Guru Monalisa Dhobley
Guru Monalisa founded the Tapasya Dance Academy in 2003 — an organization whose mission is to promote healthy mind & body through the Classical dance of Bharatanatyam.
Guru Monalisa is a professional Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer who started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of six. She later joined the Nalanda Dance Research Center, affiliated with Bombay University, to pursue graduate and post-graduate studies in Bharatanatyam — emerging as the university topper after seven years of rigorous training.
She has worked in Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific Airlines, giving numerous performances and lecture demonstrations on the subject of "Classical Dances of India" at Hong Kong University.
Tapasya Dance Academy has put forth dance productions like Nritya Sadhana, Bharatanjali, Myths and Legends, Nupura Naadam, Dancing Gods, and East meets West.
In addition to her work in the arts, Monalisa is also an accomplished IT professional and serves as a Councilwoman for District 7, actively contributing to her community through civic leadership.
She is also a certified Bharatanatyam examiner for the Saamaved Conservatory, an exam board established for conducting examinations, further extending her influence in the academic and evaluative realms of classical dance education.
When she is not dancing or serving the community, Monalisa enjoys gardening, crafting, and drawing — creative hobbies that reflect her artistic spirit in every aspect of life.