Dancers

Viji Prakash: A virtuoso in this ancient classical dance form, Viji is an internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and teacher of Bharat Natyam. Her dynamic stage presence, her rhythmic command over the complex foot patterns and striking facial expressions bring to life the beauty and grandeur of this art form. Viji has performed and toured extensively in the United States, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. Her choreographic works include the Los Angeles Festival's Mahabharata at the Wadsworth Theater, the musicals Purandharadasa and Meera at the Terrace Theater, Long Beach Convention Center, Manifestations of Shakti at the Japan American Theater, Dance of the Immortals at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and the tours of  Meera and Shyama in the USA and Canada. Her magnum opus production, Bhagavad Gita which toured the US and Canada in 2002 and 2003, has received rave reviews. Viji has had the distinct honor of a command performance at the invitation of President of India at the presidential palace. Viji Prakash is the recipient of several honors and awards, amongst them the Best Guru award of the prestigious Madras Music Academy, 2000. Viji is a two time recipient of the Brody Choreographic fellowship, the California Arts council award  and the Excellence in Arts Award of the Torrance Cultural Arts Commission. Founder of the Shakti Dance Company and Shakti School of Bharata Natyam, Viji is a Professor of Dance at UCLA.

Buddha Home

Buddha Press Review

Tour Pictures

About the Dancers

About the Musicians

Ajit Bhaskaran Das: Is a leading exponent of Bharat Natyam and Odissi in Malaysia. He has also received extensive formal training in contemporary dance. His performances, therefore, reflect a unique image of conscious artistry, transcending boundaries between old and new, East and West. Ajit mesmerized audiences in North America with his portrayal of Kothal in the Shakti dance ballet Shyama and as a lead dancer in Bhagavad Gita, which toured the US and Canada in 20002 and 2003.  Ajit is Artistic Director of Suvarna Dance Creations, a well known dance company in Malaysia.

Other Credits

Cast of Characters

Mythili Prakash: Having trained with her mother Guru Viji Prakash for almost two decades, at age 22 Mythili has won recognition worldwide for her exquisite interpretation of Bhatarata Natyam.  She is the recipient of the prestigious MGR Award - 2000 for Best Dancer from Music Academy, Chennai, India. In the US, her notable accomplishments include the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts (Miami)  scholarship and the Kohinoor Award from the Nurture the Youth Foundation, Los Angeles. She has been the principal dancer for almost all Shakti Productions since 1995. She is a co-choreographer for tonight's production of From Prince to Buddha. Mythili assista Viji Prakash in teaching and choreography. She does Nattuvangam and is trained in Karnatic music. Mythili is trained in Modern Dance and was a lead dancer for Company 99 and 2000 at the Beverly Hills High School, California. She is a recent graduate of University of California, Berkeley and plans to take up Bharata Natyam as a career.

Upcoming Shows

SHAKTI HOME

The Company: The dancers of the Company have been trained by Viji Prakash at the Shakti School of Bharata Natyam between seven and fifteen years. Most of them have toured the US several times with various Shakti ballet productions and are solo performers in their own right.

Senior members of the Company:

Sai Patil: Soloist of the Shakti Dance Company, she has toured India and the US with Viji Prakash as a lead dancer. She was the lead dancer in the Shakti productions of Shyama, Stree Katha, Nut Cracker, etc. Sai is the founder of Nupur, the Bharata Natyam Dance Ensemble of Stanford University. She is the recipient of the Most Outstanding Asian American award for her contribution to the arts at Stanford. Sai assists Viji in chireography. She is a recent graduate of Stanford University.

Shiela Rajashekara: A dancer for fifteen years, Shiela was one of the featured dancers in the acclaimed Bhagavad Gita tour of 2002-2003. Shiela had a successful tour in India in 2002 along with the Shakti Dance Company. Shiela studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Priyadarshini Sahathevan: A disciple of Prakash Yeduggude of London U.K. for over ten years, Darshini has been affiliated with Viji Prakash since 1999. Darshini had studied with Viji Prakash, attended Shakti Dance Camps and participated in affiliated performances there in. She is in law school at Oxford University, London.