Our Team
Mallakhamb Maestros: Meet the Guardians of Our Vertical Artistry
Chinmay S Patankar
New Jersey – Rope Mallakhamb, Pole Mallakhamb
Chinmay S. Patankar is one of the founder member of Mallakhamb Federation USA. He is one of the national coaches in Rope and Pole Mallakhamb to the highest Level 6. He has been teaching in USA for last 3 years since the inception of Federation. He has been teaching in India since last 15 years.
As a player Chinmay S. Patankar as established multiple records. He invented multiple skills in Rope and Pole Mallakhamb. He has received highest possible award at that time in India in 2003. He stood as a winner in numerous National Championships and Inter University Championships.
Chinmay S. Patankar is a management consultant working for Banking and Financial Services firms He has completed MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode and Production Engineering from Pune University.
He has worked with Big 4 management
consulting / strategy advisory firms in
London, Tokyo, and New York.
Pradnya C Patankar
New Jersey – Rope Mallakhamb
Pradnya C. Patankar is one of the founder member of Mallakhamb Federation USA. She is one of the State coaches in Rope Mallakhamb to the highest Level 4. She has been teaching in USA for last 3 years since the inception of Federation. She has been teaching in India since last 15 years. She specializes teaching to kids below 10 years.
As a player Pradnya C Patankar as participated in multiple state level and national level championship. She managed multiple competitions and demonstrations. She participated in Inter University Championships.
Ruby Karen
California – Rope Mallakhamb
With a career spanning four decades, aerialist, dancer, choreographer and producer, Ruby Karen has thrived in the performing arts—theater, cinema, and music—while mastering various fitness disciplines. With roots in Manila, Ruby Karen’s training and success’ gave her the opportunity to globetrot through metropolises such as, Zurich, Tokyo, New York, Tel Aviv, Mumbai and Los Angeles to name a few. Her accomplishments include holding three world titles in dance, a guest performance on Fox’s hit primetime television show So You Think You Can Dance, an instructional lifts and tricks partnering DVD, authorship of the fitness program Aerial Dance Fitness and the certification program, International Aerial Teacher Training Program (IATTP), Teacher’s Alliance, festival competition – West Coast Aerial Arts Festival and performances and appearances in over twenty (20) countries. Ruby Karen has also received ostensible press coverage from respected publications across the US, Asia, and Europe.
After extensive travel performances and teachings, in 2007, Ruby Karen incorporated (and later was joined by husband, Luca Cecchini who is the organization’s in-house certified rigger):
The first aerial school in Orange County, CA namely, the Ruby Karen Project, Aerial and Performing Arts and its’ performing company, Orange County Aerial Arts and is recognized as one of Southern California’s premier aerial instruction and performance schools.
They produce and manage their commercial entertainment company, CIRCO ETEREO, specialized Aerial and Dance acts as well as Fabrication of Aerial and Ground apparatuses.
They also established and founded Aerial Arts America, a non-profit organization and the only one in Southern California that embodies standardization programs such as the Aerial Arts Teacher Certification and the West Coast Aerial Arts Festival, and recently launched the 3rd program of AAA – the scholarship program.
They were featured in many high-end publications, online video shows and even was featured in KTLA – Allie MacKay’s program – June 2013.
Dheen Jayadevan
New Jersey – Pole Mallakhamb, Rope Mallakhamb
Dheen Jayadevan is a Student and Young Coach of Mallakhamb Federation of USA. He coaches levels 1 to 4 and has been doing so for 1 year.
As a player, He has performed in the second Mallakhamb World Championship and has gotten a bronze medal in pole short sets, fourth place in overall boys pole, and silver in the team championship representing the USA. He has been to many demonstrations around the world. This includes Howdy Modi in Texas, Houston and Ganesh Utsav in Ottawa. During his Germany tour, he performed in Munich, Dusseldorf, and Frankfurt to establish a new center in Munich. He also performed in many events in New york and New Jersey. Because of Mallakhamb, he has been able to wrestle in school and get second and third in the Greater Middlesex County tournament.
Mrunal Patil
New Jersey – Pole Mallakhamb, Rope Mallakhamb
Mrunal Patil is a Student and Young Coach of Mallakhamb Federation of USA. Shee coaches levels 1 to 4 and has been doing so for 1 year.
As a player, She has performed in the second Mallakhamb World Championship and has won a silver medal in the team championship representing the USA. She has been to many demonstrations in US and around the world. This includes recently one in Ganesh Utsav in Ottawa for a purpose of establishing a new center in Ottawa. she also performed in many events in New york and New Jersey. Because of Mallakhamb, she has been able to wrestle in school and was the captain of co-ed wrestling team in Woodrow Wilson Middle school in her 8th Grade. Mallakhamb also helped her in Roller skating in pre covid period to win few tournaments.
