25 Yrs of Heritage & Culture

Inspired and guided by their heritage, Bharti and Dr. Deenbandhu Chokshi wanted to foster an understanding of Indian arts and culture in the South Florida community, not only to ensure that those of Indian descent were able to maintain their traditional culture, but also to teach the community at large about that culture and its contributions to the richness of American
and World society. They decided to form a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting live performances of Indian Classical Music and Dance and to educating youth and adults throughout the community. Their dedication to this purpose has resulted in the creation of a unique resource for South Florida.

Since its founding 25 years ago on June 5, 1998, the Association of Performing Arts of India, has brought the culture, music, dance and performing arts of the South Asian subcontinent of India to the South Florida tri-county area. APAI focuses not only on featuring premier-caliber artists associated with the Hindustani or North Indian classical tradition, but also presents classical dance and dance-drama, folk art forms, and cross-cultural events.

Accolades from Our Well Wishers

The Gundecha Brothers

Best Wishes from the Gundecha Brothers on APAI’s 25th Anniversary.

Vidushi Mitali Banerjee Bhawmik’s (vocalist)

Vidushi Mitali Banerjee Bhawmik’s (vocalist) Best Wishes to APAI on 25th Anniversary

Pt. SUBHEN CHATTERJEE’S (Tabla Maestro)

Pt. SUBHEN CHATTERJEE’S (Tabla Maestro) BEST WISHES to APAI

Viji Prakash and the Shakti Dance Company, Los Angeles

Congratulations to the amazing organization APAI and its founders- drivers Bharati and Choksibhai! Shakti had the honor to present almost all our productions for APAI for almost 2 decades.

Bhagavad Gita, Meera, Shiva Shakti, Prince to Buddha, Ramayana, and many more! Each of the events had our wonderful Lakshmi Shankar as the featured vocalist, with so many amazing Shakti musicians and dancers traveling to Florida. And each tour was a Work of Art! Such great theatres and tech provisions, great publicity and audience response, and hospitality at its best. Each time we came it was the same care and love.

All the artists to this date fondly remember Shakti Florida Diaries from 2002 to 2010!

Congratulations to you both and APAI on 25 years of artistic excellence!

Nathan Katz

Distinguished Professor, Emeritus,FIU
Bhagwan Mahavir Professor of Jain studies. Director of Jewish Studies
Founder, Program in the Study of Spirituality

India is philosophy and literature. India is architecture, engineering, mathematics, and science. India is cuisine. India is sculpture and painting. India is drama. India is her gardens. But as much as anything else, India is music and dance.
Ever since 1998, the Association of the Performing Arts of India has been bringing superb talents to South Florida, introducing us to this most meaningful and accessible aspect of the glorious Indian culture to us. We owe profound gratitude to Bharti and Deenbandhu Chokshi for their visionary and indefatigable leadership.
Month after month, year after year for a quarter century, we have been regaled by the world’s leading artists on classical Indian music and dance. From all corners of India to all corners of Dade and Broward Counties, these precious sounds and sights have been an embodiment of APAI’s motto, NADA BRAHMA, Sound is God.
Thank you for bringing us this refreshing and inspiring glimpse of the deep spirituality of India.

Dr. Andrea M. Seidel

Dear Bharti:
It is with great pleasure that I extend my deep appreciation and congratulations to the Association of Performing Arts of India, Bharti Chokshi, and the Board of Directors on the 25th Anniversary of APAI. It is indeed an extraordinary milestone and pioneering achievement in the presentation, promotion, and preservation of Indian Classical Dance and Music.
The South Florida cultural community is greatly enriched by APAI’s stellar international programming. In addition to educating the community about these exquisite art forms, APAI through the tireless efforts of Bharti Chokshi, has reached out across many cultural boundaries to collaborate with dancers and musicians in many diverse art forms. I and my modern dance company, the Isadora Duncan Dance Ensemble, along with FIU’s Intercultural Dance and Music Institute, have been privileged on numerous occasions to participate and collaborate with APAI in joint programs featuring a variety of world dance genres.
It is a testament to the fortitude and vision of the organization to not only prevail through this long pandemic, economic recessions, and other challenges but to thrive and prosper. It is my honor to congratulate them on their achievements and I wish APAI continued success for many more decades to come.

