Dance as Identity: Ishita Mili’s Powerful Expression of Culture and Movement

Ishita Mili’s dance journey is far from ordinary. As the founder of IMGE Dance, she’s blending classical Indian dance, contemporary street styles, and her own innovative movement language to create a new face of expression. Ishita’s work is a fusion of personal story and universal themes, creating a space where movement speaks louder than words, exploring belonging, identity, and the human experience.

TINDS: Where did you grow up, and what inspired your journey into dance?

Ishita Mili: Dance has always been a part of me. I was born and raised in New Jersey, in a Bengali Indian household. My parents are from West Bengal and my family is deeply involved in the arts. My uncle, Sukalyann Bhattacharjee, a renowned choreographer, was my first inspiration. I started at a very young age, and my family encouraged me to pursue dance and academics at the highest level.

TINDS: How did your Bengali-American heritage shape your dance?

Ishita Mili: Growing up in New Jersey, there weren’t many Bengalis around back then. I often felt like an outsider in both the South Asian and American communities. Dance helped me understand the complexities of cultural identity, in myself and the people around me.

TINDS: What role did your family play in your dance career?

Ishita Mili: My ma would drive me hours a week to every class to get me the best classical education. My baba is also a professional musician and balanced touring with a grueling career in finance. I am only able to be an artist because of them. 

TINDS: You’ve trained in many dance styles. How did this eclectic mix influence your work?

Ishita Mili: I trained in bharatanatyam, hip-hop, chhau, street styles, and contemporary. Each form is a different part of who I am. By creating a new language that combines all of them, I get to be everything I am.

TINDS: Can you tell us about IMGE Dance and why you started it?

Ishita Mili: IMGE Dance, founded in 2017, was born out of my need to create a space that reflected my own identity. The conventional dance world didn’t fit me, so I built a world that brings together artists from various backgrounds. We tell stories that are universal, yet personal, through movement.

TINDS: What is the IMGE methodology?

Ishita Mili: The IMGE methodology is a foundational approach to movement that blends the core components of global forms as a form of storytelling. It connects rhythm, alignment, and grooves across diverse styles. I created this approach so that anyone could express their stories through movement, regardless of their background or skill level. I teach in intensives and residencies across the world.

TINDS: How do you select themes for your performances?

Ishita Mili: My work is about expressing experiences, or what I’m observing in the world—whether that’s grief, joy, identity or nature. I believe that when I share genuine stories, others will connect with them. I think people have more in common than we know.

TINDS: What was your most memorable performance?

Ishita Mili: “(no)man” was a turning point for me. It explored life, death, and the cycles of existence. It changed my career—giving me the confidence to leave my biotech job and fully commit to dance. The result proved that I was on the right path.

TINDS: What motivates you to keep going despite challenges?

Ishita Mili: The audience. When people connect with my work on a personal level, I know I’m making a difference. Dance has the power to change lives, and when I see others relate to my work, it keeps me going.

TINDS: What’s been the hardest part of being a dance artist?

Ishita Mili: Among many hurdles, the major one was my family. Though incredibly supportive, they knew the realities of being a “struggling” artist and a woman, and they tried their hardest to shield me from that. Proving that I have a viable future as an artist was the most important obstacle. It taught me how to express my worth, as the wider world continues to become more hostile to arts. 

TINDS: If you weren’t a dancer, what would you have done?

Ishita Mili: I’ve done my time in science and medicine. I’ve also tried leaving dance many times because the politics were too complicated, or it was too risky. Life kept bringing me back to dance, and now I can’t look back or imagine something else.

TINDS: How do you balance being a performer, choreographer, and educator?

Ishita Mili: All these roles are interconnected. Being a performer helps me understand my choreography, and teaching helps me grow as a performer. Managing a company requires business skills, which I learned from my previous career. Each role feeds into the other.

TINDS: What motivates you to teach?

Ishita Mili: Teaching allows me to help others express themselves, beyond technique—how movement can be therapeutic. It’s the most fulfilling feeling to help people understand themselves and their strength. I get to watch people take my lessons and apply it into their life’s journey.

TINDS: What’s next for IMGE Dance?

Ishita Mili: We’re expanding our performances to reach wider audiences through touring, commercial/digital work, education, and the community platforms we’re building. I want to keep growing my methodology into holistic wellness and exploring climate narratives—both feel essential. It’s about redefining what dance can express and impact. 

TINDS: What advice would you give to emerging artists?

Ishita Mili: Become undeniable.

Ishita’s journey is a powerful testament to the transformative force of dance. Through IMGE, she pushes the boundaries of creativity, turning movement into a compelling language of self-expression. By blending dance forms, she empowers artists to own their stories and speak their truths. Her work is a revolution in motion, where every step tells a story that resonates globally.

Find Ishita Mili: Instagram: @ishitamili Website: IMGE Dance

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