Mandar Patil
New Jersey – Pole Mallakhamb, Rope Mallakhamb
Mandar Patil is one of the Coach and Director of Mallakhamb Federation USA. He is one of the coaches in Rope and Pole Mallakhamb . He has been teaching in USA for since 2018 onwards
Mandar is a Certified Yoga Protocol Instructor by Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.He also likes to run , play volleyball and Chess. Mandar represented Team USA as Team Manager and Coach for Second World Mallakhamb Championship
Mandar is Program Manager working for Banking and Financial Services firm He has completed MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune and Mechanical Engineering from Pune University.
Mandar has worked with large Investment Banks in
London and New York.
Dipali Patil
New Jersey – Rope Mallakhamb
Dipali Patil is one of the coach with Mallakhamb Federation USA for Rope Mallakhamb . She has been teaching in USA for last 2.5 years at the Edison Center since the inception of Federation
Diplai is a Certified Yoga Protocol Instructor by Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.She also likes to cook, swim and is interested in music. Dipali has been part of spreading Yoga initiative and has been key member in demonstrations at schools and at various organisations.
Dipali has done her Bachelors in Computer Application and works for an IT company as a Business Process Associate.
Jayadevan Atta
New Jersey – Pole Mallakhamb, Rope Mallakhamb
Jayadevan Atta has been coaching Mallakhamb from 2018. He is a self taught Mallakhamb player who learned it at the age of 45 years and experienced the benefits of fitness from this traditional Indian sport.
He is passionate about transferring the knowledge and skills he developed in Mallakhamb to the next generation. He coaches young students to develop intermediate skills in Mallakhamb and prepare them for advanced skills.
He has also spend time and efforts to promote Mallakhamb in the Americas he has lead multiple demonstrations in USA and Canada to showcase the sport.
Jayadevan Atta is a Software Engineer by profession and active in multiple community activities and also keen to learn and practice traditional Indian arts.
Rucha Kulkarni
New Jersey – Pole Mallakhamb, Rope Mallakhamb
Rucha Kulkarni is a student, young coach and Volunteer at MFU. She has been learning Rope Mallakhamb since the age of 4 in India, and then started learning both Pole and Rope Mallakhamb at the Edison Center of M.F.U since age 12. She coaches level 3, 4 and 5 Mallakhamb players and has been doing so for 2 years. Along with other young coaches: Apurva Chaudhari, Shreya Patankar and Mrunal Patil, Rucha has conducted the TrailBlazers Summer Camp at M.F.U’s Edison Center for 2 years. Performing with Shreya and Apurva, Rucha has also won 1st place in the John P. Stevens Talent Show by showcasing Mallakhamb.
As a player, Rucha has performed in various district level competitions in India till the age of 12. In the U.S, she has won 1st place in the Open Solo Amateur Category at the 2019 West Coast Aerial Arts Festival (WCAFF). She has also participated in the 2nd Mallakhamb World Championship in Assam, India representing Team U.S.A. Here, she won 3 bronze individual medals and a 2nd place silver team medal.
Shreya Patankar
New Jersey – Pole Mallakhamb
Shreya Patankar is a 12th grade student, young coach and volunteer at MFU. She has been learning Pole Mallakhamb at the age of 8 in the USA, when it was first founded. She coaches the foundational levels, 2 and 3 for the past 2 years. Along with Apurva Chaudhari, Rucha Kulkarni and Mrunal Patil, she founded and conducted the TrailBlazers Summer Camp at MFU’s center for the past 2 summer. She received the first place in the talent show along with her companions. To spread awareness about Mallakhamb, Shreya participated in the Ottawa demonstration in Canada.
Shreya began her sports career at the age of 8 with gymnastics, and pushed forward to the Regional Level, representing New Jersey in the second highest level of USA Gymnastics. Recently, Shreya participated in the 2nd World Championship, helping the team successfully achieve 2nd place against 10 different countries.
Shloke Chaudhari
New Jersey – Pole Mallakhamb, Rope Mallakhamb
Shloke is an 8th grade student who has been learning mallakhamb for 7 years now. He is also a new young coach and a volunteer trying to give back to MFU. He had started learning mallakhamb at the age of 6.
As a player, Shloke has participated in the 2nd mallakhamb World Championship representing Team U.S.A, which took place in Assam, India. He won fourth place in Rope Boys Long Set and he helped his team reach 2nd Place in the Team’s Overall Championship to earn a silver medal. Shloke has also participated in many demonstrations in New York and New jersey.
