The majestic tabla maestro and composer, Ustad Zakir Hussain, left fans and admirers deeply heartbroken as he left the world with a huge hole. Earlier on December 15, 2024, it was reported that Zakir was hospitalised due to serious heart-related health issues. The legendary musician is the son of the iconic tabla genius, Ustad Allah Rakha, who was admitted to a hospital in San Francisco, USA. The 73-year-old musician was being treated there. However, later, on the same day, it was reported that the legend had bid adieu to the world.
Late tabla whizz, Zakir Hussain’s wife and kathak dancer, Antonia Minnecola
Zakir Hussain’s fans and well-wishers know everything about his professional feat, but not much is known about his personal life. For the unversed, Zakir was married to the dynamic Kathak dancer, Antonia Minnecola. She was also his manager. The duo tied the knot in 1978 and were proud parents to two daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi. However, that is not all; the legendary tabla player’s wife is no less than the maestro herself.
Zakir Hussain and Antonia Minnecola first met in the late ’70s, when Zakir was attending formal training for Tabla and Antonia was pursuing professional training in Kathak. Zakir took an instant liking towards the classical dancer; however, his liking was not initially reciprocated as the latter was initially very hesitant to start any relationship with the tabla maestro.
Antonia Minnecola is a leading Kathak dancer
Antonia Minnecola is a Kathak dancer and teacher. She is of Italian-American descent. The dancer is lovingly known as Toni. She is a leading Kathak dancer and a student of the late legendary dancer, Sitara Devi. She began her training under Sitara under a fellowship from the American Institute of Indian Studies and continued to learn under her wing for three decades.
Antonia Minnecola has performed at many festivals and tours
Antonia Minnecola’s majestic skills earned her the opportunity to perform on several platforms. She appeared on many tours and festivals worldwide. Some of these include Jacob’s Pillow, Other Minds Festival, the San Francisco Jazz Festival, Stanford Lively Arts, Cal Performances, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Auckland Festival, the World Drum Festival, Asian Pacific Performing Arts Festival, Percussion Currents Festival in Bahia, The Mystic Music Festival in Konya and The Sacred Music Festival in Fez.
Antonia Minnecola has won several accolades for her contribution towards the classical dances
Antonia Minnecola has received several accolades for her stellar contribution towards the art of dance. She has received the honour of the Marin Arts Council Individual Artist Grant for Choreography twice. Toni also embodies Kathak as a way to present contemporary works. However, that is not where her skills stop; she has collaborated with artists of different genres to spread the art. As a solo Kathak artist, Antonia is often used to accompany by her husband, tabla whizz, late Zakir Hussain and had also appeared with the latter on his Masters of Percussion tour.
Antonia Minnecola’s academic knowledge of the art form
Antonia Minnecola was a treasure of knowledge when it came to the art form. Her academic knowledge is evident in the assistance she provided her husband, Zakir Hussain. Antonia used to assist her husband, Zakir Hussain, in his tenure at Princeton University and Stanford University as a guest professor. In several of his Meet the Composer residencies and at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, Antonia was seen as a major supporter and assistant to Zakir. She has even taught many workshops and classes about the classical dance form, including sessions at UC Berkeley, Swarthmore University and Lines Ballet’s BFA Program in Dance at Dominican University.
What are your thoughts on the magnificent Kathak dancer, Antonia Minnecola?
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