We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shannon D’Souza a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Shannon, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
At L.A. Bollywood Entertainment, our mission is to share the beauty, energy, and richness of South Asian dance with the world—through bold, vibrant performances that honor Bollywood, Indian folk and classical traditions, and the diverse stories behind them. As a women-owned company, this mission is rooted in passion, pride, and purpose.
We don’t just perform—we connect, represent, and celebrate. One of the most meaningful aspects of our work is performing at multicultural weddings and events. We love creating custom shows that blend cultures, symbolizing the union of two people—and two families—through dance. Whether it’s fusing Bollywood with Latin, Arabic, or Western styles, our shows are carefully curated to reflect both sides of the couple’s heritage. And we reflect that in our performers, too: all our dancers are professionally trained in the specific styles we present, ensuring authenticity, respect, and excellence on every stage.
We started L.A. Bollywood Entertainment with a vision to bring world-class cultural performances to every kind of event—from luxury weddings and corporate galas to TV, film, and festivals. And we lead with the belief that dance is a universal language—one that can spark joy, build bridges, and leave a lasting impact.
As women leading in the entertainment space, we take pride in creating opportunities for diverse performers and uplifting other artists along the way. Our mission is to not only entertain, but to inspire, educate, and celebrate culture through every beat, every move, and every moment.
Whether you’re celebrating love, culture, or simply the joy of movement—we’re here to bring the magic, with heart, soul and a touch of spice!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Shannon D’Souza and I’m the founder of L.A. Bollywood Entertainment, a women-owned South Asian dance company based in Los Angeles. We’re known for our vibrant, high-energy performances that celebrate Bollywood, Indian folk and classical dance, and a wide range of global fusion styles. But beyond the choreography and costumes, we’re rooted in a deep mission: to create joy, connection, and cultural celebration through dance.
One of the challenges I faced early in my career was seeing how limited the opportunities were for Indian and South Asian dancers. Many companies operated on exclusive contracts, meaning you couldn’t perform with anyone else. For dancers trying to build careers, that model just didn’t make sense—especially without full-time compensation. I felt that was unfair and counterproductive to the spirit of dance, which should be collaborative, liberating, and community-driven.
So I started L.A. Bollywood Entertainment as a solution—a company that champions freedom, professionalism, and cultural respect. We offer:
-Custom performances for weddings, corporate events, and private parties
-Choreography and casting for film, TV, and music videos
-Interactive dance segments, flash mobs, and workshops
-Fusion and specialty acts, including Latin, circus, and Middle Eastern styles
As a professional dancer and choreographer, my background isn’t just in South Asian styles—I come from a multicultural heritage myself and have trained extensively in a wide range of cultural and commercial dance forms. This gives me a unique perspective when it comes to honoring and blending cultures, especially in multicultural weddings and cross-cultural events. I understand the importance of representation, and I know how to fuse traditions in a way that feels authentic and beautiful. That’s why I’m so passionate about creating custom shows that reflect both sides of a couple’s story—through music, movement, costume, and casting.
What truly sets us apart is our approach to storytelling. We don’t just perform, we craft moments that reflect our clients’ journeys, cultures, and personalities. Whether it’s a luxury wedding or a global corporate gala, our goal is always the same: to leave the audience energized, moved, and inspired.
I’m incredibly proud of the diverse, talented, and inclusive family we’ve built—both onstage and behind the scenes. Our dancers are trained in their specific styles, and our shows are built with heart and intention. We don’t believe in gatekeeping or exclusivity. We believe in collaboration over competition, and that dance should bring people together—not divide them.
At the end of the day, we’re here to celebrate life, love, and culture—one beat at a time!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I knew from a very young age that dance had a kind of magic. I remember watching my parents argue, tension thick in the air—but the moment we’d go to a party and music came on, everything changed. They’d head to the dance floor, laughing, smiling, dancing like nothing else mattered. It was in those moments I saw how music and movement could dissolve even the deepest conflict. I didn’t know dance could be a career back then, but I knew I wanted to be part of that magic—the joy, the healing, the connection.
As I got older, I learned that being a professional dancer, choreographer, and creative director was actually possible—but my family had a different plan. I was meant to be a nurse. It didn’t matter how passionate I was, how many performances I did, or how deeply I dreamed—it was always “nurse first.” So I chose a compromise and enrolled at Cal State Long Beach, where I could pursue both the nursing and dance programs.
