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Taalim Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides quality performing arts and educational experiences with strong roots in the Indian classical music tradition.
By adapting ancient thoughts that are still relevant to modern society and using music as a stabilizing force, the Taalim Foundation seeks to cultivate an engaged community that has a better understanding of both the arts and life itself. Furthermore, it is a completely secular organization that embraces the universal truths evident in all faiths, philosophies, and cultures.
Taalim Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides quality performing arts and educational experiences with strong roots in the Indian classical music tradition.
By adapting ancient thoughts that are still relevant to modern society and using music as a stabilizing force, the Taalim Foundation seeks to cultivate an engaged community that has a better understanding of both the arts and life itself. Furthermore, it is a completely secular organization that embraces the universal truths evident in all faiths, philosophies, and cultures.
Taalim Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides quality performing arts and educational experiences with strong roots in the Indian classical music tradition.
By adapting ancient thoughts that are still relevant to modern society and using music as a stabilizing force, the Taalim Foundation seeks to cultivate an engaged community that has a better understanding of both the arts and life itself. Furthermore, it is a completely secular organization that embraces the universal truths evident in all faiths, philosophies, and cultures.
Become a part of Taalim Foundation’s mission by donation or volunteering your skills. All donations are fully tax deductible and your hours spent volunteering can be recognized with an official President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Location:
15 Chokeberry Dr, Edison, NJ 08837, USA
Mail:
2021-2022 Taalim foundation Inc. All rights reserved
Guruji Pandit Divyang Vakil
Executive Board
Pandit Divyang Vakil (known as Guruji, or “respected teacher”) is a Tabla and rhythm guru renowned for his teaching excellence. In his expansive teaching career of over 43 years, he has produced innumerable music professionals.
After performing for many years with stalwarts of Indian classical music and dance, he gave up his performing career to dedicate himself to his teaching and spiritual commitments. Currently Guruji Pandit Divyang Vakil is conducting extensive rhythm training for Kathak dancers across the globe. His Taalvidya programs for Kathak dancers aim at providing a deeper understanding of the rhythmic patterns around which the artform revolves, giving an insight into the fundamental structure of the art which opens up many new possibilities for an artist to explore.
Mike Lukshis
Executive Board
Mike Lukshis is a classical tabla soloist and accompanist who is grounded in the Delhi and Ajrada gharanas of tabla playing. He is a manager and faculty with the Taalim School of Indian Music as well as President of the Taalim Foundation and Board of Trustee with Anga Kala Dance Company.
As a performer and educator, he has toured extensively around North America and India as both a soloist and in various ensembles. For over 15 years Mike has had the rare opportunity to live and study exclusively with renowned tabla composer and Guru, Pandit Divyang Vakil, in an intimate Gurukul style of training.
Kunal Dave
Executive Board
Senior Vice President at citi.
Jin Won
Executive Board
Praised by the NY Times as “an exuberant dancer whose musicality transform[s] her dancing into something primal," dancer, percussionist and artistic director of Pradhanica Dance and Music Company, Jin Won is a one-of-a-kind artist in the field of Indian performing arts who explores the sonic and visual possibilities of rhythm through dance and music.
An accomplished Kathak dancer and tabla player of South Korean origin, she spent over 15 years in India training in Indian classical percussion and dance under the tutelage of Pandit Divyang Vakil and Smt. Shubha Desai, respectively. During these artistically formative years, Jin began working with renowned Indian choreographers, established herself as a solo dancer, and performed internationally in countries such as Belgium, Canada, and Korea.
Rushi Vakil
Executive Board
Having grown up in a musical family, for Rushi (son of Pandit Divyang Vakil), music runs in his blood. With formal training in Indian classical percussion for over 30 years and teaching himself keyboard for over 15 years, he has a great understanding of both Indian and World music.
He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays the tabla, keyboards, harmonica, Cajon, dumbek, udu, and accordion with significant proficiency. For over a decade, he has been professionally composing and producing original music for various domestic and international projects. He has also been creating original and collaborative music with many renowned musicians around the world.. His work includes composing and directing music for many dramas, short films, animations, commercials, movies, and games.
As a performer, he travels with his groups “Talavya” and “Taan” to North American, European and East Asian countries on a regular basis and performs at some of the most prestigious venues. As a teacher, Rushi has been teaching master classes at various universities and academic institutions such as NYU, Mercer University, Ohio University, Denver School of music, Queen's University, Mount Allison University to name a few. He heads Rhythms Riders Music Institute in India where he has been teaching hundreds of students of the new generation over the years.
Dr Om Sharma
Advisory Board
Dr. Om Sharma, MD is an Internal Medicine Specialist in Easton, PA and has over 45 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from All India Inst Med Scis in 1977. He is affiliated with medical facilities such as Saint Luke's Warren Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital - Bethlehem Campus.
Susan Winkler
Advisory Board
Susan Winkler is a graduate of Rutgers College, majoring in Psychology after which she gained certification as an elementary school teacher (K-8). She is currently a Vice President for SAP Consulting Services in the Procurement/Supply Chain Line of Business, who works with Fortune 500 customers to achieve successful enterprise transformations.
Susan has been studying yoga for over 20 years, gaining her teaching certification through the 700-hour teacher-training program at Soma Centre in 2000. She continued her studies under the tutelage of Amita Shankar, a renowned yoga teacher from The Yoga Institute in Mumbai.
Susan owned a yoga studio, Yoga Vayu, in downtown New Brunswick from 2002 – 2009 which was focused on her belief in the holistic approach to health and well-being through activities that lift the soul and allow individuals to tune into their bodies and their creative self, including yoga, dance, drumming, massage, Reiki, Ayurvedic consultations and more. She has just opened a new wellness center, Soma Vayu Garden, in Highland Park, NJ in October 2022. Sue has been studying with Guruji Divyang Vakil for over 20 years, diving into the understanding of the true soul, with a focus on death and dying.
Will Calhoun
Advisory Board
Will Calhoun, the widely acclaimed drummer from the Bronx, New York, graduated from the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Where he received a Bachelor's degree in Music Production and engineering and was the recipient of the prestigious Buddy Rich Jazz Masters Award for outstanding performance by a drummer. Will is also a two time Grammy winner with the genre bending iconic Rock band LIVING COLOUR.
Antara Datta
Advisory Board
Antara Datta started learning Kathak at the tender age of five from Srimati Laxmi Bannerjee in Kolkata, India. She holds a double diploma in Kathak from the Bangiya Sangeet Parishad in Kolkata and the Prayag Sangeet Samiti in Allahabad, India.
She received advanced training in the Lucknow gharana of Kathak from “Sringar Mani“ Srimati Anuradha Nag (a senior disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj and the artistic director of the Tarangini School of dance, San Jose, California). To hone her skills further Antara Datta has also received training from Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj and Vidushi Saswati Sen, during her annual trips to India at Kalashram, New Delhi.
In addition, she regularly visits Mahagami (a dance Gurukul in Aurangabad, India) to receive intensive training from Guru Parwati Dutta. Antara receives Taal Vidya training from Guruji, Pandit Divvang Vakil. Antara has performed extensively in both India and abroad and is the Artistic Director of Anga Kala Kathak Academy and Anga Kala Dance Company. She also serves as the President of Arts Without Borders.
