![]() Viji Prakash is the founder of Shakti Dance Company and Shakti School of Bharata Natyam. Viji Prakash has been a pioneer in popularizing the performance and presentation of Bharata Natyam in the United States of America since 1976. Early Life of Viji Prakash Viji Prakash is an internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer and teacher of Bharata Natyam. When Viji Prakash moved to Los Angeles in 1976, she brought with her the intense, disciplined, meticulous training that was imparted to her from age 4, by the grand masters of the Tanjavur tradition of Bharata Natyam, her gurus Guru Kalyanasundaram and late Guru Mahalingam Pillai, of the Sri Raja Rajeshwari Bharata Natya Kala Mandir, Mumbai. Career of Viji Prakash The performances of Viji Prakash in the United States of America are known to be different and exciting. The audiences in Los Angeles and the rest of the United States of America were entranced by the beauty, strength, and relevance of traditional Bharata Natyam. Along with her Guru and musical ensemble, Viji Prakash toured often in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan, sharing this exquisite (art form) tradition with diverse world audiences. Though her forte has been Bharata Natyam, Viji Prakash has studied and performed Mohini Attam and Kathakali extensively in India under the guidance of Guru Dr. Kanak Rele - Nalanda Maha Vidyalaya, Mumbai. Viji Prakash as a Dance Teacher ![]() Awards Received by Viji Prakash Viji Prakash is a two time recipient of the Brody Choreographic Fellowship. She also received the California Arts Council award and the Excellence in Arts Award of the Torrance Cultural Arts Commission. Viji Prakash has been an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Bharata Natyam at World Arts and Culture, UCLA, since 1999. |
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