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Reena Shah is a multidisciplinary artist who was born & raised in Livingston, New Jersey. The oldest of 4 children, she is an accomplished actress, professional classical Indian dancer, innovative choreographer, voice-over artist, & abstract visual artist. Reena is most recognized for her work in Guggenheim Fellowship Recipient, Nina Paley’s Award Winning Animated Feature Film, Sita Sings the Blues, where she was the speaking voice of Sita & sang "Agni Pariksha", in which she was also rotoscoped dancing. Reena made her National Television debut with Conan in a comedic Bollywood Skit on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien." She has also appeared in comedy sketches on “The Daily Show” and “Lipstick Jungle" as a dancer and has choreographed for Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report. Reena was the Assistant Choreographer & a Dancer in the Universal Pictures Feature, THE GURU, where she taught Bollywood Dancing to Marisa Tomei, Heather Graham, Jimi Mistry, & Michael McKean. Reena tours with DJ Rekha as a Dancer & Bhangra Dance Instructor and has performed with her at Central Park Summerstage, S.O.B.’s, Hammerstein Ballroom, the 2009 Wakarusa Music Festival, & the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Reena was a Principal Dancer in Noemie LaFrance’s AGORA II, a site-specific dance project inside the abandoned McCarren Park Pool in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Her solo work was also accepted into Chashama's Oasis Dance Festival and she has been featured in music videos for the Sugababes & Electric Kulintang's Cotabato City. Reena's film credits include indie hits such as American Chai, Stay Until Tomorrow, Funny Valentine, and The Lucky Ones. She has also appeared in Falling Up and Spike Lee's Inside Man. She narrated Tami Yeager’s PBS ‘Independent Lens’ Documentary, A Dream In Doubt, about an immigrant story in a world in which patriotism has morphed into murder, when Rana Singh Sodhi’s brother is killed in America’s first post-9/11 revenge murder. On Stage, Reena has portrayed real life gang rape victim, Mukhtaran Mai, in the production of Seven - Journeys, written by Susan Yankowitz and directed by Tony Award nominee & Obie Award winner Evan Yionoulis for Culture Project & La Mama ETC. in New York City. Overseas, she performed in special performances of SEVEN in Deauville, France and London, England. Additional Stage Credits include Suzan-Lori Parks’ 365 Days/365 Plays (The Public Theater/Desipina), Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues (Arthur Seelen), Nandita Shenoy’s Marrying Nandini (Green Light), along with notable staged readings at The Lark Theater Company, Workshop Theater Company, and Desipina & Company. Currently, Reena performs with her husband, musician/composer/singer Todd Michaelsen, in their rock band MY PET DRAGON, where she dances, sings, & provides percussion using a number of instruments including her Traditional Indian Ghungroo Anklet Bells. My Pet Dragon was recently signed to Gimme That Sound Productions and will be releasing their upcoming album, "Mountain & Cities" later this year. Reena graduated from the Padmini Institute of Fine Arts, where she studied Bharata Natyam, an Indian Classical Dance Form, under The Late Guru Padmini Ramachandran, a renowned Indian Actress & Dancer. Reena holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies with a Concentration in Mass Media & Society from New York University. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, & ACTORS' EQUITY. Her life mantra is: Rock on with Peace Love Respect Always. Website: www.DancingReena.com |
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