About Anu
I grew up in India and moved to the US more than 25 years ago. After the move, I was starved for authentic Indian experiences and community and devoured anything that came my way: film festivals, exhibits, book readings etc. Once I became a mother, the lack of quality and authentic Indian programs and classes became even more evident. I am an active parent and believe an awareness of one’s heritage, culture and language is key for children to become self-aware and confident individuals. I also recognize the immense benefits of being bilingual.
A as a cultural educator, I am looking forward to providing children with authentic, immersive and inspiring experiences. Through classes and events, we can offer cross-cultural exposure that can help shape knowledgeable, open-minded and respectful individuals.
The Culture Tree continues to expand. Although initially language was our primary focus, we have now expanded to cultural events and cooking classes, and building a sense of community. We are also partnering with organizations and museums to bring South Asian culture and languages to the forefront.
Our Teachers
Shivani Solanki
Sophia Salingaros
Sophia Salingaros
Shivani Solanki grew up in Mumbai and is proficient in communicating in three languages, English, Gujarati and Hindi. She has BA in Economics, Diploma in Early Childhood, Care & Education and an Early Childhood Montessori. She has experience teaching elementary school and preschool kids. She loves to teach kids and loves to make sessions
Shivani Solanki grew up in Mumbai and is proficient in communicating in three languages, English, Gujarati and Hindi. She has BA in Economics, Diploma in Early Childhood, Care & Education and an Early Childhood Montessori. She has experience teaching elementary school and preschool kids. She loves to teach kids and loves to make sessions fun and relevant, while focusing on developing personalities, and instilling virtuous values in young children.
Sophia Salingaros
Sophia Salingaros
Sophia Salingaros
Sophia is a Bharatanatyam artiste, and has studied the art form under Guru Dr. Sreedhara Akkihebbalu for the past 15 years. She has been invited to perform at prestigious venues both nationally and internationally - to name a few: multiple solo tours across India; performances in Dubai, Paris, London, Lisbon; multiple performances at the
Sophia is a Bharatanatyam artiste, and has studied the art form under Guru Dr. Sreedhara Akkihebbalu for the past 15 years. She has been invited to perform at prestigious venues both nationally and internationally - to name a few: multiple solo tours across India; performances in Dubai, Paris, London, Lisbon; multiple performances at the United Nations and Indian Embassy in NYC.
As a Greek-Belgian Bharatanatyam artist, Sophia hopes to spread the message that art knows no religious or cultural boundaries.
Rohini Sandhu
Sophia Salingaros
Rohini Sandhu
Rohini Sandhu grew up in Punjab, India and is a native Hindi and Punjabi speaker. She did her schooling in Punjab and higher education in New Delhi. She has been teaching in NYC DOE for 5 years. She works with immigrant students, teaching them English as second language in GED program. She got certification in teaching Hindi as foreign la
Rohini Sandhu grew up in Punjab, India and is a native Hindi and Punjabi speaker. She did her schooling in Punjab and higher education in New Delhi. She has been teaching in NYC DOE for 5 years. She works with immigrant students, teaching them English as second language in GED program. She got certification in teaching Hindi as foreign language at NYU. She has also taught Hindi in NYU's Summer Hindi Program. She likes to learn other languages and cultures. She respects diversity and multiculturalism while teaching in her classroom. Teaching is her passion and she loves to help students to meet their academic standards and goals.
Sonia Amjad
Aashna Dangaich
Aashna Dangaich
Sonia was born in England and raised in Lahore. She has studies Applied Social Sciences at the University of Lincoln in North Lincolnshire in England. She has studied the Montessori education system and has been teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten for the past 7 years. She has also been teaching urdu to children for the past few years.
Aashna Dangaich
Aashna Dangaich
Aashna Dangaich
Aashna is from India and a native Hindi speaker. She holds a PhD in linguistics with focus on the acquisition of languages in children in a multilingual environment. As a Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant at New York University she was responsible for teaching Hindi at the elementary, intermediate and advanced level. She has attende
Aashna is from India and a native Hindi speaker. She holds a PhD in linguistics with focus on the acquisition of languages in children in a multilingual environment. As a Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant at New York University she was responsible for teaching Hindi at the elementary, intermediate and advanced level. She has attended a number of Startalk and ACTFL workshops which helped improve her Hindi teaching pedagogy and make it more learner oriented. Her classes are very interactive, culturally rich and fun.
Rachna Khanna
Aashna Dangaich
Rachna Khanna
Rachna is a native Hindi speaker and she is our head Hindi teacher. She is a mother of twin 15 year olds, who speak Hindi fluently and are strongly grounded in the Indian culture. Her passion is to teach Hindi to other children, her teaching style is gentle and fun.
Rajni Menon
Apanavi Pareek
Rajni Menon
Rajni received Bharatnatyam training in Mumbai from Guru Smt Vimala Nair, disciple of Late Kalaimamani Shri TS Kadirvelu Pillai for 15 years. She has performed in many prestigious events in Mumbai as well as New York. She wants to do her part in opening the door to the world of Indian arts and culture through her passion for dance.
Rathi Varma
Apanavi Pareek
Rajni Menon
Rathi has trained under Shiamak Davar’s Institute of Performing Arts and The Danceworx in Jazz, Ballet, and Contemporary. Since 2019, she’s had the opportunity to perform with various choreographers. Apart from being a company member with Treehouse Shakers, TimeLapse Dance and Matthew Westerby Company, Rathi is a lead Teaching Artist with DMF Youth Inc.
Apanavi Pareek
Apanavi Pareek
Apanavi Pareek
Apnavi is our head art teacher. She has worked with children as an art teacher for more than 8 years. She uses storytelling, role play, experiments, arts and crafts for stimulating themed and cultural sessions for kids and adults. Her lessons delve deep into our cultural aspects and are derived from different art forms from India.
Sandhya Kilambi
Manasa Surapareddy
Manasa Surapareddy
Sandhya trained in Bharatanatyam for twelve years with the NYC-based organization Jiva Performing Arts. She completed her Arangetram in 2019 and has taught Bharatanatyam and yoga in camp and educational settings. She also has experience in Bollywood dance, after joining a Bollywood fusion dance team at NYU.
In addition to being a dancer,
Sandhya trained in Bharatanatyam for twelve years with the NYC-based organization Jiva Performing Arts. She completed her Arangetram in 2019 and has taught Bharatanatyam and yoga in camp and educational settings. She also has experience in Bollywood dance, after joining a Bollywood fusion dance team at NYU.
In addition to being a dancer, Sandhya is a passionate musician. She just graduated from NYU with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education on the Piano Performance track. She loves working with children and takes great pleasure in opportunities to share her love for music and dance.
Manasa Surapareddy
Manasa Surapareddy
Manasa Surapareddy
Manasa grew-up in Andhrapradesh India, where she was always drawn towards nature and its artistic depiction. She started interpreting these designs into heena patterns at a young age and has continued to excel in the ancient art of henna application.