OUR TEAM

Kriti Rakesh | Founder

Dr. Kriti Rakesh, a native of Jaipur, India, was initiated into classical Indian dance, Kathak, at the tender age of 4 by her mother. She received in depth training by Sangeet natak academy awardee Dr Shashi Sankhla of Jaipur gharana. Despite pursuing a career in Biomedical Sciences, her heart always beat to the rhythm of Kathak. Following her calling, she embarked on a journey to revive and promote this ancient art form. Taking a leap of faith, Kriti opened her own dance school, where she dedicated herself to honing the talents of aspiring dancers. Fuelled by her love for Kathak, she pursued a Master's degree in the art form under Pandita Maneesha Sathe of Banaras gharana, deepening her understanding and expertise. Over the years, Kriti has imparted her knowledge to over 200 students, nurturing them not just as dancers, but as individuals with a profound appreciation for tradition and culture. Her creative vision has led her to conceive and direct numerous dance productions, captivating audiences with the beauty and grace of Kathak.

Driven by a desire to provide a platform for budding Kathak artists, Kriti founded a non-profit organization - Aakriti Kathak Foundation. This platform aspires to serve as a beacon of inspiration for future generations, ensuring the continuity of this cherished art form and nurturing a community where artists can thrive. Through her nonprofit, Kriti envisions a future where Kathak transcends boundaries, enriching lives and fostering cultural exchange. Her dedication extends beyond mere instruction; it's a commitment to nurturing a lifelong love for Kathak, ensuring that those who journey through learning this art form, continue to find solace and fulfillment in its expression for years to come.

Juhi Thakur | Vice President

Juhi’s responsibilities include playing a critical leadership role in advancing the foundation's mission, supporting its artists, and ensuring the organization's continued growth and impact in the arts community.
She is a distinguished Management Consultant with over 20 years of experience in executing strategic and tactical projects, advising executives on optimizing business processes, and ensuring client success through value-driven storategies.

Juhi is deeply passionate about promoting South Asian Kathak artists, driven by her foundation in Kathak and dedication to preserving this traditional art form. Her focus is on fostering cultural exchange and showcasing the captivating storytelling and rich cultural heritage of these artists, aiming to bridge past and present, and enrich the global artistic community.

Juhi embarked on her Kathak journey at the tender age of 4 in the quaint town of Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, India. Her dedication and talent were recognized early on when she was honored by the Governor of Madhya Pradesh in 1985. Since then, Juhi has graced countless stages, participating in events and competitions, always eager to channel her artistry towards charitable causes.

Alekh Jha | Secretary

Alekh has long been involved in and passionate about performing arts. His interests within the performance arts include theater, music, and dance, and he has been involved in all three through the course of his life, both on and off the stage. Alekh has long desired to be part of an organization that promotes performance arts and Aakriti Kathak foundation was a great avenue for him to do so. Alekh works as a software product manager.

Mehul Desai | Treasurer

Mehul was born in Mumbai, India, and has been fascinated by Kathak since childhood. He holds a Master's degree in Computer Science and is the proud owner of a Preschool in Durham, where he has been a resident since 2001. Mehul and his family are enthusiastic supporters of the flourishing arts community in the Triangle area.

As the owner of a preschool, Mehul provides a strong foundation for children, including nurturing and fostering a passion for the arts. He understands the invaluable contribution of art to the well-being of both children and adults, and he is therefore thrilled to serve as a board member of Aakriti Kathak Foundation.

Moon Roy | Committee Chair / Strategic Planning

Moon is an experienced HR Program Manager residing in Cary, NC for the past 20 years with her husband and two children. Her family shares a deep passion for music, dance, theater, and Indian culture. Her younger son is a dedicated guitarist, her elder daughter, a Kathak graduate, is studying at Cornell University, and her husband has been involved in community theater for the past many years.

As a former Cultural Secretary for the Bengali Association of North Carolina, Moon is actively engaged in her cultural community, particularly in dance and choreography. She has volunteered and managed events for various organizations, including Live Spectrum, Sankalp RTP, Aakriti Kathak Academy, Oorja Productions, and 4D Production. She is excited to be a part of the Aakriti Foundation.

Kruti Desai | Visual Art / Social Media Coordinator

Kruti is an artist, photographer, and a preschool owner. Her passion is all types of art forms, and she has been immersed in it all her life. Raised in India, she moved to the U.S. to further her education. A graduate of San Jose State University, she holds her Masters in Molecular biology & Microbiology. Kruti considers Durham her home, where she lives with her husband, son, and parents. She is an ardent supporter of Kathak dance form, and is excited about her journey with the foundation.

Chhaya Parekh | Fundraising / Strategic Planning

Chhaya Parekh has been growing her love for dance and music since she was a kid. Her eldest daughter is involved in raas at UNC, and her younger daughter is involved in kathak, taking after their mother. She moved to the triangle in 2005, and has been serving the local community since. She is a software engineer, entrepreneur, and very excited to be a part of Aakriti Kathak Foundation.

Sunny Surana | Fundraising / Strategic Planning

Sunny is the President & CEO of CRS Marble and Granite. He has been actively involved in the local community by serving on the board of Hum Sub, an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting Indian culture. Sunny has also served as a trustee at the Hindu Society of North Carolina (HSNC), as well as President of the North Carolina Indian Association of Physicians (NCIAP) dedicated to providing People's Medical Care. With such a demonstrated and keen interest in and dedication to the proliferation of Indian culture and arts, joining the board of Aakriti was an obvious choice for Sunny and he is happy to bring his experience and guidance to the organization.

Sunny's wife, Vandana, and daughter, Khushi, are both Kathak dancers and are glad Sunny is getting involved in supporting the art form. Sunny is a passionate and Indian National Award winning painter.