Meet the Owner

Uttara’s journey into movement began in India, where she started training in Indian Classical Dance at the age of nine. For over 14 years, dance was a disciplined, devotional practice—one rooted in storytelling, rhythm, and deep body awareness. When she moved to the United States in 2002 to pursue a degree in Computer Science, she never imagined that dance would once again become the center of her life.

It was during those years that Uttara discovered Latin dance, a moment that quietly but powerfully shifted her path. What began as curiosity evolved into a full immersion into the world of Ballroom and Latin dance, eventually leading her into professional competitive dancing and coaching. In 2017, after years in the corporate world, she made a defining choice—to step away from a conventional career and fully devote herself to her passion. That decision gave birth to Dance With Panache.

In 2010, Uttara completed her Teacher Training Diploma in American Rhythm and Smooth, and she has been teaching, training, and competing ever since. For her, dance is far more than performance or technique—it is a moving meditation. A space where the mind quiets, the body listens, and expression becomes healing. This belief deeply informs how she teaches and how the studio itself is held as a space for growth, safety, and transformation. (You can read more about this approach in her Teaching Philosophy blog.)

With a strong spiritual foundation and a consistent meditation practice, Uttara views personal growth as a lifelong journey. She encourages her students not to push through their limits forcefully, but to understand them, work with them, and gently expand them—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Her teaching is rooted in presence, awareness, and compassion, paired with clarity and structure.

Uttara is deeply committed to her own continued education and training, believing there is always more to learn—about movement, the nervous system, and the human experience. Her coaching style balances honest, constructive feedback with genuine celebration of progress, honoring every stage of a student’s journey rather than rushing toward an outcome.

Having begun her professional Ballroom career later in life than many in the industry, Uttara brings a rare and valuable perspective. She understands the challenges adult learners face—physically, mentally, and emotionally—and considers this lived experience one of her greatest strengths as a teacher.

Her pursuit of excellence in competitive dance as an adult sparked a deep fascination with Human Movement Science, leading her to become a certified Personal Trainer. With extensive experience in athletic conditioning, injury prevention, recovery, and RTS-based training, Uttara also offers personalized one-on-one sessions focused on weight loss, improved biomechanics, movement efficiency, and long-term health and longevity.

At the heart of everything she does—whether in dance, training, or wellness—is a simple intention: to help people reconnect with their bodies, trust themselves again, and move through life with greater ease, confidence, and presence.