Stealth Productions (NYC)

Alisha Persaud

Alisha Persaud, of Indo-Guyanese parentage, began her stage career as a solo dancer in 1988.  Realizing that she would need classical training to become a true professional, she joined the Padmini Institute of Fine Arts to learn Bharatanatyam and advanced rapidly under the guidance of the late Srimati Padmini Ramachandran and guru Srimati Radha Balasubramanian.  When the Natraj Cultural Group was formed, Alisha became an active member and soon began teaching the younger students.  While continuing her Bharatanatyam training, she learned the basics of Kathak and Odissi, as well as folk dancing.  In 1992, she became one of the founding members of Dheeraj Gayaram's Naya Andaz Dance Troupe.  Always looking to increase her knowledge and skill, she joined the Sadhanalaya School of Dance in 1996 to begin her Kuchipudi training under respected guru Srimati Sadhana Paranji.  Over the years, she attended workshops to study Kathak with Syed Asgar Tirmizi and Guru Shri Pratap Pawar, Odissi with Madhumita Raut and Mala Desai, and nattuvanar with Srimati Sadhana Paranji. 

Wanting to share her knowledge, Alisha became a senior dance teacher for the Natraj Center for the Performing Arts where she served for over twenty years as one of the organization’s main directors and lead choreographers.  She has performed throughout the east coast of the U.S., as well as Kingston, Jamaica (W.I.) and Georgetown, Guyana, and has choreographed for stageplays, dance dramas and independent films.  She has presented specialized items at Hari Om Sharan’s farewell tour, Six Flags Great Adventure, the Bollywood Music Awards at Trump Taj Mahal, the Bollywood Movie Awards at Nassau Coliseum and she was the first American-born dance teacher of Caribbean descent to ever present students at NYC’s South Street Seaport Annual Deepavali Festival.  Recently, Alisha was honored to choreograph for special performances at Cipriani Wall Street and the Marriott Marquis Times Square on Broadway.

Alisha began a modeling career in 1988, placing third a 1991 Miss Diwali competition (her second time modeling on stage and her first competition) and in the U.S. Hindu Society's Miss Deepavali 1992 Competition.  Finally, in 1993, Alisha was crowned Miss Indo-Caribbean Federation at Smokey Park.  That same year, she also won the dance competition at the Indian Immigration Day Parade.  Holding that title, Alisha was honored with the privilege of dancing for former Guyana President Janet Jagan.

Alisha debuted as an actress in 1990 in Chitrangada (title role), followed by roles in Urvashi, Chandaalika, Shatrutta, Tulsidas, and Hello Dolly!  After a long hiatus, Alisha returned to the theatre in 2004 in full force, appearing in Cinderella (Stepmother), Till I Dance With My People, I’ve Never Danced Before (Vishwattee and Aunty Lovin), and Laff ‘Til Yuh Belly Bust.  She became an integral part of the Laff ‘Til Yuh Belly Bust sketch comedy franchise from 2004 to 2007.  She also continued appearing in full length plays, including Come Blow Your Horn and Til Ah Find A Place, and dance dramas such as The Dancing Bells of Rekha.

In 2004, Alisha was cast in the feature film Sacrifice, which earned Best Feature honors at the Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival.  In 2007, she served as part of the production team and traveled to Guyana to film Karma: A Love Story, in which she also played the role of a dying mother, and Till Ah Find A Place, reprising her stage role as the wife of an unfaithful man.  She has appeared on the web-sitcoms Liberty Avenue Singles and Two Bab and the Superchunes, both on www.TheTVSho.com.  Alisha is presently co-writing Wha’ Happen?, a feature film in which she’ll also star, with award-winning filmmaker Frankie Sooknanan. 

Behind the scenes, Alisha has served as executive producer, assistant director (stage and film), production manager, stage manager, graphic designer, music director, video/music editor, scriptwriter, and is one of the founding members of Flat Tire Productions, a NY-based production company which just celebrated the successful premiere of Buttahflap, an innovative West Indian sketch comedy show combining live performances and video skits.

Alisha’s extensive performing arts resume is supplemented by her professional one.  She graduated from Queens College with honors in Communications and Political Science and continued her education at St. John's University School of Law on a full university scholarship.  Admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey, Alisha completed her second clerkship with the Superior Court of New Jersey in 2002.  She is currently working as a consultant at the United Nations while continuing her endeavors in the performing arts.