Mahesh Mahbubani

I am Mahesh Mahbubani, Founder & Artistic Director of Naach Houston Inc.

My journey began in Bombay, India, where I founded Naach in 1999. It has since found its home in Houston, Texas — but truly, my home is the universe. People call me “a mobile institution” because wherever I go, I carry the joy of movement.

In 1992, I became the first non-resident Indian to receive a full-time dance scholarship to the world-renowned Laban Centre for Movement & Dance, London. I graduated with BA Honours in Movement & Dance in 1995. That training taught me to see dance as language — one that speaks through the body, across cultures, and beyond words.

My inspiration flows from nature and the simple, ordinary movements of human life. I create to invite inclusiveness. I want every soul — the child, the elder, the trained artist, the hesitant beginner — to recognize themselves in the rhythm. To awaken the desire to move, to dance, and to feel its transformative power.

Through Naach Houston, I work to bring joy, connection, and well-being to our community. Because dance is not for the few. It is a birthright. And this eternal love affair with dance is how I live, teach, and create.

My training spans India and Europe: Classical Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Indian Classical, Afro Jazz, and Flamenco. From this diverse foundation, I created my own distinct style — Bollywood Fusion — blending global technique with an unmistakable Indian essence.

In 1992, I became the first non-resident Indian to receive a full-time dance scholarship to the world-renowned Laban Centre for Movement & Dance, London. I graduated in 1995 with BA Honours in Movement & Dance, grounding my work in somatics, choreographic composition, and European contemporary practice.

Based in Bombay, the heart of the Bollywood Film Industry, I built a career at the intersection of cinema, music, and advertising:

Film Credits:

• Actor, Taal, directed by Subhash Ghai, with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
• Choreographer, Road, Thakshak, Boom

Music & Commercials:

• Directed & choreographed 250+ music videos for icons including Asha Bhosle, Shubha Mudgal, Shankar Mahadevan, Sukhbir, Alisha Chinai of Kajra Re fame, Sandeep Chowta, UK’s Stereo Nation, and Zazie, the “Madonna of Paris”
• Choreographed national & international campaigns for Levi’s with Sushmita Sen – Miss Universe 1994, plus Doritos, Orbit, Absolut Vodka, Close-Up, Ponds, and 250+ TV commercials
• Collaborated with stars including Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, and Raveena Tandon

My inspiration flows from nature and the simple, ordinary movements of everyday life. I believe dance belongs to everyone.

Through Naach Houston, I create work that is inclusive — where every soul can see themselves in the rhythm. My purpose is to awaken the desire to move, to dance, and to feel its power to transform.

Dance brings joy. Dance builds connection. Dance creates well-being. That is the work of Naach Houston: to make this art form accessible, alive, and essential to our community.

This is not just what I do. It is how I live.

 Building Dance in Houston

Since 2008, I have been the first artist & dance educator in Houston to develop a syllabus-based, structured community dance program in Bollywood Fusion — a technique I uniquely created — alongside Indian Contemporary Dance that draws from my training in Martha Graham and José Limón techniques.

The program follows an international class format based on my education at Trinity Laban, specializing in Choreological Studies — movement analysis rooted in Laban’s Effort Theory. This framework is used worldwide in dance education, movement therapy, and even industrial efficiency, ensuring students learn with depth, safety, and artistry.

I have conceived, choreographed, and directed over 15 full-length Bollywood dance theatre productions at Miller Outdoor Theatre, integrating visual arts and my cinematic experience:

2008–2012: Produced by SamskritiHouston.org
2015–2017: Houston’s Got Bollywood — a title I coined and a production now branded at Miller Outdoor Theatre, produced by India House, Houston
2018–2025: Produced by Moksh Community Arts

Houston’s Got Bollywood consistently draws the highest number of international audiences at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

In addition, I’ve created 12 multimedia Bollywood productions for Naach Houston titled Dil Se Naach — an annual professional showcase featuring every student of Naach Houston.

In 2016, I founded Moksh Community Arts Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to nurture local talent in dance, theatre, visual arts, and choreography. As President, I have led collaborations with American musicians and dance artists, expanding cross-cultural dialogue in Houston.

I serve as a cultural ambassador, promoting Indian popular culture at mainstream American educational institutions across Houston.

Teaching & Workshops Include:

• Rice University – 2010, 2011, 2012
• Houston Community College – 2009–2011
• Texas Dance Educators’ Association – 2012
• Crowd Pleasers Dance Officers Camp – 2009–2017, teaching 200+ dance team leaders from across Texas
• T.E. Harman Senior Centre, Sugar Land – 2014–2019

 I am currently developing a Wellness Dance Program for seniors, underprivileged youth, and women’s empowerment. Using movement as a tool for confidence, healing, and community building, this program brings the transformative power of dance to those who need it most — proving that dance is not a luxury, but a pathway to well-being.