THE MOVING SOULS SAGA
“Dancing is an expression of the soul and the sign language of your heart"
Moving Souls– the most eclectic and best- known dance academy in the capital city Delhi and NCR region is fired by a single belief that – Dance is the essence for a beautiful life and everyone who dances is enriched by it for a lifetime. We, at Moving Souls believe that dancing is the surest way to lead a full life with complete physical and mental fitness, emotional stability and a sense of joy, Moving Souls took its first dance steps in 2010 with its Founder and Creative Director, Ravi Rastogi, determined to make dance an essential part of everyone’s life. Rastogi’s mission in life is simply to make you fall in love with dancing and his endeavour is to help you infuse rhythm, grace and beauty into every move you make. It is his firm belief that dance is divine and in its best form it is no less than a prayer in motion.
Ravi Rastogi is an accomplished dancer himself with complete mastery over several dance forms ranging from western styles like Salsa and Jazz to modern dance forms like hip hop to more energetic fitness routines like Zumba. In the past decade, Moving Souls has added many feathers to its cap. What initially started out as a one man dance show is now a full-fledged academy catering to a large and growing group of passionate dance enthusiasts who not only love to dance but also teach and inspire others.
The academy caters to all dancers, novices, amateurs and professionals as well as teachers for whom there is a certification training capsule also. Moving Souls conducts dance workshops under expert guidance for Zumba, Bachata, Salsa, Hip Hop, Bollywood, Fitness and Jazz at various Corporate, Embassies and Educational Institutes. This dance academy has notched up several accolades as well as international fame and recognition. As part of their dedicated efforts to make dance a global activity not just for the youth but for men and women of all ages, they have organized workshops at reputed platforms such as India Fiesta Latina which is the biggest Latin dance and music festival in Asia and features internationally renowned dancers, choreographers and instructors.
Ravi Rastogi - Founder & Creative Director
Dance is the language of soul in its honest and vivid expression. It’s also a way to achieve relaxation and fitness and inspire those who love the rhythm of body and soul. Ravi Rastogi, a renowned US-trained dancer, choreographer and fitness coach, considered dance as not only his passion, but also a way to spread the happiness and joy.
Born in a small town Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, Ravi had to fight against all odds to take his first professional dance training in Dance Worx by Ashley Lobo to The Broadway Dance Center, New York with his hard work and dedication. In 2010, he started his own Dance Academy by the name of Moving Souls.
Dancing has been Ravi’s passion for past seventeen years and he excels in various dance forms including Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha, Merengue, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Zumba and Bollywood. Ravi leads energetic and fun fitness classes at various studios in Delhi and NCR apart from his own studio in Saket, New Delhi. Ravi’s a certified Zumba instructor, also he has attended Zumba convention in Orlando, USA in the year 2013.
Some of the trainings, that Ravi has attended include:
- The Broadway Dance Center, New York
- Salsa training from Aba Kua, New York
- Trained by noted instructors Eddie Torres and Frankie Martinez
Achievements :
Ravi faced innumerable barriers to reach out the right people and achieve success in order to pursue his passion. For the past ten years, Ravi has achieved one milestone after another and became the master of Latin dance. His team expanded from a one man show to a group of inspiring and passionate dance lovers, who not only love to dance, but teach dance as well.
Performances at Various Corporate Events, Professional Stage Shows, Film, Commercials, Weddings and Dance Conventions. Some of them as listed below :
- Won 1st place for Bachata choreography on Ponds Luv Destination on UTV Bindaas
- Won 1st place for Bachata choreography on Ponds Luv Destination on UTV Bindaas
- Rahagiri by The Times of India
- Common Wealth Games, New Delhi in 2005
- MTV Lycra Awards in Mumbai, 2007
- Bill Gates Foundation
- National Day at Belgium Embassy
- Bacardi event with Whizcraft
- Fox – News Channel
- India Fiesta Latina
- Vivify Enterprise Private Limited
- Monotype
- Award Function of Zoom Delhi
- Mercedes launch
- Border Road Organisation
- India International Dance Congress
- Russian Culture Centre
- Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts
- As dancer in Jannat 2 with Emraan Hashmi in year 2012
- Choreographed events for Earnest and Young 2013 Annual Function
- Bio Excel 2016
- India 2016 by RU-BA-RU Group
- Supermodel International 2016 at Kingdom of Dream
- Choreographed and Performed on legendary Talat Mahmood song at Jashn-e-Talat on March 4th, 2018 at India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi
Featured in Publication :
Featured in Publication :
Hindustan Times for International Dance Day 2012
Indian Express for his work with ARZ NGO
DLF City Magazine
Education Times (The Times of India) Delhi, Chandigarh and Jaipur edition on April 10th, 2017
Interviewed by FM Rainbow 102.6MHz All India Radio on July 15th, 2017
Featured on Sahara Samay in Fitness Segment March 2017
India Today Education Online on April 24th, 2018
BroadwayWorld.com on April 29th, 2018
BroadwayWorld.com (Chicago based Publication) on May 3rd, 2018
The Asian Age on May 15th, 2018
Deccan Chronicle in South India on May 15th, 2019
Interviewed at NDTV Hop on January 21st, 2019
Interviewed by FM Gold, All India Radio on March 19th, 2019
Holi Special
Interviewed by FM Rainbow All India Radio on April 23rd, 2019 – Fitness special
Featured on Dainik Jagran Digital on April 27th, 2019
BroadwayWorld.com (Chicago Based Publication) on May 3rd, 2019
The Sunday Standard on May 5th, 2019
