MEET THE BOARD OF DOWN TO DANCE
BAANO GOLAWALA
President
Baano is a 3rd year at UF majoring in Economics with a minor in Spanish while also pursuing the Pre-Med track. Outside of academics, she is actively involved in service and academic support on campus. She volunteers with EAC and also helps lead Biochemistry SI sessions. A fun fact about her is that she is a yogalates instructor!
ALYSSA GIAMBRONE
External Vice President
Alyssa is a 3rd year at UF majoring in Biology on the Pre-PA track. She loves dancing and also enjoys going on walks in her free time. She is originally from New Jersey.
KRISTEN ADAMS
Secretary
Kristen is a 3rd year at UF majoring in Biology with a minor in Disabilities in Society while pursuing the Pre-Dental track. She also teaches a section of BSC2010L. In her free time, she enjoys baking cookies, cakes, tarts, and pastries.
AATHIRA NAIR
Multimedia Director
Aathira is a 3rd year at UF majoring in Health Science with minors in Public Health and Health Administration while pursuing the Pre-Med track. She loves spending time with family and friends, especially with her dog.
HANYA MUKATI
Treasurer
Hanya is a 4th year at UF majoring in Microbiology. She has a strong interest in the biological sciences. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, which helps her stay balanced and manage stress.
JULIA SHEN
Multimedia Director
Julia is a 3rd year at UF majoring in Nutritional Sciences while pursuing the Pre-Dental track. She is passionate about dentistry and enjoys her nutrition major as a self described foodie. In her free time, she loves cooking, baking, working out, running, shopping, spending time with friends, and meeting new people
CIVIA JACOB
Community Outreach Director
[Name] is a 3rd year at UF majoring in Psychology with a Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience focus. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and watching movies.
ANDREA VILLAMIZAR
Choreographer
Andera is a 3rd year at UF majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in English. She also has a certificate in Dance in Medicine. Her top three artists are Mt. Joy, Noah Kahan, and The Lumineers.
HITIKA GANDHI
Choreographer
Hitika is a 4th year at UF pursuing a combined Bachelor of Health Science/ Master of Public Health on the Pre-Med track.
AANCHAL SHAH
Senior Advisor & Co-Founder
Aanchal is a University of Florida Honors Program alum who graduated with her B.S. in Psychology and a Certificate in Dance in Medicine in 2021. She founded D2D during her time at UF in an effort to combine her love for dance and her passion for medicine. After researching the benefits dance programs have on children with Down syndrome, she knew she had to put this research into action. "There's no better feeling than knowing you are making a difference in someone’s life," says Aanchal. As an older sister, Aanchal has always loved working with kids. She believes it’s a wonderful feeling to know you serve as a role model to upcoming generations of bright minds. As a Senior Advisor, Aanchal ensures that the entire organization is running smoothly and aids in the expansion of Down To Dance.
Aanchal went on to receive her M.D from the Florida State University College of Medicine where she founded their first Arts in Medicine program. Her and her team pioneered the evidence-based Dance for Parkinson’s, Music for Alzheimer’s, and Fine Arts for the Elderly programs in the Tallahassee community.
Aanchal is currently a psychiatry resdient at Yale University. She recently published her first children’s book aimed at teaching kids emotional regulation and evidence based coping mechanisms though the arts. “Dr. Didi’s Guide to Anxiety” is now available on Amazon.
ANJALI PATEL
Senior Advisor & Co-Founder
Anjali is a current medical student at the University of Florida. Anjali’s passion for holistic medicine led her to create an organization that combines dance and medicine. Her past experiences with arts and medicine showed her how impactful it can be in individuals with Down syndrome; this organization is her way of giving back to the Gainesville community.
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"Working with kids inspires me to appreciate life in fun and creative ways," says Anjali. Kids provide her the energy to improve herself in order to be the best role model that she can be for them. D2D truly shows these dancers how capable they are. As Senior Advisor, Anjali overlooks the organization and expansion of Down To Dance to other universities.