2026 BollyGroove Diwali Party
Join us for a Magical Diwali celebration with Bollywood Groove and the Bubbles Academy Team, featuring dances, storytime, art, and snacks!
**** PERFECT FOR KIDS AGED UP TO 8 YEARS OLD ****
Remember the wonder of Diwali when you were growing up – the glow of the diyas, the beat of the music, the warmth of coming together, and the sweetness of the treats?
Or perhaps you’re looking to start new traditions with your multicultural family and share the joy of Indian culture for the very first time.
This year, give your little ones those exact same unforgettable memories right here.
Join us for an enchanting, hands-on Diwali celebration designed to bring the rich traditions of the Festival of Lights to life through movement, storytelling, art, and play.
Date/Time: Friday, Nov 6th, 5 to 7 pm
Location: Bubbles Academy, 1308 N Elston Ave, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60642
Tickets: $30/child. Adults are FREE!
Advance registration required.
Up to 2 adults may accompany each registered child.Parking: small parking lot on site. Street parking available on Magnolia and other side streets.
Event Highlights:
Interactive Storytime & Dance with Ms. Ajanta: Award-winning author of the Maya/Neel book series, Ajanta Chakraborty will lead a vibrant, high-energy session! Kids won’t just listen to the story; they’ll dance, act, and step right into the magic of Diwali.
Diwali Keepsake Art Project: Guided by the Bubbles Academy team, your child will create their own festive Diwali masterpiece to take home and treasure.
Open Play & Festive Treats: Let them explore, burn off energy in our play space, and enjoy delicious kid-friendly snacks together.
Our Student Group @ Taste of Chicago 2026
Thank you, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, for the opportunity to perform at Taste of Chicago!
What an incredible experience dancing with our Lincoln Park student group to a packed crowd. At some point, we had people gather even outside the tent to enjoy the joyful music and moves!
Join us this Fall for another session for another round of classes with nothing but cultural joy and learning!
A small steel circle, a very wide grin
This week, a little half-Sikh boy showed up to class with the widest grin possible. Why? He had just gotten his Kada bracelet, one of the symbolic items that Sikhs wear.
That class is currently learning about the Sikh community, the farmers of Punjab, and the Vaiskahi festival, so all the students instantly knew what this boy had on his wrist. Instead of being seen as “odd” or “weird”, the bracelet instantly became the coolest thing to happen in class.
This is what learning about culture does to the kids – to the ones that belong to it, it creates a sense of EXCITEMENT and PRIDE, and to the ones who don’t belong, it creates a sense of understanding and appreciation.
This is the power of teaching culture using an integrated arts method! Makes up for the millions of hours I put into creating my curriculum!
Summer Camp 2026
Incredible India Summer Adventure
The perfect combination of Dance, Sports, Folk Art, Hindi, and more!
FIVE DAYS OF ULTIMATE CULTURAL IMMERSION
Join us for an incredibly fun adventure as we journey through a region of India in 5 days! Each day, the participants will explore different elements of Indian Culture and learn about
DANCE
Students will learn dances inspired by five different regions of India while learning stories about the lives of the people from there.
FOLK ART
Students will explore the fascinating folk art from each of the 5 regions, centuries-old traditions that turn storytelling into breathtaking works of art.
HINDI
Students will learn Hindi words and phrases tied to the theme. This creates a more meaningful learning experience.
INDIAN GAMES
Students will learn fun games from India, which are guaranteed to make every expat Indian nostalgic, while delivering loads of fun to the kids!
BOOK BEFORE JAN 31 AND SAVE $50!
“Why not teach a few dance moves and call it a day?”
“Doesn’t sound like a great ROI. Why not just teach a few dance moves and call it a day?”
A small business coach said this to me at a networking event. I had been gushing about my multidisciplinary approach to teaching Indian culture through dance, folk art, language, stories, and hands-on experiences when that ROI comment landed.
Here is the truth: teaching “a few dance moves” has never been my mission. What I’m trying to build goes far beyond choreography.
Let’s be realistic. How many of my students will grow up to be professional Indian dancers whose full-time career relies on Bharatanatyam, Garba, or Bhangra? The honest answer is probably none.
But do you know what they will grow up to be?
1. If they are South Asian, they will always remain South Asian.
2. If they are not South Asian, they will always remain part of a beautifully diverse world.
This is why I teach the way I teach. My goal is not just to create dancers. My goal is to help nurture humans who are curious, culturally aware, and connected to the world around them.
A powerful integrated arts approach brings this to life. Some kids enjoy movement. Others connect through visual art. Others through stories, language, or sensory play. Every child has a different entry point. Why would I ever reduce cultural education to a single doorway when culture itself is a vibrant and multicolored landscape?
If dance became the only path into learning, I would be shutting out countless kids who might absorb culture more deeply through another medium. That would be a disservice to them and to the mission itself.
So no, I don’t measure ROI in dollars per hour or lowest-effort output. I measure ROI in the number of children I can reach. That will always be my north star.
And I’ll never “just teach a few dance moves”.