Dana Pandey

Dana began her musical journey as a guitarist at the age of ten, studying the instrument for nine years and focusing on classical guitar in her later training under a student of Segovia. A turning point came after attending a North Indian classical concert featuring Ali Akbar Khan and Zakir Hussain, which inspired her to pursue Indian classical music more seriously.

She enrolled at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California, where she undertook intensive study in sarod, tabla, and vocal music. After six years, she chose to specialize exclusively in tabla. Her advanced training continued under the direct guidance of Zakir Hussain and the legendary Alla Rakha, placing her within one of the most respected lineages of tabla performance.

Dana first performed as part of Zakir Hussain’s Tal Vadyam Rhythm Band and later became a founding member of Zakir Hussain and the Rhythm Experience. She toured with the ensemble for more than seventeen years across the United States, Canada, and Europe, participating in major festivals and concert series.

Her education included extended stays in India. She completed an intensive period of study with Alla Rakha in Mumbai and later joined Zakir Hussain on the ITC Sangeet Research Academy’s annual concert tour across India. As a recipient of a Performing Arts Fellowship from the American Institute of Indian Studies, she spent six months in residence at the Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata, where she researched tabla accompaniment for vocal music. In 2007, she was invited to perform a tabla solo in Mumbai at Homage to Abbaji, the annual memorial event honoring Alla Rakha.

Within the field of Hindustani classical music, Dana has performed with artists such as Sultan Khan and Rajiv Taranath, among others. Her performance work also extends into jazz and world music contexts, including collaborations with artists like Airto Moreira and Mickey Hart.

She has participated in numerous cross-cultural productions that blend musical traditions, including festival appearances, dance collaborations, and special commissions. These projects reflect her versatility and openness to dialogue between musical forms while maintaining a classical foundation.

Alongside performing, Dana has remained committed to teaching. For more than 40 years, she has shared the classical art of tabla with students in the San Francisco Bay Area, passing on repertoire, technique, and the traditional guru-shishya approach she received from her own teachers. Her work continues to support both performance and education in North Indian classical music.