The Aadi Team

Davina Etwaroo

Founder & Director

Davina is a dedicated Bharatanatyam performer and teacher in the Washington D.C. metro region. The first nine years of her career at Kalairani Natya Saalai (KNS), under the tutelage of Rani David, entailed rigorous training in technique and choreography. Upon her graduation from KNS in 2004, she taught the beginner and intermediate classes there for two years. In 2008, she choreographed and danced for the Oceania Dance Theatre Company in Fiji, a unique cross-cultural collaboration with Fijian artists.

Shortly thereafter, she began teaching privately, which gradually evolved into Aadi. She later joined the Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company, where she performed regularly for five years and attended master classes with senior exponents of Bharatanatyam, most notably Leela Samson, V.P. and Shanta Dhananjayan, and Rama Vaidyanathan. Inspired to take her dance to the next level, she continues honing her craft under Radha Ganesan. She aims to impart Bharatanatyam to the next generation with creativity, reverence, and passion.

Alistair Gomes

Director of Media

Alistair is a core member of the team. His role at Aadi is to oversee all aspects of media and technology. This includes web development, photo/videography, content creation, as well as social media management. His previous experiences in the design industry brings a fresh perspective and his positive energy aims to revitalize the organization. He is continually striving to expand the brand with his elegant and artistic vision. With Alistair, we look to take Aadi to the next level. 

Nirvana Lutchman

Instructor, Hindi Classics

Nirvana is a locally celebrated performer with 21 years of dance experience in multiple genres. She trained extensively through her adolescent and teen years in Indian classical, folk, and popular dance styles under the guidance of Davina Etwaroo, Aadi Director. In addition to performing competitively on a national scale, she served as the Captain and Choreographer for the Eleanor Roosevelt High School Desi Dance Team and York College of Pennsylvania Dance Team