Alongside with Mallakhamb, Shloke also is a soccer athlete. He gets a lot of stamina, endurance, and speed from soccer to also help him in mallakhamb. As mallakhamb gives Shloke strength and a calm mindset to help him in soccer.
Apurva Chaudhari
New Jersey – Pole Mallakhamb, Rope Mallakhamb
Apurva is an 11th grader in John P. stevens High School. She has been learning mallakhamb for 8 years, starting at 8 years old. She has been a coach for 3 years and is currently a coach for level 4 kids. She and her teammates have also initiated a summer camp called Trailblazers during 2021/2022.
Apurva has participated in the 2nd mallakhamb World Championship representing Team U.S.A, which took place in Assam, India. She, as a captain of the girls team, won 3rd and 4th place individually, as well as 2nd place in in the team.
Outside of Mallakhamb, Apurva has been learning Kathak, an Indian Classical Dance for 10 years, and has participated in other swimming on the state level. Apurva has participated in Mallakhamb demos outside of New Jersey and competitions in Los Angeles, as well.
Adwait Kulkarni
New Jersey – Pole Mallakhamb, Rope Mallakhamb
Adwait Kulkarni is a 10th grade student, young coach and volunteer at Mallakhamb Federation of USA. He started learning Pole and Rope Mallakhamb at the age of 9, and coaches levels 1 to 4.
As a player, Adwait has performed individual and group demonstration at different events in USA. He has participated and achieved success in various district level and national level Mallakhamb and Yoga competitions in USA and India.
Adwait has participated in 2023 National-Aerialympics, USA in all star Speciality individual category and secured 1st place.
Recently Adwait has performed in the second Mallakhamb World Championship and here he won 4 Bronze individual medals and a 2nd place Silver medal in the Team Championship representing the USA. Mallakhamb fitness supports Adwait to get success and focus in his other activities like MMA(Martial Art), music, parkour, etc.
Mrudula Joshi
New Jersey – Pole Mallakhamb, Rope Mallakhamb
Mrudula Joshi is a 11th grade student, young coach and volunteer at Mallakhamb Federation of USA. She started learning Pole and Rope Mallakhamb at the age of 6. She is one of the student of the very first mallakhamb batch started in USA She coaches levels 1 to 4 and has been doing so for 1 year+.
As a player, Mrudula has performed individual and group demonstration at different events in USA. Se has participated in various demonstrations and sport promotion activities since the last 10 years.. She has earned Gold Medal from US President’s Volunteer Service Award for the volunteer activities in 2023.
Mrudula is also a National level Rifle marksman. She has won the Junior Olympics Bronze award in Air Rifle. She represented New Jersey state in the 2023 US Nationals Rifle shooting championship.
Mallakhamb fitness helps Mrudula to improve not just her physic but also the mental focus and sets a discipline overall. As a hobby Mrudula plays drums and also teaches Samskrit.
Arusha Bakshi
New Jersey – Pole Mallakhamb, Rope Mallakhamb
Arusha Bakshi is a 8th grade student, young coach and volunteer at Mallakhamb Federation of USA. She started learning Pole and Rope Mallakhamb at the age of 8. She coaches levels 1 and 2, and has been doing so for 6 months.
As a player, Arusha has performed in the second Mallakhamb World Championship and has won a silver medal in the team championship representing the USA. She has been to many demonstrations in US and sports promotion activities since the last 3 years.
Mallakhamb fitness supports Arusha to focus and stay fit in her other activities like Dance, Music, and Cross Country. Arusha has always been interested in sports, and at the age of 7 she was qualified for National Ninja Warrior Junior Championship USA.
Upendra Watwe
Connecticut – Pole Mallakhamb
Upendra Watwe is a Board Member, volunteer and Pole Mallakhamb Coach at the Cromwell Center of CT Mallakhamb affiliated to Mallakhamb Federation of USA. He started learning Pole Mallakhamb at the age of 8 and continued till age 15. He coaches levels 3 onwards and has been doing this for last three years.
As a player, Upendra has participated in District level competitions in Maharashtra state representing Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. He has also participated in demonstrations in. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts . Upendra is also an American Red Cross Certified Water Safety Instructor for past 12 yrs and he is working towards bringing that same standardization to US national evaluation and reporting process in Mallakhamb.
He present focus is to train members of
CT team aiming to be part of US team
in 3rd Mallakhamb
World Championships..
