Shweta Pandya
Humans of Woodlea

Shweta Pandya

Passion for dance & community

Passion is always undeniable and for Shweta Pandya, this is clearly evident through her personal and professional journey through dance. In spite of the hurdles life has thrown at her, Shweta has carved a beautiful story that has intertwined her love of dance with the community around her. For Shweta, dance has always been more than just art and movement.

 “It’s food”, she says. “It’s what keeps me truly alive and happy. I’ve always loved dancing, I dance every day, and I’ll never stop. Without it, something is missing.”

Growing up in India, Shweta’s journey led her from her home country to Australia in 2019, initially touching down in Adelaide before finally finding home in Woodlea. Shweta beams with sweetness, warmth, and a grand sense of appreciation, especially for her students who she continues to move and inspire. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother of two, Shweta also finds the time to teach four classes a week whilst balancing a full-time job.

“Dance has shaped who I am today,” remarks Shweta. 

Her dance journey began at the tender age of five. At 18, she transitioned into teaching, a passion she’s cherished for nearly 22 years. 

“The amount of people who were reaching out to me, especially my friends…they said, ‘Why don’t you start teaching us and open a dance school here? I thought, Okay. This is the best place to start! So I opened, Any Body Can Dance (ABCD) Bollywood School.”

Today, her studio has grown from humble beginnings with a handful of friends and four students, to a flourishing community where she teaches 350-plus dancers.

As evidenced by her studio’s name, Shweta is determined to show that dance can be experienced and accessed by all backgrounds, bodies, and skills – by anyone who loves movement and rhythm. 

A notable highlight of Shweta’s career was when she was invited to perform a cultural folk dance with her 15 crew members during the meeting of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modic. The colourful and rhythmic dance left an impression on a crowd of 25,000 in Sydney last summer, with Shweta describing it as “just an absolutely amazing experience.” 

Since starting her dance studio, what fills Shweta with the most pride is the positive relationship she has fostered with her students, which is rooted in both mentorship and friendship.

“I love all of them,” she says. “The amount of respect I get from my students…I will always cherish that in my life.”

 

This comes as a surprise to no one in the Woodlea community. Shweta’s graceful and vibrant expression is contagious, and this passion has been integral in bringing together a community, where dance can express story as well as a rich sense of culture.

Shweta Pandya’s story is part of Humans of Woodlea, an initiative designed to highlight the unique stories of its residents whilst showing its diversity and spirit.