let’s meet our

Denyse Baboolal the Founder, Executive & Artistic Director, Producer, Instructor & Choreography

Denyse is a multi-disciplinary artist and cultural activist in the Indo-Caribbean community in New York. Before migrating to New York, Ms. Baboolal studied Kathak and Indian folk dance under the tutelage of Satnarine Balkaransingh of the Nirtyanjali Dance Theatre.  In New York she became involved with the Rajkumari Cultural Center where she continued her study of Kathak and learned Rajdhar with the late, great Gora Singh.

Her diligence and fineness led her to become the Director of Operations of the Rajkumari Center for Indo Caribbean Arts and Culture, along with other titles such as: secretary, board member, producer, dancer, and choreographer for Kitchrie 2000, 2003,  2005, & 2012.

Ms. Baboolal performed Rajdhar, Chutney, Kathak and Odissi at several events such as Lincoln Center in the park, Kitchrie 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006 & 2012, Caribbean Cultural Center, Sound of the Bells musical drama,   Mandir events, Borough of Manhattan Community College cultural events, the Wakanam fundraising dinner 2002 and 2005, private parties, Gora’s Memorial, and political events such as the visit of Guyana’s first lady Janet Jagan, the late President Cheddi Jagan, Foreign Minister Insanally of Guyana at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, Minnobrook Conference, Queens Council of Arts, Verizon Womyn’s Herstory Month celebration, Indian Arrival day celebration in 2000 and 2004, Phagwa parade 2003 and 2006 at Smokey park in Richmond Hill and at the Trinidad consulate for the past 4 years, Art Interpreted 2003, Senator Kevin Parker’s Victory party in 2004, the West Indian   American Carnival labor day parade 2004, the Labor Day Carnival Queen of Calypso night 2004, Fundraiser for Katrina Relief Fund, Rajkumari Art Fair 2005.
In 2000, She had the privilege of performing at Licoln Center outdoor festival 11 dances classical, folk, and chutney with renowned musician Dino Boodram, Errol Balkissoon, Roger Sooklal, Radha Singh, Ustad Kadar Khan, Bina Khan and Chutney Queen Ramrajie Prabhoo.  For this performance she was featured in an article on the New York Times magazine

Ms. Baboolal taught Kathak class for the Rajkumari cultural center at Kabir Mandir and assisted the Bhawanee Maa Mandir Dance troop.  She also studies Drama with Pritha Singh where she executed that training in performances such as Sound of the Bells, Chandalika, Kitchrie 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, Chaykay, Vivaaha, and the powerful Women of the Mahabrata as Madri.  She has danced for artists such as Ustad Kadar Khan, Robbie Dalip, Dino Boodram, Errol Balkissoon, Shiva Lakhan,  Being classically trained she created her unique and tantalizing style of chutney which is in popular demand today.  She is versed in performing with live musicians for both classical and chutney music.

Denyse is currently pursuing her master’s Degree in Not for Profit Management at Capella University.  She obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Public Administration at Empire University, and Associate in Business Management from Borough of Manhattan Community College.  She studied West African dance, Hip hop and Jazz and one year of voice as her minor.

Mrs. Baboolal was employed for 12 years at Verizon as a customer representative. While there she founded and coordinated Womyn’s Herstory Month for the Brooklyn office.  She completed a six month training in vocals from Bonnie Kirk and a three month cosmetology course in theatre make up with Raddha Singh. She does private jobs as a make-up artist and back up singer.   Denyse attended workshops of the Wise Earth- Mother Om Mission (MOM) with Swamini Maya Tiwari & Radha Singh, Jayasri Alicia Jowarar for the Yoga, meditation, & Ayurveda training. Denyse studied Karate with Darryl Williams for 5 years as a teenager and holds a 3rd degree brown belt.  She has received several medals and  trophies for Synconized Katas.

By 2004 Ms. Baboolal was a well renowned dancer, dancing for Elite clients such as Trinidad & Tobago Consulate, Guyana Consulate, Brooklyn Museum, New York State Senator Kevin Parker Fundraising event, Dane Gulston panist, pre Carnival at City Hall with Mayor Bloomberg, Jouvert performance.   Ms. Baboolal was the first and to date the only Indian dancer to perform from the beginning of the Parkway to the end of the Parkway on Labor Day  by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, Inc. Denyse attended a drama workshop with the late actor from Bill Cosby Mr. Sullivan Walker, Pritha Singh, and Radha Singh.

For Kitchrie 2005 her directorial debut for Sullivan Walkers play “Nora’s complaint” was a hit. She danced with singing chutney Anand Yankaran, Shiva Lakhan, Artiste Anjali, Rick Ramdehal, Bhisham Singh, Mohammed and Gulam Khan,  Denyse attended Kakoli Mukerjee mini workshop in Odrissi and Kathak with Romanee Kalicharran,  as well as, touching on some Bollywood dancing with Jamuna Mitcham.   In 2005-2006 she conducted a 6weeks series of Chutney workshops for elders.
In 2006 she produced, choreographed, and danced for the Mariammen Pugal Malaai “a garland of Songs for Mother” where she executed Madrasi and classical style dancing,  She assisted Reish Baboolal with  costume and set designing while observing a strict devotional fast.   On May 26 Indian Arrival Day, Ms Baboolal performed two chutney dances at Trinidad Consulate., for which she received standing ovation. May 29th Guyana Consulate Anniversary a series of chutney and Rajdhar dances and a fusion dance with African and Indian drums in Washington DC.   June 30th she demonstrated her chutney, Rajdhar, and Kathak skills in Kitchrie 2006, in St Francis College. Denyse dances classical for many temple fundraiser and political events.

In 2007 Feb She performed two dances at Blairmont Kali Temple displaying her Madrasi style worship dance.  May 12 & 13 Brooklyn Center performed with Sherwin Winchester and Dane Gulston in song “dont stop giving it to me” at the 31st Annual Mother’s Day show in Brooklyn Center Brooklyn NY. Riverside Theatre June 16 Chutney workshop and demonstration, Caribbean Heritage month in Brooklyn College June 29 where the Ganges meet the Niles collaborating with Something Positive fusing Urobia and Hindu Gods via Dance and fusing chutney and African.    Kitchrie 2007 produced, choreographed, and danced at Forest Park Bandshell August 19 with Aron Jewan Singh, Jameer Hosein, Major League Tassa & Petrotrin Tassa group.  Sunday Sept 2 Brooklyn Museum dancing with Something Positive to Machel Mantano’s “Jumbie” in classical Indian dance style.  Nov 17, 2007 a Durga dance “Jagadambike” in Shri Mariamman Koilou temple in Trinidad.