Manoj Upadhye
Connecticut – Pole Mallakhamb
Manoj Upadhye has been coaching for yoga and pole mallkhamb for the athletes in CT Mallakhamb center since it’s inception. During Manoj’s elementary and high school years, he has practiced pole and rope Mallakhamb.
Besides coaching the athletes, Manoj with CT Mallakhamb team, has participated in pole Mallakhamb demonstrations in CT, MA and NY. Manoj has authored a naman and powada on Mallakhamb in Marathi language, which was presented in Indian consulate in NYC and other cultural events in CT. Manoj is a certified yoga instructor. He is interested in applications of yogic techniques to enhance flexibility, endurance and focus of the athletes to demonstrate complex
postures and sequences on
Mallakhamb.
Shraddha Birajdar
Connecticut – Pole Mallakhamb
Shraddha Birajdar has been teaching yoga and spotting for more than two years at Cromwell center at CT Mallakhamb . She trained at The Art of Living Yoga and Meditation Programs 15 years ago and since then she has been practicing Yoga and Meditation.She has completed the 100h training with The Art of Living yoga , and is currently continuing to train Surya Namaskara. In addition, she works as a Business Analyst .
Kalpana Shelar
Connecticut – Pole Mallakhamb
Kalpana Shelar is a volunteer, Yoga and ground preparation Mallakhamb Coach at the Cromwell Center of CT Mallakhamb affiliated to Mallakhamb Federation of USA. She has completed yoga certification from Shri Ambika Yog Kutir, Mumbai. She is associated with CT Mallakhamb centre since inception. She has volunteered various demonstrations undertaken in and around Connecticut. She is helping athletes with ground exercises and yoga since last one year.
Kalpana Shelar is a Commerce Postgraduate from Mumbai University. She has been a Banker for 17 years and worked in a reputed bank in Mumbai. She likes cooking, baking and listening music. She is home-baker also. Her present focus is to groom the athletes and make them perfect with the ground exercises and yoga so as to be part of US team in 3rd Mallakhamb World Championships.
Bhakti Tonape
Connecticut – Pole Mallakhamb
Bhakti Tonape is a parent volunteer who coaches in ground exercises and yoga at Cromwell center of Connecticut Mallakhamb affiliated to Mallakhamb Federation of USA.
She has been working as a coach with the center for the last 1 year. She has been practicing yoga and Surya namaskar since childhood. She also assists athletes in spotting, ground exercises and assisting novice athletes for basics of pole mallakhamb.
She has worked as a dietitian for eight years in multi-specialty hospital & fitness centers. Her current focus is to train the athletes and help them excel in ground exercises and yoga and help them to increase their strength, flexibility and achieve excellence in pole Mallakhamb.
Ojas Upadhye
Connecticut – Pole Mallakhamb
Ojas is 9th grader. He has been learning mallakhamb for more than 3 years now. He is an aspiring young coach and a volunteer. He started learning mallakhamb at the age of 12. In CT mallakhamb center, he assists senior coaches through demonstration of postures and complex sequences on mallakhamb in front of budding athletes.
As a player, Ojas has participated in the 2nd mallakhamb World Championship representing Team U.S.A, that took place in Assam, India. He won fourth place in pole mallakhamb, Long Set category in boys and contributed to his team to secure 2nd Place in the overall Championship earning a silver medal. Ojas has participated in demonstrations on pole mallakhamb in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.
Along with Mallakhamb, Ojas has been practising cross country running,swimming, He has participated in cultural programs in the community with his painting, tabla and tasha performances.
Arun Marathe
Connecticut – Pole Mallakhamb
Arun Marathe is a Pole Mallakhamb Coach at the Cromwell Center of CT Mallakhamb affiliated to Mallakhamb Federation of USA. He has been associated with this center from its inception in February 2021.
He started learning Pole Mallakhamb at the age of 7 and continued till age 15. He coaches all levels of Pole Mallakhamb in Cromwell Center. He has coached the students to participate in demonstrations across CT and MA state as well as north-east part of the USA.
His present focus is to continue grooming the existing students of the center and promote Mallakhamb in the state, by marketing and demonstrating this traditional Indian Sport here in the USA.
Jayesh Kakade
Connecticut – Pole Mallakhamb
Jayesh Kakade ia a Pole Mallakhamb Coach at the Cromwell Center of CT Mallakhamb affiliated to Mallakhamb Federation of USA. He has been associated with this center from its inception in February 2021.
He learnt the basics of Pole Mallakhamb from age of 7 at Shri Samarth Vyayam Mandir, Mumbai. He coaches all levels of Pole Mallakhamb in Cromwell Center.
His present focus is to continue grooming budding athletes and promote Mallakhamb across CT schools through live demonstrations