Ridy Sheikh

Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, Ridy Sheikh’s journey in dance began at the age of five with Bangladeshi folk dance. Her training encompassed diverse styles such as hip-hop, jazz-funk, waacking, Indian folk dances, semi-classical fusions of Bharatnatyam and Kathak, and various European dance forms. This extensive background contributed to her versatility as a performer and choreographer. In 2012, she participated in the Ukrainian version of ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ reaching the Top 100 before a knee injury necessitated a two-year break. She made a return to competitive dance in 2014, reaching the Top 50 in the Russian version of ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’

Her career continued to develop with a focus on both performance and choreography. In 2016, Ridy Sheikh achieved national recognition in Bangladesh by becoming the champion of ‘Mangolee Channel i Shera Nachiye’ in its third season. Following this success, she appeared on the Indian dance reality show ‘Dance Plus’ in 2017, where her performances garnered international appreciation. Professionally, she established ‘Shapla,’ her own dance group in Russia in 2014, which has since won multiple awards. Her entrepreneurial ventures also include owning ‘Gemini by Ridy Sheikh,’ a fashion brand, since May 2022 and co-founding Ridy Sheikh Starbase Dance Studio in March 2023. She was also recognized as a 2023 winner in ‘Culture’ by bti Stellar Women.

Despite spending much of her early life in Russia, Ridy Sheikh has consistently sought to connect with her Bangladeshi roots, eventually residing in Dhaka. She actively engages with the evolving dance landscape in Bangladesh, aiming to challenge social stigmas surrounding dance as a profession. With a significant presence on her official YouTube Channel, she continues to inspire a broad audience. Her aspirations include opening a dance school that provides scholarship packages for talented, unrecognized dancers, further contributing to the development of dance.”