“My Name Is Andrea Pulikkottil”: Writing India’s First Chapter in WDSF Solo Latin
As DanceSport continues to expand its global reach, new stories are emerging from countries where the discipline is still developing its competitive footprint. One of those stories comes from India, where Andrea Pulikkottil has become the first Indian woman to compete in the WDSF Solo Latin category, marking a significant milestone not only in her personal journey, but also in the visibility of DanceSport in her country.
Born in Thrissur, Kerala, a region known for its rich cultural heritage and traditional festivals, Andrea’s path into DanceSport began far from a structured competitive environment. With limited exposure to Standard dance locally, her early journey was defined by curiosity, self-discovery, and a growing determination to pursue movement as both an art form and a discipline.
Today, alongside her career as a DanceSport athlete, Andrea also works as a dance and expressive arts therapy practitioner, exploring the intersection between movement, psychology, emotional expression, and human connection. Her perspective on DanceSport extends beyond competition, focusing equally on its educational, therapeutic, and developmental potential.
Ahead of her international appearances in the WDSF circuit, we spoke with Andrea Pulikkottil about her journey, the challenges of building a DanceSport career in India, and what this milestone represents for her and the wider community.
“I knew I wanted to dance that way too”
To begin, could you tell us a little about yourself and where you are from in India?
“My name is Andrea Pulikkottil. I am a DanceSport athlete as well as a dance and expressive arts therapy practitioner. I deeply love dance, music, nature, and art in all its forms.
I come from Thrissur in Kerala, a southern state of India that is well known for its rich culture and festivals. Growing up in a place where International Standard and Latin DanceSport styles are still relatively unfamiliar, pursuing this path was not easy at all. There were very few people who truly understood the sport or the level of dedication it requires."
But over time, that challenge became part of my purpose.
Andrea explains that her early fascination with DanceSport began through watching international DanceSport performances and television shows such as Dancing with the Stars, followed by countless hours of online videos and tutorials.
Somewhere deep inside, I knew I wanted to dance that way too. I did not know how, when, or where it would happen, but I knew I had to leave my comfort zone.
After years of persistence, she began formal training in Latin dance in 2015, later moving to larger cities in India such as Mumbai in search of more structured opportunities. Her competitive journey began in 2017, although at the time Solo Latin was still a developing category with limited recognition.
Building a path without a system
Andrea’s progression in DanceSport was shaped by determination and structural challenges. With limited access to established training environments and competitive pathways in India, much of her development required self-direction and adaptation.
“One of the biggest difficulties was growing in a space where many people did not really understand the sport. "There were very few clear pathways, and many times it felt like I was trying to build the path while simultaneously walking it."
A turning point came during the COVID-19 period, when online training opportunities allowed her to connect with international coaches and methodologies, including sessions with professional coach Anastasia Selivanova.
This eventually led to a decisive step in 2021, when Andrea moved to Moscow with the support of her mother to pursue more advanced training. However, global circumstances and financial challenges forced her return to India shortly after.
Despite setbacks, she continued her academic and DanceSport development, balancing both her Master’s studies and international training experiences.
“Sometimes you have to keep walking so the next person can run”
What challenges have you faced along the way, and how have they shaped you?
“I constantly felt like I was running against time because I started this journey later than many of my fellow competitors. In DanceSport, progress takes time, and sometimes it felt like I had too little of it.
These experiences taught me resilience and responsibility. I realised that I had to learn how to guide myself, to use whatever resources I had instead of waiting for perfect conditions.”
Andrea also reflects on the broader responsibility she feels toward the next generation of dancers in India.
“Today, I feel that many of us in Indian DanceSport are walking a path not just for ourselves, but for the next generation as well. Sometimes you have to keep walking so that the next person can eventually run.”
A historic milestone for Indian DanceSport
You have made history as the first Indian woman to compete in WDSF Solo Latin. What does this mean to you?
Andrea describes this milestone not as a single moment, but as the result of years of persistence, community support, and collective belief.
After qualifying for a WDSF World Cup Adult Solo Latin in Sarajevo last year, financial and logistical challenges prevented her participation. However, her students and community initiated a crowdfunding effort to support her journey, a reflection, she says, of the growing ecosystem around her work.
Although that specific competition did not ultimately take place due to administrative circumstances, Andrea’s international journey continued, including her participation at events such as the recently Bailando Open Championship in Johor Bahru.
I finally felt like I was standing on the competition floor I had dreamed about for so many years. In a way, it is addictive, once you experience that energy, it makes you want to keep returning.
The state of DanceSport in India
Andrea also highlights the current development phase of DanceSport in India, particularly for women.
While India has been a member of the international DanceSport structure through Amateur DanceSport Federation of India, she notes that consistent long-term athlete development systems are still evolving.
“I believe Standard and Latin dances in India have developed in different waves, but one of the biggest challenges has been continuity and structured knowledge transfer between generations.”
She also points to the growing opportunity created by Solo disciplines, which are helping to expand participation pathways, particularly for women.
“The growing recognition of Solo events is creating new pathways for women to participate competitively without being completely dependent on finding the right partner.”
Dance beyond competition
For Andrea, DanceSport extends far beyond competition.
“Movement and dance are among the most primal and authentic forms of human expression. DanceSport has also transformed the way I connect with people and understand emotion, presence, and communication without words.”
Her work in expressive arts therapy has further deepened this perspective, linking performance with emotional awareness and personal development.
Looking ahead
Andrea’s goals within WDSF Solo Latin are both personal and collective, focused on continuous improvement as an athlete, while also contributing to the development of DanceSport in India.
Your beginning does not define your ending. Keep learning, keep showing up, and stay connected to the reason you started in the first place.
She hopes her journey will help create more visibility and opportunity for young dancers in India who aspire to compete internationally.
Andrea Pulikkottil’s journey reflects a broader evolution within DanceSport, one that extends beyond established centres and into new regions where the sport is still finding its structure and identity. Her path illustrates the challenges and possibilities of building an international athletic career from emerging environments, while also highlighting the growing global reach of WDSF disciplines such as Solo Latin.
Shawn Tay, WDSF President, commented:
Andrea’s journey highlights what DanceSport represents at its core, dedication, resilience, and the ability of the sport to connect and inspire athletes across very different backgrounds. Her participation in WDSF Solo Latin reflects the evolving landscape of DanceSport, where new regions are increasingly contributing to the growth and diversity of our global community.
As DanceSport continues to grow internationally, stories like Andrea Pulikkottil’s highlight the importance of access, development, and representation, and the athletes who are helping to shape the next chapter of our sport.
