BACKGROUND

Arti was born into a Gujarati household in Uganda and showed an uncommon disposition towards music from an early age. In primary and secondary school, both music and dance came naturally to her, and she participated with a great deal of enthusiasm in school performances. At Toledo in Ohio where she came over for higher studies, Arti founded the International Dance Group Association (IDGA). It provided a platform for students from diverse backgrounds to come together in the spirit of music, dance and cross-cultural sharing, a concept that was new to Americans in the upper Mid-West. She encouraged her peers from all nationalities to share their traditional culture in the form of music and dance.

Away from the University arc lights, Arti turned her attention towards Gujarati raas and garba and Indian folk dances organized by the Northeast territory of the Federation of Gujarati Associations of North America (FOGANA). Routinely she won first prize at FOGANA competitions, setting new trends in costumes, style and musical interpretations. In the 1980s, FOGANA competitions would set benchmarks for choreographers and participants alike.