Viji Prakash

Viji prakash
Born Vijaya lakshmi
India
Occupation Bharata Natyam dancer
Awards Devdasi National Award 2014, Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy Award 2013
Website Official website

Vijaya Lakshmi Prakash, popularly known as Viji Prakash, is an Indian Bharata Natyam dancer[1] and founder of Shakti Dance Company and Shakti School of Bharata Natyam. Prakash has been a pioneer in popularizing the performance and presentation of Bharata Natyam in the USA since 1976. A virtuoso herself in this ancient classical dance form, Prakash is an internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and teacher of Bharata Natyam. When 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, Bombay.

A new beginning is made in USA

Her performances in the US are known to be different and exciting. Audiences in Los Angeles and the rest of the USA were entranced by the beauty, strength, and relevance of traditional Bharata Natyam. Along with her Guru and Musical ensemble, she toured often in the United States, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan, sharing this exquisite (art form) tradition with diverse world audiences. Though Viji's forte has been Bharata Natyam, she has studied and performed Mohini Attam and Kathakali extensively in India under the guidance of Guru Dr. Kanak Rele - Nalanda Maha Vidyalaya, Bombay.

Viji Prakash is the successful founder & director of the Shakti School of Bharata Natyam. Over the past 32 years she has nurtured, trained and developed hundreds of young children into elegant dancers and provided them with opportunities to perform at various venues both at national and international stage. Being a consummate artist, Viji's disciples were inspired to continue the tradition of this art form by being both professional dancers and teachers in United States after performing their Arangetrams (solo dance debut).

Nritya shala

Through her world acclaimed SHAKTI DANCE COMPANY that Viji established in 1985 as the performing platform of the School, Viji has presented innumerable solo and group choreographic works including the Los Angeles Festival's Sons of Kunti at the Wadsworth Theater 1990, the musical Purandharadasa and Meera at the Terrace Theater, Long Beach Convention Center, 1990 Manifestations of Shakti at the Japan American Theater, 1986, Dance of the Immortals at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion1985 and the National and International tours 1997 to 2007 of the epic productions Shyama, Bhagavad Gita, Prince to Buddha - a journey to enlightenment, Shiva-Shakti, Sant Meera and Tulsi Ramayan.

Awards

Guruji's 80th birth day

'This dance program was organized in Mumbai'(1st, March, 2012)

'A Tribute to our Master,'[3] was celebrated to 'Guru, Shri.Kalyana sundaram pillai', on his 80th birth day, on 1 March 2012, at The 'Shanmukhanand Fine Arts Sabha', Matunga, Mumbai. It was well organized by the disciples of Raja rajeshwari Bharta Natya Kala Mandir,Mumbai, a well known 'Natyakala Institution of high repute'. Noted disciples who were present on the occasion were, Vani Ganapathy, Kala pada, and Viji Prakash, of Los Angeles USA, among others. Mythili prakash, gave a grand Bharathanatyam performance, where, her mother/teacher supported with Nritya gayanas.

References

  1. ↑ "Roots intact". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  2. ↑ 'Nartaki, 7 July 2015, Viji Prakash honored with Soorya Lifetime Achievement Award,–Anitha Nagendra Photos: Kanagamathy
  3. ↑ Sampada, 13 March 2012 'ಮುಂಬೈನ ಶ್ರೀ. ರಾಜರಾಜೇಶ್ವರಿ ಭರತನಾಟ್ಯ ಕಲಾಮಂದಿರದ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಗುರು, ಶ್ರೀ. ಕೆ. ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಸುಂದರಂರವರ ೮೦ ನೆ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬದ ಸಡಗರ


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