Faculty

Deepak Thakur

Founder & Director – Genx Dance Academy

Deepak Thakur, the visionary founder and director of Genx Dance Academy, has been a passionate force in the dance industry since 2007. With over 18 years of experience, he has dedicated his life to nurturing talent, spreading the art of movement, and building a strong dance community.

Trained under the guidance of renowned choreographers Terence Lewis, Shiamak Davar, and Ashley Lobo, Deepak brings a rich blend of technical excellence and creative expression to his work. His journey includes participation in some of India’s biggest dance reality platforms such as Dance India Dance, DID Doubles, and India’s Dancing Superstar, showcasing his versatility and commitment to the art.

As a mentor, he has proudly trained students who have gone on to perform in top television shows like DID Super Moms (Zee TV), Big Memsaab (&TV), Dance Plus 4 (Star Plus), and Dance Deewane 4 (Colors TV) — a true testament to his impactful teaching.

Deepak’s choreography extends beyond the classroom into the professional industry. He has worked on popular music videos including “Two Many Girls” by Badshah & Fazilpuria, “Aise Na Dekh” and “Main Itni Sundar Hoon Kya Karu” by Millind Gaba. He was also a part of the grand theatrical production Zangoora – The Gypsy Prince at Kingdom of Dreams (2012–2014).

His talent has taken him across the globe, performing at international platforms such as the Nile River Festival (Egypt) and the Shanghai Festival (China), along with major events like the Jio Network Launch in Mumbai.

Deepak has also contributed to prestigious national events, serving as choreographer for the Republic Day Parade (2018, 2019, 2020), leading and managing performances of over 800 school students. In the corporate world, he has choreographed for brands like Anand Group and OPL True RE, achieving top honors in competitive showcases.

At the heart of his journey lies his academy — where he has trained and inspired more than 3000 students. Under his leadership, Genx Dance Academy has successfully completed 10 seasons of its grand annual showcase THIRKAN, celebrating talent, passion, and performance.

Deepak Thakur continues to inspire, create, and lead with a mission to make dance accessible, expressive, and life-changing for every student who walks through the doors of Genx Dance Academy.

Aakankshaa Rajput

Owner & Director – GenX Dance Academy

Aakankshaa Rajput is the Owner and Director of GenX Dance Academy, successfully leading three branches dedicated to nurturing talent and fostering a passion for dance. With over a decade of experience in training and teaching, she brings strong expertise across multiple dance forms, including Jazz, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Bollywood, and Semi-Classical.

Her journey in dance has been shaped through extensive training under experienced mentors, combined with years of dedicated practice, performance, and teaching. She has also collaborated with several reputed dance academies as an instructor, which has enriched her versatility and refined her teaching methodology.

Over the years, Aakankshaa has trained more than 1,000 students, helping them develop confidence, discipline, and artistic expression. Her students have consistently excelled, with many securing first positions in various dance competitions.

She has designed and choreographed annual events for several schools and has been invited as a chief guest and special performer on multiple occasions. Additionally, she has conceptualized numerous theme-based dance productions and has been an integral part of some of the biggest dance events across Delhi and Noida.

Her vision is to inspire, guide, and empower students through the art of dance while creating a dynamic platform for creativity, performance, and growth.

Karan Rathi

Managing Director & Principal Dance Instructor- GenX Dance Academy

Karan Rathi is a seasoned dancer, choreographer, and performing arts professional with over 13 years of experience across stage, screen, and corporate productions. Karan has trained under industry veterans like Deepak Thakur (Gen X Dance Academy Founder & Director), Prashant Bhandari (Broadway Dance Centre, NYC alumnus ), and other teachers. That foundation shows — in how he moves, and in how he teaches.

He is proficient in Jazz, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Bollywood, and Freestyle . His versatility has taken him from competitive television to professional music videos, corporate stages, and theatrical productions.

Karan reached the Top 100 of India's Dancing Superstar (Star Plus, 2013). He has served as Assistant horeographer on T-Series productions featuring Nyvaan and Milind Gaba in "Aise Na Dekh" , "Drink Like a Fish", "4 Men Down", and on Burj Khalifa ft. King Kaazi. He directed the team of 180 students from GGSSS, Tagore Garden for the Republic Day Parade 2016.

He has choreographed and performed in multiple Corporate Events for Cannon, PayTM, Hero Honda, and PETA 2019. More recently he has conducted corporate workshops at the Netherlands Embassy, EY, Anand Group, OPL True Re, and SA Infrastructure — organisations that trust him to deliver polished, high-stakes performances.

What sets him apart is the rare depth he brings through three years of Hindi theater experience. He has been a part of " " plays. He also served as Physical Theater Choreographer on two productions directed by Rajneesh Gautam: Macbeth Aur Lal Pankh and an adaptation of Animal Farm , performed by the Repertory of Little Theatre Group (LTG).

At GEN X Dance Academy, Karan designed curricula across multiple levels and led THIRKAN — the academy's flagship annual event — from 2016 to 2025. He has been honoured with the Best Teacher Award consistently through his career. His teaching is structured, progressive, and built on a foundation of genuine performance expertise. His true strength lies in the rapport he establishes with his students. He has a natural ability to communicate, making every student feel seen and understood.

Karan doesn't just teach dance. He builds performers.