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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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 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
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
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.