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JUNOON IS A FOUNDATION COMMITTED TO BUILDING AN AWARENESS AND DIFFUSION OF CLASSICAL DANCE IN INDIA AND GLOBALLY

We pioneer Classical Arts and Movement initiatives all over the world, with partners, patrons and professionals, to benefit and empower the socio-economically disadvantaged and marginalized communities with a knowledge, understanding and practice of the Arts.

OUR JUNOON

Junoon was launched on the 7th of September, 2021 after a year and a half of groundwork begun in April 2020.

September '21

Our Primary offshoot - Rural Outreach, Dhasa, Gujarat, India, goes live.

June '22

The Junoon Gurukul launches at The Avasara Academy, Pune.

January '23

Our second Rural Outreach in Angalakuppam, Tamil Nadu goes live in partnership with Sharana, a social and developmental organization in Pondicherry, India.

April '23

Season One of The Junoon Arts Fellowship begins at BDSIS, India.

June '23

The Second year of our Artistic Residency continues to operate The Junoon Gurukul out of the Avasara Academy, Pune, India.

September '23

Our Rural Outreach inducts the Women of Dhasa into Classical Movement and Conditioning, led by our leader batch of Girls.

November '23

Our first ever Artistic Fitness endeavour begins in partnership with The Fit Bear Cave Studio, Mumbai, India.

Dec '23

Our first presentation of Indian Classical Dance Practice and Theory before a Children's Arts Centre named 'Issikent' in Izmir, Turkey.

January '24

Season Two of The Junoon Arts Fellowship kicks off at BDSIS, India.

February '24

The first ever Junoon Arts Cross Curricular Workshop is held at DSB, India.

March '24

The Junoon Publications' Exploration begins with Nikita Rathod.

April '24

Season Three on the Junoon Arts Fellowship goes underway at BDSIS, India.

May '24

Our partnership with DanceAbility Azerbaijan (DAA) begins with an Artistic Residency in Baku, Azerbaijan.

June '24

The beginning of our cultural partnership with BSB Arts, Izmir to curate and present performances, workshops and practice mechanisms of Indian Classical Dance intertwined with Sufi, Turkish and Balletic concepts, training, technique and choreography.

July '24

The first round of The Junoon Publications' Exploration completes with Nikita Rathod's compilation of research, analysis reflections.

July '24

Our first crowdfunding campaigns go live as infrastructural and filming APPEALS for our Rural Outreach.

August '24

Junoon kicks off its "FOOTSTEPS TO FREEDOM" program at the Raksha Foundation, Mumbai

Aug/Sept '24

Aug/Sept '24 - Junoon ran it's first intensive at its Second Rural Outreach in Angalakuppam, Tamil Nadu, in partnership with Sharana. Our program runs at their social centre in Pondicherry as well.

Sept '24

For the very first time, Boys from in and around the village of Gopalgram, aged 11-16 have been inducted into our Rural Outreach in Dhasa, Gujarat, taking our grand total of beneficiaries up to 111 kids and Women.

Sept '24

The Junoon Arts Empowerment Program, in association with the Dagger Division of the Indian Army, Baramulla, Kashmir, kicks off with the first batch of young Girls in the region.

Sept '24

Our Girls on The Junoon Arts Empowerment Program performed Classical Dance for the very first time in a Junoon show at the Thimayya Auditorium in Baramulla, Kashmir, attended by dignitaries of the Army and civilians alike.

Oct '24

Junoon receives its accreditation from Guru Dr. Rathna Kumar, the Founder and Director of the Anjali Centre for Performing Arts in Houston, Texas.

Oct '24

The Junoon Methodology is presented at The Rice University at Prof. Dr. Rathna Kumar's credit course session along with a demonstrative performance for student dancers.

Nov '24

Our second Arts arena is opened in Dhasa, Gujarat. More space for more emerging artists to practice and perform in the region!

January 25

Our first academy is fully operational in Dhasa, Gujarat, for the Girls, Boys and Women of the region and beyond.

MYTHILI ZATAKIA

FOUNDER-DIRECTOR

A passionate Classical Dancer by profession Mythili, is the visionary behind JUNOON.

After pursuing a formal Dance education in Classical Ballet at Danceworks, London and Bharata Natyam under Dr. Rathna Kumar at the Anjali Centre for Performing Arts in Houston, Texas, she has set out to spread the art form to everyone irrespective of privilege or age.

Mythili is currently inducted as a professional at Danceworks, London and being mentored simultaneously by an erstwhile choreographer of the Royal Opera House, England as well as training on pure technique and refinement with Sleek Technique, an extension operated by Soloist of The Birmingham Royal Ballet, Ms. Victoria Marr and Ms. Flik Swan. She is also a Mentee of Ms. Burcu Surmeli, the Artistic Director of the Turkish State Ballet. Her Artistic Residency with the famed DanceAbility®️ Azerbaijan allows her to extend Classical Movement to the differently abled, aged and wounded soldiers in that region and partner in a cultural exchange that involves sharing movement and dance methodology across borders.

By embodying the Art form at the highest height and training by example, she hopes to enable an awareness and diffusion of the Classical Arts.

She is determined to build a formal Dance education system in India, on par with International standards, and thereby further the Classical Arts.

Our Panel

PRAVALI VANGETI

Chief Mentor, Social Impact, Strategy and Expansion

Pravali Vangeti is a cultural professional working predominantly in international cultural relati...

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DINANATH MAURYA

Sports Program Director

An accomplished long jump athlete and decathlete who has made it to several international competi...

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JAY MAURYA

Sports Program Advisor

An accomplished athlete, having competed at the Indian Nationals in the 400m track and field even...

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HETAL KACHA

SANSKRIT CO-ORDINATOR, RESEARCHER AND ADVISOR

With a Master’s in Sanskrit and Education, Hetal is committed to furthering a lost language...

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NINA ROBIN

ARTISTIC ADVISOR AND PHOTOGRAPHER

Currently enrolled in a Ph.D. in France in Design & Photography in Virtual Reality, Nina has ...

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ZEBA KHAN

CREATIVE SYNERGY AND INNOVATION ADVISOR

As an accomplished art educator, Ms. Khan’s journey has been one of continuous self-discove...

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ANUSHA KAUL DATTA

Film Documentation and Visual Research Advisor

Anusha Kaul Datta is a Mumbai based filmmaker, documentary practitioner and researcher who focuse...

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MAAHI SHAH

Multi-Media Strategist and Advisor

“In the end we all become stories.” — Margaret Atwood.

Maahi Shah is a lover of stor...

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RAMAKANT YADAV

Technology and Presentation Advisor

Ramakant has been a close companion of Junoon ever since the branding and our online presence was...

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OM ZAJAM

Indian Classical Music Advisor

Having achieved a Sangeet Visharad in Tabla and Harmonium, a Bachelor of Arts in English Literatu...

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ANISHKA PARASWANI

Visual Art Design Advisor

A passionate artist and interior designer dedicated to transforming spaces and creating captivati...

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