Akhil Joondeph is a dancer and choreographer from the Bay Area. His work centers queerness, thinks beyond genre, and imagining new and inclusive worlds through movement. His work is both commercial and contemporary, ranging from viral, short dance films to evening-length works like “Manchapravesh” (2025). He is currently the creative director of Ishami Dance Company, and his choreography with Ishami has been featured in the Fresh Meat Festival, FACT/SF Summer Dance Festival, Mandala Makers Festival, World of Dance Choreographer Showcase, and beyond. His dance films have been screened internationally, including at the San Francisco Dance Film Festival and the International Choreographic Festival of Blois. He is a musician and composer, and has been the sound designer for award-winning dance productions like Drasti Mody’s “Paheli,” Ishami Dance Company’s “Pehchaan,” and beyond. He also regularly teaches community classes, and has performed on the main stage at San Francisco Pride, the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, San Francisco International Arts Festival, and more. He graduated with High Honors in Dance from Wesleyan University.