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SHAKTI travels to India!

There is something magical about dancing in India. I want to offer dance in sacred spaces…temples that hum with a vibration so ancient and so alive. Dancing there becomes a beautiful conversation with centuries of connection.Travel transforms the students… darshan at temples, moments studying sculpture up close, evenings at concerts watching artists during the acclaimed Chennai music and dance season… suddenly you understand the pulse of the country, its rhythm and its breath. I want to give the students these precious moments that inspire discipline, awaken practice, and stretch the imagination. - Viji Prakash Director, Shakti School of Bharata Natyam.

Naatucracker

Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Redondo Beach

Where horses take flight, snowflakes twirl, oceans sing, and sweet delights come alive.

Choreographer Viji Prakash reimagines Tchaikovsky’s classic through Bharata Natyam, India’s vibrant dance tradition.

Dancers from the Shakti School of Bharata Natyam lead you on a magical journey filled with dazzling choreography, intricate hand gestures, expressive storytelling, vibrant costumes, unique stage design, and an original score that bridges Indian and global soundscapes. Join us for the magic!

Spanda Dance Company

North High School Auditorium Torrance

India's Spanda Dance Company offers PRAKASYA a Bharata Natyam performance under the artistic direction of Padma Shri Leela Samson.

Event Highlights!

Shakti Dance Company

The Shakti Dance Company -the performing division of the school- has toured nationwide, performed at the World Festival of Sacred Music – Los Angeles, the International Festival in Guadalajara under the auspices of the Foundation for World Arts, Hollywood Bowl’s Summer Sounds, Annual LA County Holiday Celebration, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at The Music Center in Los Angeles and more.

Established in 1981, the Shakti Dance Company is based in Los Angeles, California. All performing members have had several years of training and have completed their arangetrams (solo dance debuts.) The average dance experience of the senior Shakti Dance Company member is 8-12 years. 

Renowned dancers from India, US, Malaysia and other parts of the world are an integral part of the Shakti Dance Company. The company’s orchestra of world-class musicians from India, US and Canada provide vital musical accompaniment for all performances.

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Shakti School Performance

Shakti School of Bharata Natyam

Shakti School of Bharata Natyam is a premier institution of Bharata Natyam (Classical dance of Southern India) in Southern California. Artistic Director, Viji Prakash teaches the Thanjavur style of Bharata Natyam characterized by its grace and vigor. Founded in 1977, Viji has provided instruction to over 2000 students in the art form. Over 300 students have performed solo dance debuts (Arangetram) and have toured India and the USA as members of the Shakti Dance Company, winning international awards and recognition.

Classes range from beginner, intermediate and advanced and taught at four locations: West LA, Valley, Torrance, Orange.

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Testimonials

“Viji…I liked it…of all the dance productions of yours that I have seen, your Bhagavad Git is the Best.”

Pandit Ravi Shankar - Irvine, CA

“Just a note to tell you how much I enjoyed Shakti’s production of BHAGVAD GITA in Palo Alto last month, and to thank you for bringing such a wonderful show to the SF Bay Area. Everything about the program-dance, music, costume design and stage setting-was excellent and some of the highlights of the show are still with me. It was a joy to see you and Ajit dancing together, and the footwork in the thillana was just unforgettable. Thank you!

Sherman Lo - San Francisco, CA

Frankly, we were shocked about the beauty and hearing of these dances. We had no idea this existed. I still hear the mesmerizing music and rythms and see the colors, movements and faces of the dancers expressing the millenium-old sagas of their forefathers. I felt like being 40,000 miles away and 2000 years ago.
Thank You! Danke!

Barbara and Hanno Ix - San Diego, CA

Myself & Shanthi want to just let you know that we thoroughly enjoyed the “Bhagvad Gita” performance yesterday at Cubberly Theatre. It was simply outstanding and we were just transported to a different world for over 3 hours. This lasting effect lingered for a while even after the performance. Excellent choreography and all the important sequences of the “Gita” were included. Your students were just flawless. It was a wonderful treat to hear the musicians and the orchestra as well. The combination of Srivatsa and Palai Ramachandran was so good along with the soothing voice of Lakshmi Shankar. We look forward to many more productions from your troupe in our area in the future. Our entire family (parents and my daughter Sindhu) enjoyed it as well. Again congratulations to you and your troupe!!!!!!!”

Narayan Natarajan - San Jose, CA

That was an awesome performance today. . . Your students were powerful and energetic. Mythili was breathtaking as Draupadi & Karna. I enjoyed Duryodana’s & Arjuna’s performances as well. Ajit was fantastic . . .
Your Krishna was playful yet powerful. The whole dance drama was well put together and the music carried it to great heights. Congratulations!

Vidhya Subramanian - San Jose, CA

While many Angelenos were tuned into the fourth- season opener of “The Sopranos” on Sunday night, another drama of lust, greed, murder was unfolding at the Irvine Barclay Theatre… The full house on hand responded with standing ovation. A Southland treasure, Shakti will tour this extravaganza to other cities, including Houston and San Francisco.

Victoria Looseleaf - Los Angeles Times