About Kajal
Kajal Raju is a Bollywood-fusion dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist based in Los Angeles, CA. She comes from a diverse dance background with training in Bollywood, Bharatanatyam, contemporary, modern, and jazz funk. From a young age, Kajal was captivated by the interplay between the classical Indian forms she grew up studying and the contemporary Western techniques she discovered later. The emotional storytelling, rhythmic precision, and cultural depth of South Asian dance styles, combined with the shapes and lines of Western movement, shaped her artistic identity. She continues to explore this fusion in her work, celebrating her heritage while pushing creative boundaries and forging space for South Asian narratives in the global dance landscape.
Charlotte Hornet’s video feature on Kajal as the first South Asian woman to dance for the Honey Bees
Kajal’s professional dance career began in 2021 when she made history as the first South Asian woman to dance for the Honey Bees, the official dance team of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. As a Honey Bee, she brought Bollywood to the NBA court, performed for arena-scale audiences, and shared her story as a South Asian artist navigating the pro-dance world. The Hornets produced a feature on her journey, which reached young dancers nationwide and resonated deeply with those who had long felt unseen in the dance spaces they aspired to enter. Being in that position of visibility strengthened Kajal’s commitment to representation, empowering her to become the role model she once needed.
Her performance career has since expanded internationally. Kajal has performed with major organizations including headlining World of Dance, Hulu, and the Roland-Garros French Open, and has appeared alongside renowned artists such as OneRepublic, Diljit Dosanjh, and Karan Aujla. She continues to work across commercial dance, live productions, and artist performances, bringing her Bollywood-fusion signature to every stage she steps on.
Kajal’s experiences navigating the industry continue to fuel her mission: to expand South Asian visibility in dance and entertainment, and to platform the breadth of South Asian talent in commercial spaces where dancers like her have historically been underrepresented. She hopes her career contributes to a broader cultural shift, one where South Asian dancers are not only included but embraced and celebrated.
In 2025, Kajal founded Bolly Fit Fusion, an inclusive, open-level dance fitness format that blends Bollywood musicality with cardio, strength, and expressive movement. Bolly Fit Fusion reflects her commitment to building community through dance- spaces where every body feels welcome, empowered, and celebrated.
Kajal has taught Bollywood fusion for over 10 years, working with dancers of all backgrounds and levels. Teaching has been one of the most meaningful threads of her journey; whether she is teaching lifelong Bollywood dancers or students experiencing the style for the very first time, Kajal is passionate about creating accessible, joyful, judgment-free learning environments rooted in expression and cultural appreciation.
Kajal graduated from UC Davis with Summa Cum Laude degrees in Managerial Economics and Theatre & Dance. In addition to her artistic career, she works full-time in the tech industry and is an advocate for women in both STEM and the Arts. Bridging analytical problem-solving and creative storytelling, Kajal continues to carve a multidimensional path as a performer, educator, founder, and voice for representation.