Today we’d like to introduce you to Priya Persaud.
Hi Priya , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Priya Persaud and I am the founder and director of the Devyani School of Cultural Arts. I started my dance journey in 1992 in Canada. That is where I received training in Odissi dance at the Chitralekha Dance
Academy and Bharatanatyam at the Sampradaya Dance Academy.
I am also the Manager of Finance at OUC. I have a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Many people who meet me wonder how I can be both in finance and creative.
In 2010, I decided to commit to educating others about Indian dance and culture, integrating lessons on
various Indian festivals, Hindi, and the profound significance of the postures and gestures in Indian
dance. My greatest passion lies in sharing the rich Indian cultural heritage through the art of
dance, and I take great pleasure in witnessing my dance students and the community engage with and
learn about Indian traditions.
Over the past 15 years, dancers from the Devyani School of Cultural Arts have showcased their
talents across Orlando and Kissimmee, performing at venues such as Walt Disney World, Silver Spurs
Arena, Lake Eola, Crane’s Roost Park, UCF, Full Sail University Kissimmee Lakefront Park, Boggy Creek Elementary School, the Osceola Sheriff’s Department and many more.
I have also been involved with various organizations that advocate for diversity and cultural
acceptance, serving as a Steering Committee member for FusionFest, currently holding a board position
with AsiaTrend, and collaborating with numerous local organizations in Central Florida, including the
Indian American Business Associations and Chamber, Indian American Chamber of Commerce, TEMA,
and the Association of Asian Cultural Festival.
Cultural appreciation and education have consistently been a priority for me. And I strive to bridge the
divide between ignorance and acceptance regarding diversity. With 20 years of experience as a public
sector employee, I truly enjoy serving my community in various capacities.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Surprisingly looking back at my journey from age 5 to now at 38, I don’t remember many struggles related to dancing or my dance school.
I grew up in Canada in an area which lacked diversity and I was a victim of bullying from age 10 to age 14. There were kids who threatened to hurt me and my parents did come into the school a few times to speak with teachers and the principal. I was bullied because of my looks and skin color. During that time, I was happy to have dance school and hindi school to attend because there I met other kids who were just like me. I think that’s what sucked me in further to my culture and dance.
Dance and teaching dance to kids I think is my true calling and my passion. So even when I may be stressed out or things are going right in the moment, it’s not something I see as a struggle. Just the nature of my passion and what I do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When I think of work. I have my day job at OUC which I love. I am passionate about what I do at work and I love my team.
Then I think of my dance school, which does not at all feel like work. It feels like a part of my life. I teach private lessons during the weekday evenings, every Saturday morning for 15 years has been blocked out for dance classes. When my dancers perform at cultural shows, I try to change my personal schedule around to be available to support them from the sidelines.
I truly specialize in teaching kids dance, my students range from ages 2.5 years old to 19. Those are my core students. I teach adults more on a one-on-one basis for a specific routine. But I think I am known for sometimes having the youngest dancers in my class and even on stage.
I am most proud of my growth. I started dance in Canada as a shy, bullied Indian girl and I always wanted to make sure that other kids could feel proud of their culture and background.
I think what sets me apart from others, is my passion for dance and my culture. I am Indo-Caribbean. My parents instilled the importance of Indian culture especially since some of it was lost when my great-grandparents went from India to Guyana as indentured servants. I learned Hindi, which I can read, write and understand, I learned Indian music and I learned Indian classical dance. My parents actually don’t know Hindi, in any capacity, they didn’t learn the music nor did they learn the dance. I think their goals to make sure my sister and I stay connected with our heritage. And I think because of this and their teachings, I also try to keep the next generation who are even further removed from India and the West Indies connected with our Indian culture and heritage while recognizing our West Indian culture as well.
As I mentioned, I don’t see dance as a job or as work. Even my role as a studio director and dance instructor, still never feels like work to me. It’s a permanent part of me and my life. The bond I have with my dancers are unbreakable and I try to foster an environment where they get along with each other as well. To see their bond with each other makes it feel like an actual dance family.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
In one word, what matters to me most is happiness. The path is different for everyone but I think being happy is the ultimate goal. Dancing and teaching dance brings me happiness, even when dance makes me stressed, angry, frustrated or sad- I am still in my core happy that I am a dancer and a dance teacher.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devyanidancers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devyanicultural
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@devyani7
Image Credits
Vibez Studio
