Washington: A Southern California-based Indian dance academy has been selected to perform at the Diwali Dance Fest at Walt Disney World, marking a major milestone for the Santa Clarita group. Ghungroo Dance School was selected from 25 teams among more than 400 applicants, the selection highlighting its growing recognition and strong performance record, a media release said in March.

Founded by dance instructor Jini Valiaveettil, the school offers weekly classes in Bollywood and semi-classical dance and caters to all age groups, from young children to adults. The academy has built a reputation for inclusive training over time, with students coming from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, the focus on rhythm, movement, and community.

“Bollyhop has become such a hit across Southern California,” Valiaveettil said. “We’ve created something that resonates with dancers from many different cultures. It’s exciting to see students connect with Indian music and movement in a new way.” The school’s teaching team includes Karthika Ashok, who specialises in classical Indian and Bollywood dance, while Manya Aggarwal brings a modern approach with Bollyhop, a fusion of Bollywood and hip-hop. This blend of traditional and contemporary styles has helped the school reach younger audiences.

Ghungroo dancers regularly perform at major cultural events in Southern California and were part of the inauguration of the Radha Krishna Dham Hindu Temple in Tarzana. They have also performed at Indian Independence Day celebrations across the region, and these events draw large and diverse crowds widely. The school is also involved in community outreach and has worked with CRY America to support initiatives for underprivileged children in India through cultural programmes.