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Founded in 2013 by Gaitrie Subryan, Devi Performing Arts is dedicated to promoting Indian dance to all audiences and educating people about the rich culture and traditions of this art form. Specializing in a unique blend of Indian Classical Dance, Folk Dance, and Bollywood Dance, Devi also incorporates elements of Western dance into its work. This dynamic fusion—characterized by intricate footwork and fluid movement—makes their performances and choreography both distinct and captivating.

At the heart of Devi Performing Arts is a mission to build strong communities, celebrate diversity, and foster inclusion through dance. Through collaborative practices with a wide range of artists and aesthetics, the troupe demonstrates how music and movement can transcend cultural boundaries, uniting individuals from all walks of life.

In recognition of their excellence and impact, Devi Performing Arts was named the Best Dance Troupe in the 2025 Best of WNY Awards, a testament to their dedication, artistry, and community engagement.

Devi has performed at prestigious venues such as Shea’s Smith Theater, Ujima Theater, Babeville, The Burchfield Penney Art Center, and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. They have also been featured in major Western New York events including the Elmwood Festival of the Arts, Buffalo Without Borders, Dance Days of Buffalo, and Taste of Diversity.

Each member of the troupe is deeply committed to their craft, actively contributing as educators, workshop leaders, performers, and choreographers throughout the region. This dedication not only strengthens their stage presence but also amplifies their mission to educate, entertain, and inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Through their performances and community engagement, Devi Performing Arts continues to make Indian dance accessible and relevant—fostering cultural appreciation and promoting artistic excellence across Western New York and beyond.

Company Members

Cortney Costanzo
Cortney is a Buffalo-based entertainer and can be found studying and performing with various ensembles throughout Western New York. Cortney received the bulk of her dance training at Miss. Bev’s Dance Studio in Niagara Falls. As a competitive dancer, she has received many accolades including the “Triple Threat” award at The Kiwanis Dance Competition in 2005. In 2003, she and some of her closest dance friends were selected to be members of the Footloose Dance Competition’s Xtreme Dance Team where they traveled to the Bahamas to learn from choreographer Mandy Moore. Her post-High School studies took her to The College at Brockport where she auditioned and became a member and Captain of the Brockport Dance Team.
 
After graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education she attended Buffalo State College to complete her Master’s Degree in Educational Technology. She currently teaches High School Math at Williamsville East High School where she is the Class of 2020 adviser and, the adviser and, director for the Williamsville East High School Band Against Bullying performance team, which has won three consecutive first place titles under her direction.

Cortney is also involved in many performance groups around the Buffalo area. She currently performs with Devi Bollywood Performing Arts and Buffalo Aerial Dance at local events and festivals. She is a standing board member of Dance Day of Buffalo and was the host of their “Tidings of Tap” fundraiser held in December 2017. When she isn’t dancing, she is likely singing. She lends her voice to many groups and ensembles such as The Derek Mediak Band, The Bees Knees, The Steve Balesteri Band (Uptown Sound), The Lewiston Choraleers, and individuals Zach Carr and Sara Rogers. She is also a former member of Harmonia Chamber Singers, Buffalo Philharmonic Choir and The Foxy Diamondz.

Cortney has had the opportunity to perform at some of the most exciting events Buffalo has to offer such as The World’s Largest Disco, First Night Buffalo, The Witches Ball, Buffalo Goes Gatsby, The Steampunk Festival, Nicola Tesla Festival, The Erie County Fair, Elmwood Arts Festival and Jim Kelly’s Kelly for Kids Fundraiser just to name a few. To follow Cortney’s events feel free to check out her website CortneyChyme.com

Her singing and dancing background lend nicely to Cortney’s work as an actor performing with local filming groups for short independent films, music videos, and the annual Buffalo 48-Hour Film Project. She can be seen as a live Disney princess actor for children’s Birthday parties with A Dream Is A Wish Entertainment. You may have also seen her online in a Buffalo Bills Parody Video, “Christmas Lights” music video by Nate Cronk or a NOCO commercial that was aired on Channel 2 WGRZ this past year.

When Cortney isn’t performing, she is lending her immeasurable skills, and experience as a dance teacher at Adell’s School of Dance, and as a performance coach for the award winning Matt’s Music Vocal Performance Competition team.

Shelly Chaudhary Vignesh was Born and raised in India. Though not formally trained in Indian Classical Dance she was exposed to the various traditional dance forms, including Bollywood, Folk, Garba and Rajasthani dance. Shelly has choreographed and performed for various cultural events in the Sri Lankan community here in Buffalo, NY. She believes that dance is very lyrical and a way of expressing oneself. “When I move I desire to feel something that cannot be expressed through words”.

