Tapash Das — Founder & Director
Kolkata · Twist N Turns Dance Studio · Est. 2005
Tapash Das is the founder and Managing Director of Twist N Turns — Kolkata’s largest dance academy, operating 8 studios across the city. What began in 2005 as a single room in Salt Lake with 40 students has grown into a community of over 7,000 dancers, shaped by one man’s conviction that world-class dance training belongs in every neighbourhood, not just on concert stages.
He trained at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Broadway Dance Center in New York. He has performed at salsa festivals from Mumbai to Berlin. He choreographed Shah Rukh Khan for Incredible Bengal. And he still teaches on the studio floor every week.
The Early Years
Tapash found dance at four years old, and it never let him go.
Growing up in Kolkata, he immersed himself in jazz, modern, and contemporary styles through his teens — and discovered Bollywood through Beat Busters, one of Kolkata’s pioneering dance crews, with whom he trained for four years. That crew gave him his first real taste of discipline, performance, and the hunger to build something bigger.
In 2000, he won his first competition — Bosco Beats — at school level. It was the beginning.
World-Class Training
Tapash trained under some of the world’s finest:
| Teacher | Discipline | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater | Contemporary & Modern | New York |
| Broadway Dance Center | Hip Hop, Funk Jazz, Ballet | New York |
| Steps on Broadway | Theatre Jazz | New York |
| Fatima | Hip Hop | New York |
| Luam | Hip Hop | Broadway Dance Center, NYC |
| Kaytee Namgyal | Salsa | Delhi / Salsa India |
| Super Mario | Salsa | London |
| Gilles Chuyen | Modern Dance | France |
| Cristina | Ballet | New Jersey |
| Rony | Dance | Kolkata |
His skill portfolio spans:
- 11 years of Salsa and Bachata training and performance
- 10 years of Old School Hip Hop and Modern Dance
- 6 years of Lyrical and Funk Jazz
- 4 years of Bollywood with Beat Busters
- 2 years of Ballet
- Certified Zumba Instructor (2011) + Aqua Zumba (2013)
Building Twist N Turns
In November 2005, Tapash opened the first Twist N Turns studio at BF Block, Salt Lake. The early days were lean — 40 students and a belief that Kolkata deserved better dance education.
It did.
Today Twist N Turns runs across 8 locations — Salt Lake, Ballygunge, Dum Dum Park, Ruby, New Alipore, New Town (Action Area I & II), and Madhyamgram — and has trained dancers from Kolkata to Delhi, Chennai, Jhansi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur. The academy hosts national dance competitions, produces annual showcases, and its faculty are alumni who grew up dancing here.
“Dance is a language of movements, intricately woven with space, time, and the human body. It belongs to everyone.” — Tapash Das
Milestones
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Winner at Bosco Beats (school level) |
| 2005 | Founded Twist N Turns, Salt Lake BF Block, Kolkata |
| 2006 | Became Salsa instructor under Kaytee Namgyal (Salsa India); performed at International Salsa Festival, Mumbai |
| 2007 | Performed at International Salsa Festival, Mumbai |
| 2008 | Performed at Berlin Salsa Festival, Germany |
| 2009 | Advanced training at Broadway Dance Center, New York — Hip Hop, Funk Jazz, Ballet |
| 2009 | Contemporary training at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York |
| 2011 | Certified Zumba Instructor; founded Zumba Kolkata |
| 2013 | Additional certification in Aqua Zumba |
| 2016 | Choreographed Shah Rukh Khan for Incredible Bengal, produced by Nirvana Films |
| 2016 | Conducted Zumba workshop for employees at Accenture, New Town, Kolkata |
| 2017 | Judge at Colors of Youth 2017, Amity University, Kolkata |
| 2017 | Zumba workshop at Martin Burn Business Park for Cerner India Health Pvt. Ltd. |
| 2025 | Twist N Turns operates 8 studios with 7,000+ students; founded India International Dance Institute |
On the Global Stage
Tapash has taken Kolkata’s dance culture international. He has competed and performed at salsa congresses in:
Bangalore · Mumbai · Berlin · Singapore · Hong Kong · Dubai · and across Europe
He is a certified Zumba instructor, founder of Zumba Kolkata, and founder of the India International Dance Institute — a national-level platform for dance education, instructor certification, and professional development.
Dance as a Force for Change
Tapash has always believed dance can do more than entertain:
- Free classes for underprivileged children — Twist N Turns runs regular outreach programs giving access to arts education that would otherwise be out of reach
- One Billion Rising — participated in the global movement using dance to protest violence against women
- Naach and other competitions — judges emerging talent and gives young dancers their first real stage
Choreography, community, and social impact are not separate endeavours for Tapash. They are the same practice.
Education
Graduate (2015), Heramba Chandra College (South City Day), Calcutta University
Connect with Tapash Das
📞 +91 98310 18015 · ✉️ info@twistnturns.in
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tapash Das?
Tapash Das is the founder and Managing Director of Twist N Turns Dance Studio, Kolkata. He started the academy in 2005 and has grown it into a network of 8 studios with over 7,000 students. He trained at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Broadway Dance Center in New York.
Where did Tapash Das train as a dancer?
He trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (New York), Broadway Dance Center (New York), and Steps on Broadway (New York). He also trained under international masters including Kaytee Namgyal for Salsa, Gilles Chuyen (France) for Modern Dance, and Cristina (New Jersey) for Ballet.
Did Tapash Das choreograph Shah Rukh Khan?
Yes. In 2016, Tapash choreographed Shah Rukh Khan for the Incredible Bengal campaign, produced by Nirvana Films — one of his most high-profile professional engagements.
How large is Twist N Turns today?
Twist N Turns has grown from 40 students in 2005 to over 7,000 enrolled dancers across 8 locations in Kolkata — Salt Lake, Ballygunge, Dum Dum Park, Ruby, New Alipore, New Town (AA1 & AA2), and Madhyamgram.
What dance styles does Tapash Das teach?
He teaches and oversees Ballet, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Bollywood, Salsa, Zumba, Jazz, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and more. As a certified Zumba instructor and founder of Zumba Kolkata, Zumba is a particular speciality.
How can I take a class or workshop with Tapash Das?
Call 98310 18015 or WhatsApp 9830028063 to enquire about current class schedules and upcoming workshops at Twist N Turns. You can also book a free trial class at any of the 8 studio locations across Kolkata.