Dhruvika Solanki

Growing up in Morgantown, West Virginia, I discovered two passions that seemed worlds apart: competitive hip-hop dancing and computer programming. But as I dove deeper into both, I realized they share a profound connection - both require understanding patterns, mastering sequences, and expressing creativity through structured movements.

This realization sparked the idea for CypherCodes. I started teaching neighborhood kids how to code by relating programming concepts to dance moves. Loops became repeated choreography sequences. Conditionals became dance battles with "if-then" decisions. Functions became signature moves you could call again and again.

What began as informal sessions in my community has grown into a global initiative. Through workshops, our book "Cody's Dance Off," and online resources, we're making coding accessible to K-12 students around the world - from West Virginia to India, Bangladesh to Ghana.

My research at WVU's AI+Health Lab on cardiac arrhythmia classification taught me how technology can save lives. My dance performances taught me how movement can inspire souls. CypherCodes is where these worlds collide - using the joy of creative expression to unlock the power of programming.