Dani Ekbote

Dani Ekbote – Tabla Artist & Educator

Gurus: Shri Hemant Ekbote, Pandit Yogesh Samsi, Ustad Zakir Hussain

> As an infant, Dani would often crawl into his father’s lap to sleep while he taught tabla lessons. One day, to everyone’s astonishment, he woke up and instinctively played a complex composition—without ever having been taught. At that moment, his tabla journey had begun. Dani was raised in the tradition of the Ajarada Gharana under the guidance of his father, Shri Hemant Ekbote. From the age of ten until adulthood, he was a regular attendee of Ustad Zakir Hussain’s invite-only tabla workshop, where he refined his craft. He is now a disciple of legendary Tabla Maestro Pandit Yogesh Samsi. His performance career has taken him across the world, from India, Canada, Panama and many more. He explores the intersection of tradition and innovation, collaborating with contemporary jazz artists as well. These fusion projects, along with past experiences in Western Music have expanded his musical vocabulary, allowing him to bring fresh perspectives to both classical and modern spaces. Whether performing with existing Indian music stalwarts or experimenting with new sonic textures, Dani thrives in the dynamic interplay of diverse musical worlds.
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> Equally passionate about teaching, Dani comes from a long line of educators—his grandmother, a schoolteacher in India, and his father, once a professor of tabla at M.S. University Baroda. He is dedicated to making tabla accessible to students from all walks of life, believing that music should be inclusive and welcoming to all. At The Divine School of Music in Irvine, he teaches alongside his father and sister, guiding students of diverse cultural and musical backgrounds, many of whom have become performers. Alongside his musical pursuits, Dani is also involved in telescope observation research at the California Institute of Technology, applying the same creative mindset that shapes his music to advancements in Computer Science and Astronomy. Yet, no matter how far his academic and professional endeavors take him, his deep reverence for the art of tabla and his passion for sharing its beauty remain the heart of his journey. He continues to perform, teach, and inspire, keeping the rhythmic legacy alive for future generations.