Title: Founder and Director
Company: SAMVED Exam Board of Indian Classical Dance & Music
Location: Somerset, New Jersey, United States
Archana A. Joglekar, founder and director at SAMVED Exam Board of Indian Classical Dance & Music, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Artists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in non-profits.
With four decades of experience to her credit, Ms. Joglekar has carved out a distinguished career in the field of classical dance and Indian culture. She currently excels as the founder and director of the SAMVED Exam Board of Indian Classical Dance & Music, a role she has held since 2011. In this capacity, she educates students and trains teachers across the country. Overseeing structured curriculums in classical Indian dance forms, vocal repertoire, drums, and musical instruments, she ensures compliance with curriculum standards. The board, affiliated with Madhyam USA, a non-profit charity organization she established in 2002 to promote Indian classical art forms in New Jersey and the Tri-state area, conducts exams twice a year for over 500 students on average. She is also the founder and president of Archana Arts LLC, established in 2001. She has also served as president of DNA Movies since 1996. Beyond her roles in education and administration, she has made her mark as a professional actor in India and writer.
Laying a solid foundation for her future success, Ms. Joglekar pursued an education at the University of Mumbai, earning a bachelor’s degree in commerce and a Bachelor of Laws. An accomplished artist, she enjoys drawing, painting, and playing musical instruments such as the keyboard. She is a trained classical singer and composer. In India, she worked as a professional actor and won several Best Actress awards. She also writes and directs television serials and is currently preparing for a movie direction. She choreographed and performed for Julia’s “Art and Ahimsa” project, which focused on nonviolence and art. She has conducted lectures and demonstrations at Princeton University for three consecutive years and taught her classical dance form at both Princeton and Duke Universities.
Ms. Joglekar’s involvement in her profession stems from her deep-rooted connection to her family’s legacy. She is the second generation to carry forward her mother’s work, who founded the academy in 1963 and served as a guru and mentor. Her most impressive achievements are the numerous awards and honors she has received in India and the United States. In the early 2000s, she was honored by the Democrats in New Jersey for her extensive cultural contributions to society, receiving an award from Governor Jon Corzine. Additionally, she was twice honored by the Consul General of India in New York for her cultural contributions.
Ms. Joglekar finds joy in using her knowledge of dance and music to help people. One defining moment in her career was when she had a student who had polio. The girl’s parents hesitated to enroll her, unsure if she would accept her as a student. The girl, only eight years old, needed special shoes with metal plates on both sides to support her legs. She provided her with exercises and massage techniques to help strengthen her legs. She also taught the girl’s mother how to massage her legs every night. After two years of practicing dance and exercises, the girl no longer needed the special shoes and could perform fast footwork with ankle belts.
Ms. Joglekar attributes her success to her innate artistic talent, exceptional communication skills, and business acumen. She also credits her celebrity status as an actor in India for providing her with the initial visibility necessary to bring classical art forms to people outside of her home country. She made it her mission to work from the grassroots level to educate newcomers and promote these essential cultural elements. While in India, she had taught only master-level students, but in her new location, she began teaching beginners. Over time, she has trained her faculty to the same high standards she adheres to, ensuring that the academy will continue to provide quality instruction long into the future.
Looking ahead, Ms. Joglekar wants to introduce classical art forms into the mainstream education system in the United States over the next five years. Her aim is to make these art forms accessible to everyone, regardless of their social status. She believes that music has the power to unite people beyond their differences in religion, class, skin color, or other factors. Her goal is to make this brilliant music and dance accessible to all and not confined to a particular community.
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