THE FOUNDER
About the Founder
Shivani Parepally is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Shakti Movement, a dance and wellness initiative rooted in Indian classical arts. Established in 2024, the school is dedicated to helping individuals reconnect with their bodies and awaken their Shakti — the vital, creative energy within.
Born in Minnesota and raised in Hyderabad, Shivani blends Eastern tradition with Western experience. A finance honors graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, she began her career on Wall Street before embarking on a two-year global journey that led her back to Indian classical dance, yoga, and holistic healing.
She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Kuchipudi and Indian Artistic Philosophy, and is a certified teacher of Yoga and Breathwork. Shivani brings over a decade of experience teaching Bollywood and Semi-Classical dance, and continues to explore other forms like bachata, bhangra, and belly dance to deepen her connection to movement.
A decade of teaching with the heart…
Shivani Parepally has over 10 years of experience teaching Kuchipudi, Semi-Classical, and Bollywood dance to students of all ages. She has taught over 500 underprivileged students in India through the non-profit Teach for Talent, captained Texas Mohini, a nationally ranked Bollywood fusion team at UT Austin, and has worked with children and adults through various dance schools in Austin and abroad.
Her choreography experience includes weddings, stage shows, and global workshops in Portugal, Thailand, India, and the U.S. Shivani now focuses on sharing the transformative power of Kuchipudi, while also offering yoga, breathwork, and dance classes to help women reconnect with their bodies and inner energy.
Ready to dance? Book your first lesson and step into a whole new world!