Our Gurus

Pandit Sanju Sahai – Tabla

Sanju Sahai (also known as Vishnu Sahai) , is currently one of the finest and most sought after Tabla players of his generation. Belonging to the Benares Gharana (lineage) and being the 6th generation of Tabla players in the lineage, he began playing at an early age. Being a child prodigy, he gave his first Tabla solo performance at a major festival in Benares at the tender age of 9. He gained his Bachelor of Music at the age of 13 and Master of Music at 18 years of age.

A phenomenal and outstanding Tabla player, he is well known for mesmerising and captivating his audience with his power, virtuosity and complete spontaneity.

 His meteoric rise in popularity in the field of traditional Indian Classical music has led Sanju to regularly collaborate with different genres such as Jazz, Egyptian, Flamenco, Opera, Western Classical, hip hop, folk, blues music and the world of contemporary music and dance. This makes him an imaginative and sensitive musician, having an elegant and poignant style of his own.

 Sanju is an international artist and performs all over the UK, India, Europe, Middle East, USA, Australasia and the far East. He has accompanied many of India’s legendary musicians and dancers such as: Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia (bansuri), Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Pandit Bhajan Sapori (santoor), Ustad Vilayat Khan Saheb, Ustaad Imrat Khan Saheb, Ustaad Shahid Parvez, Pandit Kartik Kumar and Pandit Manilal Nag (sitar), Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (mohan veena), Pandit Birju Maharaj, Natraj Gopi Krishna and Smt Sitara Devi (Kathak), Ustaad Aasheesh Khan and Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan (sarod), Pandit Jasraj, Smt Girija Devi, Pandits Rajan and Sajan Misra, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty and Smt Veena Sahasrabuddhe (vocal) Ustaad Sultan Khan and Pandit Ramesh Misra (sarangi), Kala Ramnath (violin) and maestro Umyalpuram Shivraman (mridangam) to name but a few.

Pandit Sanju Sahai will be conducting the tabla workshops during the retreat

Sunanda Sharma – Vocals

Sunanda, who blossomed under the rigorous training of her Guru, Smt Girija Devi,  has evolved musically into an artist with substance, which is evident in the many solo performances, lecdems, workshops and as visiting teacher in Universities at home and abroad. Sunanda enjoys the privilege of being a visiting teacher at SOAS, University and Royal Academy of Music in London since 2000. She has performed at prestigious and noteworthy concerts such as Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior and the Baba Hariwallabh Sangeet Sammelan in Jallandhar and also has to her credit some unique “jugalbandis” which includes one with the legendary sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, well-known Kathak dancer Shashwati Sen and others.

Though her forte lies in Khayal, Tappa, Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Sunanda has expanded her talent and repertoire that includes Punjabi folk, Sufi and other devotional styles. The beauty of Sunanda’s singing lies in her demonstrating and bringing to fore the depth and beauty of her renditions, which immediately builds a rapport with her audiences.

Sunanda Sharma will be conducting the Vocal workshops during the retreat

Imran Khan – Sitar

 

Hailing from the Sikar Gharana, he is a ninth generation musician from a lineage of court musicians that have preserved Indian Classical music as a family tradition. Training from the age of 6 from his grandfather, the sarangi player and vocalist late Ustad Gulab Khan, he continued his sitar training with his father, Ustad Niyaz Khan and his uncle Padma Bhushan Ustad Sultan Khan

Years of training, performances and collaborations have led to a depth of sound in Imran’s sitar playing that, although loyal to the centuries-old tradition of Hindustani Classical music, he is able to compose a stunningly resonant contemporary style of sitar that compliments and enhances musical traditions from all parts of the world. Clarity of sound, deftness of stroke and pitch-perfect tonal qualities are the hallmark of his music.

Imran Khan will be conducting the Sitar and Instrumental workshops during the retreat.

Shinjini Kulkarni – Kathak

Shinjini Kulkarni, the granddaughter and student of the prolific Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj, is a rising star in the scene of Classical Dance in India. Her graceful style yet exuberant footwork have gained her accolades like ‘Nritya Shiromani’ and first class diplomas in dance from Prayag Samiti.

Her repertoire of live performances includes traditional solo presentations in prestigious festivals like International KhajurahoDance Festival, Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh, Varanasi and the Kalidas Samaroh which showcase her style in the Kalka-Bindadeen Gharana.  Besides this, Shinjini is part of pure Classical band ’LayaCurry’ and has also collaborated in comtemporary and fusion pieces with ’Beats and Pieces’ as well as performed for Indian Cinema demonstrating her range and ability in Dance.

She has shared the stage with the leading lights of the Indian Classical Music fraternity including Kathak exponent and grandfather Pandit Birju Maharaj, Kathak exponent Pandit Deepak Maharaj, musicians Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, Vidwan TH Vikku Vinayakram, Grammy Award winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan bhatt amongst others. A bright future has been paved for Shinjini due to her hard work and dedication for her love of dance, her love of Kathak.

We are pleased to have Shinjini Kulkarni who will teach Kathak Dance at Raaga Taala Retreat

Yoga Guru: Rachna Rankawat

 Rachna Rankawat, teaches both modern and ancient methods of Yoga and Pranayam (breathing exercises) and with her husband, Dr Ravikant Rankawat, she runs a Yoga Studio in Jodhpur. She is Yoga Guru to the Royal Family and has worked with many national level sports people as well as those just looking to develop and balance and flexibility for day-today life.

Through our Yoga sessions,  you will have the chance to connect with your inner self and experience the peaceful essence at the core of your soul. He will guide in meditation techniques that will give you a calm outlook for your whole day.

Rachna Rankawat will be conducting  Yoga and Meditation sessions at Raaga Taala Retreat

Bollywood Dance

Sunny Singh has been actively involved in Bollywood Film Industry , for over 14 years, He had worked in over 52 films and with many Bollywood’s and Hollywood stars. He has been heralded for his work towards building a cultural bridge between Europe and India through the art of Indian dances. Apart from participating in various TV show and cultural programmes, Sunny Singh has participated in many International Dance Festivals such as in Prague Czech Republic, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Roma and Venice Italy, Venezuela, Mexico and Colombia. Sunny launched his first musical ” India: the musical ” in 2009 in Madrid Spain in one of the biggest theatres in Spain and second in year 2010 ” Bollywood :
The Journey” Saint Petersburg, Russia.The musical is on International Tour at the moment in Europe and Latin America with a team of 20 members and more than 500 costumes.

Sunny Singh will be conducting Bollywood Dance sessions at Raaga Taala Retreat for the second time in 2021.