha Foundation in 'Kathak' (North Indian classical dance style).

She started presenting her choreographic work in USA since last 4 years. She had two self productions and presented her work at festivals and places like - Dance Chicago 2004 and 2005, Stockyards Women Festival 2004, Loyola College, for Kalapriya Dance Company, Columbia College Chicago and for FIA Chicago.

She is a winner of 2005 Dance Chicago Outstanding Award for her work 'Untamed'. She has been commissioned to develop new work for Chicago Cultural Center through their 2007 Dance Bridge residency program.

Aravinda Tota (Manager / Dancer)
Aravinda is looking forward to graduating from De Paul University in June 2007, with a BA in English and Public Communications. She has been learning and performing the ancient Indian dance form of 'Bharatnatyam' in and around Chicago for the last fifteen years.

Aravinda has been heavily involved with Sur Taal's expansion since its inception in 2004, both as a Dancer and Coordinator. She is aspiring to a career which utilizes her writing skills, and hopes to stay connected to the arts throughout her life.

Jacob Plevin (Dancer)
Jacob from Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a studding at De Paul University with major in Spanish and minor in painting. His training and performing history includes Traditional and Folkloric Latin American Dance, Modern Latin dance, Capoeira.

Anjli Patel (Dancer)
Anjli is also a student at De paul University and looking forward to graduate in June 2007. Her major is Political Science and Art History. She has been learning and performing Indian Classical dance for last ten to eleven years. She has been diligently involved with SurTaal since last year.

Kriti Marwaha (Dancer)
Kriti is a student at Benedictine University. Her major is Biology. She has been learning and performing 'Bharatnatyam' for last fifteen years in and around Chicago. She has been involved with SurTaal since January of 2007.

Bianca Atalaya (Dancer)
Bianca is a  Theatre Performance Graduate of Roosevelt University's, Chicago
College of Performing Arts. Currently the Dance Captain for the National Tour
of Jesus Christ Superstar 06/07 tour, Bianca is looking forward to being a
working member of  this new and innovative dance company again. Her dance
background is jazz, modern, cultural, and ballroom.