Roxy
Dana “Roxy” Harris
Roxy is a born and raised Buffalonian whose dance and performance experience began at the age of 4 at Ms. Barbara’s School of Dance. Her background includes an array of styles including tap, jazz, African dance, modern through her years at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, as well as ballet under the tutelage of Marvin Askew of Buffalo City Ballet. After high school, she was able to take advantage of dance opportunities with Janet Reed and Dancers and through elect performance courses through Canisius College. After graduating from Canisius with a bachelors degree in Communications, Roxy’s path has since led her to a professional career in Marketing. She currently, however, continues to perform with artists and choreographers around Buffalo including Devi Bollywood.
Julie Campanella
Roxy is a born and raised Buffalonian whose dance and performance experience began at the age of 4 at Ms. Barbara’s School of Dance. Her background includes an array of styles including tap, jazz, African dance, modern through her years at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, as well as ballet under the tutelage of Marvin Askew of Buffalo City Ballet. After high school, she was able to take advantage of dance opportunities with Janet Reed and Dancers and through elect performance courses through Canisius College. After graduating from Canisius with a bachelors degree in Communications, Roxy’s path has since led her to a professional career in Marketing. She currently, however, continues to perform with artists and choreographers around Buffalo including Devi Bollywood.
Natasha Perkins
Dancer, choreographer, teacher, community artist; Natasha began her dance journey and training taking master classes and workshops with Garth Fagan, The Urban Bush Women and Forces of Nature Dance Company. While attending Buffalo State College, Natasha earned her Minor in Performing Arts; performed and toured for the Buffalo State College Dance Theater Department. As a full scholarship recipient at the American Dance Festival (ADF), she performed with noted choreographers Ronald K. Brown and Paul Taylor while also being trained by Master Teacher Cornelius Carter. Natasha has appeared several times in the Jazz World Dance Congress and International Dance Festival (NYC). Her professional dance career includes dance and instruction with Janet Reed and Dancers and Buffalo City Ballet. Based in Buffalo, N.Y., Natasha’s Love for the Art of Dance formed her own company “La Mezcla Dance”; solo and collaborative work presented in festivals and venues in the United States. Currently, Natasha performs with various individual choreographers and companies in Buffalo, N.Y
Holli Simme

Buffalo-based entertainer Holli began her dance journey at the age of three at Barb Denny’s Studio of Dance Arts.  She studied various styles including tap, jazz, ballet, modern, hip-hop, and musical theater. After graduating high school, Holli continued her education in dance at University at Buffalo where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2014. While in school she was fortunate to learn much from her professors, and took residencies and master classes such as Lehrer dance, Limon Dance Company, Pilobolus, River North Dance Chicago, and Doug Varone and Dancers. She was also a member of the Zodiaque Dance Company, Zodiaque Dance Ensemble, and performed in Dancer’s Workshop and Digital Poetry and Dancers.

Holli began performing with Devi Bollywood Performing Arts in 2017 after taking class with Gaitrie at local dance festival Dance Days of Buffalo. She also currently performs with Showstarters Entertainment, and can be seen as a live Disney princess actor for A Dream Is A Wish Entertainment. Along with dance and character work, Holli also has been practicing fire spinning for the past three years. Other past performances include work with Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Torn Space Theater, The Bird’s Nest Circus Arts, Foxy Diamondz, and the Slyboots Circus.

For the past eleven years, Holli has been teaching dance and is currently an instructor at Barb Denny’s Studio of Dance Arts and Performing Arts Dance Academy. Her dance and choreography has even taken her around the world to Dalian, China, where she taught abroad at Rainbow Painting Arts Theater in 2018. After returning home from China, Holli went back to school and received her Certificate of Massage from Trocaire College in 2020. She is now a licensed massage therapist in the State of New York and runs her practice at Tupelo Honey Spa in Elma, New York.

Krystal Wildman

Born and raised in Buffalo, Krystal’s dance journey began with rigorous training in jazz, tap, and contemporary styles. Her artistic evolution took a thrilling turn when she joined Devi Bollywood Performing Arts in 2017. Despite not being originally trained in Indian dance, Krystal embraced the challenge and quickly became captivated by the richness and vibrancy of Bollywood dance and its cultural heritage.

Her passion for this new style is matched by her commitment to education. Krystal is a dedicated full-time student at Buffalo State College, where she is pursuing a degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education. With a graduation date set for May 2022, she is distinguished by her academic excellence and will be graduating with honors. Her educational journey continues as she plans to embark on a master’s program in education in the summer of 2022.

Krystal aspires to blend her love for movement and diverse cultural experiences into her future teaching career. Her goal is to create dynamic and inclusive learning environments where dance and cultural appreciation play a central role in shaping young minds. Her dedication to both her academic pursuits and her passion for dance make her a vibrant and inspirational figure in both fields