Peter Lavezzoli, Author of ‘The Dawn of Indian Music in the West’ Bhairavi

“It is with profound gratitude and love that I congratulate our dear Bhartiji and the entire board of directors, as we celebrate 25 years of APAI this coming February 25 — which will also happen to be the 80th birthday of George Harrison, who had the similar passion for sharing the music and arts of India with the rest of the world. Thanks to Bhartiji and APAI, South Florida has been blessed to receive magnificent performances from legends ranging from Pandit Jasraj, Zakir Hussain, V.M. Bhatt, and so many more. We thank Bhartiji and APAI for their great success of the past 25 years, and we look forward to much more to come, thanks to the support of our generous and
grateful community.

“APAI is a jewel in our community.”

Scott Miller,
Dean of Arts, Humanities & Design, Broward College

As a long-standing partner with Bharti Chokshi, Broward College’s Visual & Performing Arts Department is proud to celebrate 25 years of APAI’s excellence. Our students have benefited from this relationship. They experienced the richness of Indian culture – whether dancing kathak with master performers, learning the art of tabla, or listening to ancient ragas performed anew on the modern grand piano. Presenting India’s performing and visual arts has
been a wellspring of inspiration to generations of art lovers in South Florida. We are a better community because APAI continues its work to educate and enlighten us. Congratulations APAI and Bharti on 25 years!

Pt.Krishna Mohan Bhatt:

My heartfelt congratulations and felicitations to
Dr.Chokshi and BhartiJi along with APAI team on the occasion of celebrating APAI’s 25th anniversary for bringing India’s finest performing arts and culture, music, and musicians for all these years to the wonderful audiences of Ft. Lauderdale in Florida. With all our support, love, and best wishes to you. And warm regards.
Sending

From Jaipur: Krishna M. Bhatt
Internationally acclaimed Sitarist, Performer, Composer, and Teacher.

Mark Nerenhausen, former CEO of
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts,

Has endorsed APAI’s work, saying
“Congratulations on 25 years of expanding Our understanding of the world and art and commitment to community and culture.” on a more personal note, it really is wonderful to see this milestone. I continue to be impressed at what you have done and grateful to have been able to see how you have built this and to have worked with you over the years. I can’t begin to count the number of times I have used your work as an example to students and other community organizations I have worked with across the country. You are a testament to the power of art in our lives and our communities.

Dr.Jonas

BEST WISHES FROM FRED JONAS ON 25th ANNIVERSARY
For several (however many it’s been) years, I have gotten immense enjoyment from APAI and its presentation to South Florida audiences of the best — some of the brightest shining lights! — of classical Indian art. It’s dramatically enriching.
Most of this has been music, and some have been dance. And the “cherry on top” has sometimes been a meal to go with it. I try never to miss an APAI presentation when I can possibly get to them.

Dr.Naresh and Mrs.Hina Pathak

What a phenomenal 25 years! We have listened to the “giants” and The “world’s best of the best” artists. Artists of this caliber are accessible in concerts in India far away on stage when you are amongst 1000 people. Here we had the fortune of being with them up close in person, feeling immersed in their art. Thank you APAI with Bhartiben and Dr. Chokshi at the helm making it all possible with gratitude, Naresh & Hina Pathak.

Dr. Manohar and Mohini Athavale

Congratulations to Dr. Deenbandhu and Bharti Chokshi along with APAI board on celebrating 25 years of APAI. Because of your hard work and dedication to Indian classical music, we, the community have enjoyed music by top-notch artists from around the world, be it vocal, instrumental, or dance/drama. We wish you all the best and looking forward to more programs in the next 25 years by APAI!

Ustad Irshad Khan

Congratulations to you and all at APAI. We appreciate your dedicated hard work and sincerity to promote our Indian Classical arts for the last 25 years. Good luck and I wish you the best.

Bharti and Dr.Deenbandhu Chokshi

We both are very proud of our heritage. With the grace of all mighty, our parents and Guru’s blessings, we can share our passion for Indian Classical Music and Dance with the South Florida Community. Thank you all for your support and hope you will continue to support APAI.