Viji Prakash Biography 
Viji Prakash is an acclaimed Bharatnatyam dancer who played a significant role in popularizing this art form in US. She is the founder of Shakti Dance Company and Shakti School of Bharata Natyam. Viji moved to Los Angeles in 1976 and later worked for this art form in America. Her institution became a performing platform since 1985. She was born in Mumbai. She has received Brody Choreographic fellowship twice. California Arts council award and the Excellence in Arts Award of the Torrance Cultural Arts Commission are the other major awards received by her.
Viji Prakash was initiated to the world of art at the age of 4. She learnt Bharatnatyam of Thanjavur tradition from Guru Kalyanasundaram and Guru Mahalingam Pillai. She has also studied Mohini Attam and Kathakali with Guru Dr. Kanak Rele’s Nalanda Maha Vidyalaya. Her career as a performer, soloist, teacher and choreographer has spanned over forty years and now she is known worldwide. Viji moved to Los Angeles in 1976 where she founded Shakti Dance Company and Shakti School of Bharata Natyam. Since then, for more than 35 years she has been a pioneer in popularizing this art form in USA. She is now settled at Los Angeles, teaching students and conducting stage performances. Canada, UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan are the countries she has toured extensively.
In her institution, she still follows Guru-Shishya tradition and wants to keep it alive. She conducts Arangettam for her students in US. Viji received the "Best Guru" award from the Madras Music Academy, Chennai in 2001. She has performed in major events like 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.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 27, 2014