It didn’t take long to realize it was impossible. Both programs were intense, both required my full heart—and slowly, mine started to break. The deeper I went into nursing, the more disconnected I felt from my soul. I was doing what I was “supposed” to do, but I was losing myself in the process. I ended up dropping out of nursing and fully pursuing dance—but the guilt and lack of support from my family led to one of the darkest periods of my life.
And then came the moment I’ll never forget—the kind that feels like a movie scene. I was sitting at a bus stop, completely defeated, when a homeless man nearby noticed how down I looked. He asked what was wrong, and I opened up. I told him everything. After listening quietly, he asked me two questions that changed everything.
He said, “Can you become a nurse at 60?”
I said, “Yes.”
Then he asked, “Can you become a professional dancer at 60?”
And I said, “No.”
He looked at me and said, “Well then… sounds like you already know your answer.”
In that one moment, it was like a light switched on inside me. That stranger gave me the clarity I couldn’t find anywhere else. I realized: no one else is going to live my life but me. And if I was going to make mistakes or take chances, they should be mine—not decisions made out of pressure or fear.
When graduation day came, I invited my parents, who were confused as to why the event was for arts students only. And then… surprise! I graduated with a degree in dance. We never spoke about that day again LOL. But now? I’ve danced all over the world, choreographed for major productions, taught hundreds of students, been in commercials, films, and music videos. I’ve lived the life I dreamed of—and I’m proud to say, my family is now proud of me too.
More importantly, I’m proud of myself—for staying true to my passion, for choosing the harder road, and for becoming someone others can look to when they’re questioning whether to follow their dreams. I know there are people out there who chose the “safe” path, and they quietly cheer me on because they see a version of themselves in my story. And that, to me, is everything.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My creative journey is rooted in everything I’ve had to overcome as an artist. It hasn’t always been easy—I’ve faced a lot of challenges, and I’ve had to carve out my own space in an industry that often felt rigid or exclusive. Because of that, my mission now is to make the path easier for other artists. I want to create more opportunities, with less judgment and more freedom for people to explore, express, and evolve.
I’ve always considered myself a “jack of all trades”—someone who doesn’t just love one style of dance, but finds joy and meaning in all of them. And for a long time, I felt pressured to only specialize in one form, because that’s what was considered “legit” or “serious.” But I never agreed with that. I believe that being a versatile dancer is just as valuable as being a specialist. There’s room for both.
Dance, at its core, is fluid. It’s constantly evolving. And I think we can sometimes get too married to the styles we’ve been trained in or taught to believe are “right.” But dance isn’t about being right. It’s not about being the best. It’s expression. There is no “good” or “bad”—just honesty, emotion, and movement.
Personally, I’ve never been great with words. As an Asian woman, I was raised to be obedient, to not talk back, to keep things to myself. But just because the words weren’t allowed doesn’t mean the feelings went away. I had to find another outlet. And dance became that space where I could say everything—without ever speaking a word.
To me, words can be limiting. They can be misunderstood or debated. But movement? Movement is truth. It’s raw and it’s real, and nobody can argue with your body’s way of expressing what it’s feeling. That’s why I say—if you have a body, you can dance. And if you don’t dance, you’re missing out on one of the most therapeutic and healing experiences that exists.
Recently, I taught a workshop in Germany dedicated to processing the grief I felt after losing my father. I didn’t expect the impact it would have. So many students came up to me after class—or messaged me later—to say that they, too, had lost a parent. That the movement we shared helped them release something they’d been holding onto. That it made them feel less alone. And that is what dance does. It helps us heal—together.
So yes, I have a mission. I want to create a world where dancers and artists can be free. Free to explore many styles. Free to express their truth. Free to evolve. Free to not be boxed into one label or technique. I want to create community. And I want to remind people that dance isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.losangelesbollywood.com
- Instagram: @labollywood
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LABOLLYWOODENT/
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/l-a-bollywood-entertaiment-7a350630a
- Twitter: @labollywood
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LABOLLYWOOD
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/la-bollywood-los-angeles
- Other: TIKTOK: @labollywood
Image Credits
Matt Odom, Deborah Hannock