Dive into global storytelling through a unique amalgamation of hip hop, bharatanatyam, chhau, and contemporary movement taught by Ishita Mili. Open to all levels; no experience necessary.
About Ishita Mili
Photo credit: Malcolm Blaze Little
Ishita Mili is a Bengali-American director, choreographer, educator, and iconoclast. She founded IMGE (”image”) as a dance company that unravels cultural roots to thread together global stories with artists of diverse backgrounds. IMGE’s holistic movement vocabulary encompasses dynamic imagery, mudra storytelling, and percussive footwork to confront social and cultural constructs. Ishita’s work has reached inter/national stages (New Victory Theater, Lincoln Center, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival), commercial campaigns (NBC Universal, IndoWarehouse), and theater (Broadway Bares, Asolo Rep’s Hair). Ishita was awarded Artist of Exceptional Merit by the Asian American Arts Alliance and has taught at Princeton, Duke, Rutgers, and internationally. IMGE was most recently awarded a CUNY Tribeca production residency for their original show (no)man, and Ishita was selected into the LabWorks 2024-25 cohort at New Victory Theater.
About Guest Artist Sangeetha Santhebennur
Sangeetha (Sang) is a 1st generation Indian-American professional performing artist and multichannel instructor based in NJ/NYC. Her vessels of creativity find roots in dance, singing, modeling, choreography, and instruction as a means of continually (re)defining self-expression. She has toured the country performing in theater (Cirque du Soleil’s: Twas The Night Before tour, HAIR at Asolo Rep, pre-Broadway run of Karate Kid at Stages St. Louis) and commercial campaigns (MAC Cosmetics, Apple, JVN, EOS, New York Times, NYFW). She was a lead dancer in Broadway Bares Pleasure Park and alongside recording artist Raveena (Hollywood Bowl) in 2023. Her personal movement aesthetic uses elements of hip hop, Indian classical and folk, flow and fitness. Sang regularly serves in leadership roles including fitness coach ([solidcore]), dance captain (Cirque du Soleil, HAIR), Franklin High School Resident Guest Choreographer, and recurring instructor (Movers Bodega). She has been an active company dancer at IMGE Dance under Ishita Mili since 2018, training in Indian classical to American street vocabulary and performing on stages like NRG Stadium, New Victory Theater, Lincoln Center, Alvin Ailey, and more. She has worked under the likes of Keone & Mari Madrid, Vinh Nguyen, Monica Kapoor, and Ramita Ravi. Most recently, she was a featured dancer in Jack Cole Jazz Dancers for a repertory production of The Club Act at the Mastercard Midnight Theater, led by Cam Loeser. Sang is a versatile shapeshifter adding her multi-hyphenate nuances to every room she lights up. Find Sang on Instagram
Class Schedule
- September 27
- October 4
- October 25 — guest taught by Sangeetha Santhebennur
- November 1
Class Details
These co-curricular classes are free and open to all Princeton University students, alumni, faculty, and staff (age 18 and over). No advance registration required, just drop in!
Alumni interested in participating should email Cindy Rosenfeld at cr17@princeton.edu.
Directions
Get directions to Ellie’s Studio, located on the second floor landing of the Arts Tower at the Lewis Arts complex.
Accessibility
Ellie’s Studio is an accessible venue. Visit our Venues and Studios section for accessibility information at our various locations. Guests in need of access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at 609-258-5262 or email LewisCenter@princeton.edu at least one week in advance of the event date.