Maleni Chaitoo, a native New Yorker from Chelsea, was born into a family of Trinidad and Tobago immigrants, exposing her to a rich cultural heritage blending Indian and British-Caribbean traditions.
At the tender age of two and a half, Maleni was captivated by a ballet performance at her older sister's recital, sparking a lifelong passion for the performing arts. Despite her mother's initial skepticism due to her deafness, a ballet teacher encouraged her to pursue dancing, and she eventually became a front-row student in her class.
Maleni's early involvement in theatrical plays and dance performances at school led to her studying various dance styles, including tap, modern, and jazz, at the Hudson Guild Theater Arts After School Program and the National Institute of Dance. By the age of eight, she had already taken on the leading role of Dorothy in her school's production of The Wizard of Oz, followed by Tinkerbell in Peter Pan at age nine.
At age eleven, Maleni wrote and directed her school's production of Pee Wee Goes to the Head of Class, marking the beginning of her foray into directing, acting, and production. Her involvement in the performing arts continued to flourish throughout her high school years, where she spent a summer at Gallaudet University studying performing arts and Native American culture in the Young Scholars Program.
Maleni's talent earned her accolades, including second runner-up and recognition for her performance in the National Association of the Deaf Miss Junior Pageant. In her senior year, she played the leading role of Lucy in her school's production of The Invisible Friend, receiving the high school senior theatre arts award.
In college, Maleni received a special recognition award for her role as the Minstrel in her university's production of The Price and the Pauper. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Gallaudet University.
Beyond her passion for theatre, Maleni has explored various professional contexts, including business, technology, media, art, and politics, allowing her to develop versatility and adaptability in her performances. Her multifaceted experiences have enabled her to take on diverse roles and seize numerous opportunities in the performing arts.
