Lead 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 musical Purandharadasa and Meera at the Terrace Theater, Long Beach Convention Center, Manifestations of Shakti at the James Armstrong Theater, Dance of the Immortals at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Shyama and the just concluded US dance tour of Bhagvad Gita to name a few. Viji has had the distinct honor of a command performance at the invitation of President of India at the presidential palace. Viji is the founder and director of the Shakti Dance Company and Shakti School of Bharata Natyam. She is an Associate Professor of Dance at UCLA in World Arts and Culture,. Viji is a two time recipient of the Brody choreographic fellowship and the Excellence in Arts Award; of the Torrance Cultural Arts Commission. She received the Best Guru award of the prestigious Music Academy, Chennai, India in 2001.

Harikrishna: Is the disciple and son of Guru Kalyanasundaram, a legendary dance guru of Bharata Natyam, Director, of the prestigious Sri Rajarajeswari Bharatha Natya Kala Mandir, Bombay. Harikrishna hails from the family of traditional Natyacharyas (dance Teachers) representing the seventh generation of a legacy which has been imparting Bharatha Natyam in traditional Tanjore style for the past 250 years. He has performed at major centers in India and has also toured the USA, Canada and Singapore in Guru Kalyanasundaram's dance productions.

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. Ajit is Artistic Director of Suvarna Dance Creations, a well known dance company in Malaysia.

Mythili Prakash: Having trained with her mother Guru Viji Prakash,  Mythili has won recognition worldwide for her exquisite interpretation of Bharata Natyam. She is the recipient of the prestigious MGR Award - 2000 for Best Dancer from Music Academy, Chennai, India.  She was invited to perform at the Inaugural program of the Music Academy, Chennai, in the December 2001 Festival Season.   Mythili dances at the prestigious Joyce theater in Manhattan, New York City in their Fall dance series from November 26, through December 1, 2002.  In the US, her notable accomplishments include the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) first placed scholarship and the Kohinoor Award for the Best Artist representing the Cultural Arts from the Nurture the Youth Foundation, Los Angeles.

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.

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