Aangikam Dance Academy director Jasmine Shah helped hundreds of students perform their graduation dance. Photo by OLAN MILLS

NASHUA, N.H. — In her 25 years as a dance teacher, Jasmine Shah says she has seen it all  — spontaneous applause, standing ovations and abundant support. "One has to be dedicated and willing to learn," says Shah, 54, founder of the Aangikam Dance Academy. "Repeated practise and sincere effort are keys to success."

Nashua resident Shah teaches Bharata Natyam, Manipuri and folk dance out of her home and in three Massachusetts locations — Chelmsford, Medway and Shrewsbury with approximately 200 students. Shah's students can choose to learn traditional dance forms, folk dances or Bollywood dances. "They want to learn them all, a good mixture and blend is always healthy," she says.

Around 70 students have graduated from her dance academy so far, with a holistic knowledge of Bharata Natyam, Manipuri and folk dances.

Shah was appointed by the New Hampshire governor to the state's arts council, where she makes decisions, along with other members, about funding and execution of grants.

Her husband Manoj Shah says she has not missed a single meeting and considers herself very fortunate to be able to decide on the funding and execution of arts grants in the state she lives as "arts is anyway very dear to her."

One of Shah's first students was her daughter, Mansi Bhatt, now 30, who started learning dance at the age of four. Her son Chirag Shah, 21, has also learned dance from her. Now, she cannot wait to teach her granddaughter Aarohi, who "might take over the dance academy one day."

Shah's husband, Manoj Shah, a business operations manager at Sonus Networks says, "It is Jasmine's patience that attracts everyone to her. She is also very organized and committed." He adds that whether it was arranging their daughter's wedding or a dance performance, his wife always gives her best effort.

As her school completes 25 years, Shah says she feels blessed and fortunate and cannot forget the day when her students and their families recently honored her in Littleton, Mass. 

What was yet another successful dance event, with a special weddings theme, turned into a surprise party to recognize Shah, who was hailed as the students' favorite dance teacher.

Shah says she did not suspect anything. "I was totally taken aback when everyone came on the stage. It was the most fulfilling moment in my life," she says.

Shah, who learned dance since she was three, says she can understand the sense of pride and fulfilment students and parents experience. "I really enjoy choreographing and encourage all my students to perform on stage," she says. "It gives them self-confidence and builds self esteem."

It was Shah's aunt, Kokila Choksi, a Bharata Natyam exponent  who first encouraged her to learn the dance when Shah was barely three. Later, she also trained under the Niranjana Bhargava and S.K.Rao in Mumbai.

Shah herself, however, says she did not imagine herself as a director of a dance academy. She was initiated to teaching dance by her "gurus" in Mumbai but took it up seriously only after moving to the United States in 1981 along with her husband and daughter. The adjustment to a new country and environment was not easy, says Shah. "I just followed my husband."

With a bachelor's degree and master's degree in business administration from Mumbai's St. Xavier's College and Sidharth College respectively, Shah could not work as her husband was pursuing his education and later, a career in the United States. With time on her hands and a passion for dance, she first started teaching dance to a few children including her daughter and says, "The rest is history."

Shah describes herself as a spontaneous performer and choreographer. She could not wait for her graduating performance, also known as "arangetram," to officially start performing on stage. Shah says her teachers were very traditional and even though she was good, she had to wait the mandatory period to perform her graduation. It is for this reason, she says she has departed from her contemporaries and has incorporated a graduation with a twist. Her students perform a "nritya nipuna," which roughly translates to "master of dance," incorporating different styles of dance.

"While an arangetram has its own special value, I encourage my students to perform even before that so that they get rid of stage fear and at the same time, enjoy the fruits of their hard work," she says.

Aangikam Dance Academy presents many dance ensembles throughout the year, where students perform dance dramas, in classical and well as folk dance forms. Some popular dance dramas that Shah has choreographed are, "Shri Rama," "Vande Mataram," and "Mirabai."

"My hope is to not just teach Indian dance, but also do my part and share Indian art and culture," she says.

To cut expenses, Shah does not use live musicians, preferring instead recorded music for ease of use, and to reduce stress during performances. She also provides  costumes that her students can rent. Shah says she has witnessed many arangetrams and encourages individual families to decide on the scale of their event.

With affiliations to Indian organizations and as the past president of the Gujarati Association of New England, Shah is very involved with the Indian community. Be it a fundraiser, or a cultural show, she says her dance school makes its presence. Shah says she does not miss any opportunity to give talks or even perform with her students in schools and libraries. "People are eager to learn about different cultures," she says.

Shah says she has always led a very active life which she hopes to continue. She thanks her family for their support and says like every family with two working parents, they have also made their share of sacrifices. Her husband helped when their children were growing up and still holds the fort down at home. Manoj Shah says in jest, "People call me Mr.  Jasmine."

Shah enjoys her vacations back home to India. She always makes some time to read and enjoys watching her favorite television shows. Most of all, she says, she loves "being a doting grandmother."