Ask different people about Sheetal Mehta, and they’ll probably know her for different things. But meet her in person and, before long, you’ll know her for one thing: her laugh.
It takes over the room, so full of life and contagious that, the first time you hear it, for a second you don’t believe it’s real. Then you find yourself joining in. That same energy has fuelled more than 25 years of dance, from teaching children in her living room to building Khelaiya Garba (@khelaiya_garba) and Rising Stars (@risingstars.bkk).
For someone meeting you for the first time, who is Sheetal Mehta? Tell us a little about yourself, your journey with dance and how it became such a big part of your life.
I’m Sheetal Mehta, and dance has been a constant part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Surat, India, and from a very young age, I was drawn to dancing. What started as a passion slowly grew into something much bigger.
I started teaching dance in 2001, and when I moved to Bangkok, I continued sharing my love for Bollywood and Garba. I started by teaching my daughter and a small group of her friends, taking part in small competitions as a weekend hobby.
One of the most memorable was a competition connected to the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in 2008–09. Our team won, earning us the opportunity to attend the IIFA red carpet in Bangkok.
I put the entire performance together, from choreography to costumes and props. After that, friends and family encouraged me to start regular classes.
What began with a small group of children grew into stage shows, with my very first one featuring 96 children. I was teaching from my apartment, in my living room, and doing everything myself.
You’ve been dancing for 25–26 years. What was it about dance that made you stick with it all these years?
I think what made me stick with dance is that it has never felt like just a profession to me. Dance has always been a part of who I am.
Seeing the happiness on my students’ faces, watching them grow in confidence and knowing that I’ve passed on something I truly love keeps me going. Every batch, every performance and every student brings something new, so dance has never felt repetitive.
What was the idea behind starting Khelaiya Garba, and what has that journey been like?
Khelaiya Garba started from a very simple idea: to create a space in Bangkok where people could experience the joy, energy and tradition of Garba while also feeling connected to our culture.
I started this journey with my dance partner, Shweta Italia. We began teaching Garba here in Bangkok side by side, and are now entering our 25th year together.
Interestingly, we were rivals for a few years, with our own groups and always trying to outdo one another. Eventually, we thought, instead of competing, why not come together and celebrate the festival?
When I started teaching Garba, I never imagined it would grow into the community it is today. It began with a few students but slowly became much more than a dance group.
For me, Garba is also very spiritual. When I am playing Garba, I feel a connection with Mata, and that is something very special. There is a feeling of devotion and connection that comes with it.
From when you first started teaching Garba in Bangkok to today, what has changed?
When I first started teaching Garba in Bangkok, it was on a much smaller scale. There were only a few people who were familiar with Garba, and for many, it was something they associated mainly with Navratri and Gujarat.
Over the years, I’ve seen that change tremendously. Today, Garba has become much more accessible and inclusive. People from different backgrounds, ages and nationalities come to learn and enjoy it.
I’m especially happy seeing young children and teenagers embracing it. When I started, you had to physically come to class, learn the steps and practise together. Today, social media and online tutorials have made dance much more accessible.
You also started Rising Stars, which focuses on wedding choreography. How did that come about, and what do you enjoy most about choreographing weddings?
Rising Stars began quite naturally through my love for dance. Initially, it focused on regular classes and stage shows for children. Over time, families began approaching me to choreograph weddings and sangeets, and it gradually expanded into wedding choreography.
I approached Priyanka Rawat, a young and incredibly talented dancer, to join me. What started as a professional collaboration has grown into a very special relationship.
What I love most about wedding choreography is that every wedding has its own story. It’s about understanding the family, their personalities, relationships and the memories they want to create.
There is something special about bringing an entire family together through dance. You have grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, friends and the couple rehearsing together, laughing and performing as one. And, of course, all the family drama!
Your daughter has now joined you. What has it been like having her become part of what you’ve built?
Having my daughter join me has been incredibly special. When I was pregnant, I used to dream that one day I would take her to an Indian dance-based reality show called Boogie Woogie.
At our time, there weren’t many opportunities to turn activities like dance into a profession, so seeing her follow in my footsteps and do so well makes me very happy.
She has brought a fresh perspective, especially when it comes to social media. Our Instagram has now grown to over 10,000 followers, and she has brought new energy to what we do.
I bring years of experience and an understanding of dance and teaching, while she brings a younger perspective and new ideas. Seeing her bring her own ideas to something I started is incredibly fulfilling.
This year you’re organising your first Garba night of the season. What are you hoping the night will be like?
After 25 years of teaching Garba in Bangkok, organising a Garba night felt like a natural next step. We wanted to create an evening where everyone could come together and experience the true joy and spirit of Navratri.
This year’s event is especially exciting because we wanted to create a divine and soulful Garba experience, with beautiful music, vibrant energy and traditional Garba.
I want people to forget about everything else for a few hours and simply enjoy themselves—to dance, laugh, and feel connected to the culture, whether they have been doing Garba for years or are stepping into a Garba circle for the first time.
For me, the most beautiful part of Garba is that it brings everyone into the same circle. There are no barriers; everyone dances together.
Is there a particular performance, wedding, student or Garba night that stands out as a special moment for you?
There have been so many special moments, but one that will always stand out is when my team won a competition and we got to walk the IIFA red carpet.
Since I was a child, I had always dreamed of going to a red carpet and seeing Amitabh Bachchan. That day, I not only got to see him, but I even got to shake his hand.
It was such a surreal and unforgettable moment for me, a childhood dream coming true. It was also my first experience at a professional level.
Seeing the costumes, scale and competition gave me confidence. My husband and friends were incredibly supportive, and that experience encouraged me to keep going and to believe in myself.
When you look at Khelaiya Garba and Rising Stars today, what do you hope they become in the years ahead?
I feel incredibly grateful for how far we’ve come, but there is so much more I want to achieve. For the last few years, one of my biggest dreams has been to take our Bangkok dance groups to international events, competitions and festivals and show what our dancers are capable of.
I want to see both Rising Stars and Khelaiya reach an international level and put Bangkok on the map for Indian dance and Garba. For Khelaiya, I want to keep the spirit and tradition of Garba alive for the younger generation.
For Rising Stars, I hope we continue creating personalised experiences for families while expanding internationally. Most importantly, I want to see the people we have trained here in Bangkok standing on international stages and showing what they can do.
I’ve always believed in dreaming big, and this is something I’m still manifesting. After 25 years, I feel like I’m just getting started on the next chapter.