The New Indian Express, Chennai on May 5th, 2019
BroadwayWorld.com on May 6th, 2019
Indus Age, Sydney (Australia) on July 1st, 2019
Kashmir Pen in Srinagar on July 11th, 2019
Women’s Era in September 2019
In addition, Ravi had conducted dance classes in leading embassies and educational institutes, including :
- American Embassy
- British School
- Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Delhi
- Banaras Hindu University
- Tagore International School, Delhi
- Delhi Public School
- Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts, Chandigarh
- Badami Bag Cantt., Srinagar
- Modern School
- DPS International
- Shiv Nadar
- HCL
- Aravali International, Faridabad
- Mayo College, Ajmer
School trainnings
- Tagore International School, Delhi
- Delhi Public School
- Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts, Chandigarh
- Badami Bag Cantt., Srinagar
- Modern School
- DPS International
- Shiv Nadar
- HCL
- Aravali International, Faridabad
- Mayo College, Ajmer
- Ongoing classes:
- German School
- American Embassy School
Contribution to the Society, Ravi is actively working with several NGOs with an aim to add a positive dimension to people’s lives. Some of these NGO’s include :
- Theatre Age, Chandigarh
- Rotary School, Sainik Farms, New Delhi
- Nayi Disha Ki Aur, Chhatarpur, New Delhi
- Lakshayam Child Care – Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
- Deep Foundation – Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
To add to Ravi’s experience is his association with high end Pub and Restobar in Delhi and NCR, where he is performing and conducting Salsa Nights regularly.
SUDESH CHAWLA - DIRECTOR
Director Sudesh Chawla is an accomplished veteran of the public relations community with a passionate interest in dance. Her love for dance has brought her on board with Moving Souls after a successful career of two decades with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, post which she joined the PR community. She has vast experience in organising events and showcasing creative talent through shows and exhibitions, Moving Souls has grown by leaps and bounds under her expert and committed guidance.
ASHI PARASHAR - REGIONAL HEAD, CHANDIGARH
Honoured as “A President’s Guide”, Ashi took up Classical Vocal in college and completed her Arangetram in Bharatnatyam in 2000. She has associated herself with theatre, choreographed and conceptualized Fashion as well as Light and Sound Shows; worked at Asian Academy of Film and Television, Film City, Noida and trained dancers at Anupam Kher’s Acting Institute in 2007.
Well-traveled and experienced in human ties, Ashi can be viewed as a perfectionist through her choreographies, poems, scripts and acting in motion.
Her students are spread worldwide who vouch for her professionalism and shower her with love and respect.
The Team
Arshiya Sharma
Dance is catharsis for Arshiya Sharma, since it helps her create, vent and express her innermost emotions using her own body and mind. Every dancer needs a stage to perform and she says, “Moving Souls has been the bridge for passionate dancers like me who were seeking a platform to create magic.” For her dancing career, Ravi Rastogi is the magician who has started and guided her amazing journey right from being a dance student to a professional dance partner who can match her steps with him.
Sushmitaa Jones
A keen fan of dancing, Sushmitaa Jones believes rhythm is in everybody and in everything. However, most of us are unaware of the techniques to dance well, and this where Moving Souls comes in. Sushmitaa joined Moving Souls academy which pointed her in the right direction. Looking back, she says “In Moving Souls I have found a platform to express my emotions. Interacting with people of different perspectives and creativity at the studio has given me a wider perspective.” Sushmita feels pleasure to work and learn from instructor Ravi Rastogi who not only provided the right guidance but also the right balance of learning and enjoyment.
Manya Chitkara
Manya Chitkara believes ‘When we can’t express our feelings through words, we can always express it through art’. In her opinion, dance is an art form where you showcase your feelings and express them without uttering a word. Moving Souls is the ideal place where one can learn to feel and express oneself through dance. As the studio’s tagline asserts, ‘Come Alive with Dance’.
Aadya Sharma
Dance is a gift that brings people together with creativity and music. For Aadya, dance is joyous and brings unity with that happiness. Aadya says, “It gives me the opportunity to pursue expression and beauty through movement and imagination. Moving souls helps everyone who wishes to learn and express oneself through dance. This studio truly demonstrates that it is never too late or early to start.” She affirms Ravi Rastogi has inspired, helped and motivated every dancer at his studio to achieve heights they never thought possible.
Rishil chitkara
Just because you can’t dance, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dance. You can start late, look different, be uncertain and still succeed. Rishil too was shy at first and he still is, until he joined Moving Souls. Joining the dance studio, gave him the platform to perform in front of the audience and boosted his confidence immensely. Having the right knowledge of a skill you love, points out Rishil, makes you enjoy it more.
Hari Om
Dancers down the ages have forged the way for us to follow, express our feelings and create something new every time they dance. As a dancer and student of Moving Souls, Hari Om feels that more than just walking in the path created by dancers who came before us, Moving Souls has given him a platform to express his feelings, talent, creativity, experiences, ideas and much more.
Confused by different paths that were before him, Hari finds right direction in his dancing career being a part of Moving Souls. Though he feels he still has far to go in his career but under the guidance of Ravi Rastogi, Hari feels closer to his goal that he was yesterday.