TAAL INSTITUTE OF PERFORMING ARTS
About Taal Institute
​Ms. Madhavi Mehta established Taal Institute of Performing Arts with a simple vision—to create and develop interest for classical dance in the hearts of children. For years, Taal has been transforming that interest into a passion that lasts a lifetime. Primarily based out of South Brunswick, NJ, Taal Institute offers a variety of different dance forms, ranging from Indo-American fusion to Latin styles. (For more information on classes offered, click here.) With a wide range in age groups, classes are offered for students of 5 years to 55 years of age. Taal is blessed and honored to have many beautiful, passionate students engaging themselves in various forms of dance.
About Our Instructors
Smt. Madhavi Mehta
Madhavi Mehta is a disciple of guru Smt. Meha Thakore from Ahmedabad. She started her dance training at a very young age under the guidance and tutelage of her guru Mrs. Meha Thakore at Swarmudra Dance studio. She continued learning for the next ten years to master the art. She then went on to become an assistant teacher to her guru, sharing her knowledge and art with the same dedication and passion. Ms. Mehta, today continues to learn from her teacher Mr. Naidu in Mumbai. She is fortunate to work with world renowned musicians such as Sri Saktivel Murganandan, Sri Gomathy Nayagam, Sri Suniel Kumar and Sri Sigamani. Ms. Madhavi Mehta has serve as Judge in many dance competitions including Dance pe chance, Nach Mayuri and Sri Venkateshwar temple dance and Music competitions. She has also been trained in Flamenco style dancing in Seville, Spain.
Dhruv
A Rutgers Graduate with over 10 years of dancing and teaching experience, Dhruv has had extensive training in Bollywood, Hip Hop, and Bhangra dance styles. With a teaching style that focuses on technique and expression, Dhruv's classes are instructionally engaging and enjoyable.
Bindi
Bindi began her classical training at the age of 7 with Taal Institute, and fell in love with learning Bharatanatyam. She also began teaching Bharatanatyam at the age of 13 to students ages 5+. Bindi continued to teach dance until she attended college at New Jersey Institute of Technology. After completing her B.S. in Management Information Systems, she returned to Taal Institute to continue her training and teaching. She is excited and passionate to continue her journey at Taal and expand to teaching students of all ages in Bharatanatyam and Bollywood.
Sharika
Sharika began training in different forms of dance from the age of five, ranging from Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Contemporary and Bollywood. Dance has always been a very important aspect in her life that’s allowed her to channel, drive and hone her creative expression and identity. With a particular love for Kathak, her most prominent style infuses semi-classical with contemporary. Alongside teaching and learning dance, she currently works in healthcare PR, is pursuing a masters in Health Communication from Boston University, and enjoys writing, painting and traveling.
Meghana
Meghana is a freshman at Monroe Township High School. She’s been dancing at Taal for 6 years and started training in Bharatanatyam when she was 9 years old. She’s very passionate about dance and loves to teach others and share her passion. Meghana is also trained in Bollywood and Bhangra and has been on the Taal Institute dream team for 3 years.
Riya
Riya has been dancing at Taal Institute for the past 7 years. She mainly does Bharatanatyam and Bollywood dance, but enjoys expanding her knowledge to many other dance forms. Riya continuously shows her passion for dance, whether it is in the form of recording her own dance videos or, being a part of the school Bharatanatyam and Bollywood team. Not only is Riya a dancer, but also a Hindustani-classical singer, and dedicated student at SBHS. She has enjoyed learning from each and every one of the instructors, and is a proud member of the Taal family.
Saanvi
Saanvi is a Bharatanatyam and former Bollywood student from Taal Institute of Performing Arts. Saanvi started volunteering at the Taal Institute in 2021, by assisting and teaching younger children. She is currently in her 8th year of learning Bharatanatyam. Saanvi consistently shows her talents by dancing at different events. Along with dancing, Saanvi enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending time with her family, as well as being devoted high school student at South Brunswick High School. At the studio, she has a great relationship with the instructors, enjoys working alongside them. Saanvi is a talented and dancer and an integral part of Taal Institute.
Previous Intructors
Geatali
Geatali began her dance training at the age of 5, and fell in love with the art learning the styles of Bharatanatyam and semi-classical. Since then she has studied ballet, Bollywood, West African, modern, and hip hop and continues to find ways to expand her dance horizons. Geatali spent two of her collegiate years on the Penn State JaDhoom fusion team as a captain and one year on Penn State Natya. She has been teaching dance for about 7 years, and is also currently a company member of Exodus Artistry. She continues her passion for dancing by seizing every dance opportunity possible.
Brian
After studying martial arts for about 9 years, Brian (aka Blaze) of Harrisburg PA, took what he thought was a break from martial arts to explore an interest in dance. He never looked back again. Brian became enamored by the b-boy culture in his hometown. It was full of dancers, talent and potential but the scene died down with nobody to teach him and no money or opportunities. That didn't stop Brian, he instead spent hours everyday studying on YouTube with diligent training till he was noticed by E.Moncell Durden who took him under his wings and then introduced to the Hood Lockers who further molded him into the dance he is today. Through his perseverance he has had the opportunity to be a Jacob's Pillow alumnae, a member of the well known dance company, Hood Nation and the thought provoking dance company, Lakaï Dance Theatre under the tutelage of McKersin Previlus. Then later joining AfroFunk in New York city, and then Rennie Harris Rhaw in Philadelphia.
Anjali
Anjali first started dancing 19 years ago. She began with some Bharatanatyam and trained in semi classical fusion styles, as well as a few years of ballet. She has performed in several big shows including Naya Andaaz four times and the Unforgettables Tour. Now resuming her Bharatanatyam training with Taal Institute, she also continues to dance on her own and with friends to create interesting and engaging fusion pieces, and hopes to keep dancing the rest of her life!
Olivia
A native of New Jersey, Olivia is a professional freelance artist in the NJ/ NYC area. Currently, she dances with Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theatre under the direction of Gabriel Chajnik and most recently guested with the McCarter Theater Opera under Graham Lustig. In May of 2018, Olivia graduated magna cum laude from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program. While in New York, she danced with Ballet Hispanico's second company, BHdos, premiering works at the historic Apollo Theater. She also had the opportunity to dance alongside the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in the company's Spirit Gala at Lincoln Center. Olivia has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Talley Beatty, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Eduardo Vilaro, and Darrell Moultrie to name a few.
Nisha
Nisha has been dancing with Taal Institute for the previous 6 years. This year was her first year teaching, and she did an excellent job of not only educating the students, but also making sure they had a fun time learning. She found her passion for dance as well as sharing her love for dance with others.
Neha
Taal Institute has been Neha's outlet for creativity for the last 6 years. Through dance she has gained confidence and so many life skills that have molded her into the person she is today.
Mansi
Mansi started dancing when she was three years old. Along with having extensive training in Bharatanatyam for the last eight years, she has also been trained in hip hop, Bollywood, bhangra, and contemporary. Mansi has also been learning Hindustani classical music for the last five years and piano for the last three years. With her extensive knowledge and experience in all different kinds of dance, Mansi strives to practice and perfect her technique, and will continue to learn many other styles. Mansi performed her Arangetram with Taal Institute and Guru Madhavi Mehta in 2021.