Preeti Zalavadia

🪔 About

Preeti Zalavadia is a prominent Kathak dancer, instructor, and a co-founder of the Chitresh Das Institute (CDI). Born in New York and raised in Gujarat, India, she began her Kathak training in 2003 under the tutelage of the legendary Pandit Chitresh Das in the Bay Area. Zalavadia started teaching Kathak in 2006 and quickly rose to become a branch director for one of Pandit Das's largest branches. She is currently a Co-Founder, School Director, and Managing Director of the Chitresh Das Institute, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Pandit Chitresh Das's work and the art of Kathak dance. Beyond her contributions to Kathak, Preeti Zalavadia holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering and an M.S. in Transportation Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She also has over a decade of experience in accounting. Her passion for dance extends to performing in school shows and community events, and she has participated in Arts Education programs, teaching Kathak in schools. Zalavadia is committed to fostering a community where students of all ages can connect and thrive through the physical and mental challenges of this elegant art form.