I met Manya Yellepeddy at the Intersections Conference 2025, where she was introducing Dalea, her own tech innovation for dancers. Manya, a high school senior from Northern Virginia, has spent nearly her entire childhood immersed in the world of Kuchipuḍi. She began training at Kalanidhi at the age of five, first under Anuradha Nehru and more recently under Pragnya Thamire. Her engagement with classical dance sparked an unexpected leap into technology. Reflecting on how younger dancers often lose momentum between classes, Manya wondered: Could there be a way to bring the teacher’s precision home?
That question led to Dalea, an AI-powered app that uses teachers’ own videos to guide students at home. In conversation with Global Indian Artist, Manya shares the story behind Dalea and the vision shaping her work.
What was your inspiration behind creating Dalea?
As you know, classical dances put a lot of emphasis on correct posture. In class, the teacher is able to physically correct the form and technique such as aramandi or mudras, as needed; however, these classes occur only once or twice a week and the students are expected to remember the corrections and practice at home. But in the absence of guidance at home, especially for the beginner dancers, students tend to develop some incorrect postures and bad habits (like hunching shoulders, not having a proper aramandi), making these practices ineffective or unmotivating. They then have to unlearn these incorrect postures, prolonging the learning process, which can be frustrating for the younger ones — they start losing interest and may disengage. As I was thinking about a way to bridge this gap, I wondered if there is a way for the students to receive the same precision and guidance that they get in the studio. This led to the creation of Dalea, which uses AI to correct and guide students at home, reducing bad habits and encouraging practice.
Why the name Dalea?
Dahlia is a beautiful ornamental flower. I had read somewhere that this species has survived for centuries, and even though they are native to South America, they have been transported and adapted to many other countries because of their stunning beauty and grace. Dance, like the dahlia, is a beautiful treasure centered around various cultures across the world. Throughout the years, dance has evolved and prospered, remaining elegant, graceful, and strong while adapting to new ideas and beliefs. I aspire for my company to be the same — to contribute to dance education and survive for centuries to come.
How does this app work and what are its features?
Dalea is a classroom-formatted app, allowing teachers to assign practice to students. It has two main features: video analysis and practice frames. Video analysis compares student and teacher videos to provide the student with qualitative feedback, while practice frames break down a movement into individual components for the student to practice and receive real-time corrections.
Dalea works in three simple steps. First, the teacher uploads a video, and the app breaks the step down into its elemental postures. Second, the student can use these postures to practice and upload their own version of the same step. Third, the app uses computer vision and AI to provide the student with qualitative feedback by comparing the student’s video with the teacher’s. It uses a classroom format to enable direct communication and ensure data privacy.
Does it work for all age groups and forms?
Yes, absolutely. Because it uses teachers’ videos to provide feedback, the app works for all dance forms and ages. We are currently collaborating with various styles of dance, including Indian classical dance, Bhangra, and ballroom dance. The app also allows teachers to adjust how rigidly it corrects students, taking into account the physical needs of both younger and older learners.
Do apps like this take away the emotional bond between students and teachers?
Actually, I’d argue the opposite: Dalea can strengthen the student–teacher connection. Although it’s AI-powered, Dalea offloads the mechanical, behind-the-scenes work. Students practice between sessions and receive objective feedback based on the teacher’s video, which keeps momentum alive. When they return to class, the teacher can build directly on that practice, noticing growth over time and reinforcing the bond of progress and partnership.
Manya’s fervor and entrepreneurial ability to support students’ journeys show how the next generation is keeping classical dance alive while embracing new possibilities. GIA wishes her the very best as she continues toward a future of dance that is both deeply rooted and boldly forward-looking.
Learn More:
Website: https://www.dalea.ai/
Instagram: @dalea.ai
IOS App Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dalea/id6748032632