Prasanna Kasthuri
Prasanna Kasthuri is fondly called as “Guruji” is a man with vision for Indian
Performing Arts. He established Soorya Performing Arts in 2002 in St. Louis, MO
to promote Indian classical dance, music and theater to a greater Midwest
audience of United States of America.
He headed many great projects co-sponsored by the prestigious Regional
Arts Council of St. Louis and Missouri Arts Council.
He created some unique productions such as – “Gokula Nirgamana” – a first
Indian Opera ever performed outside India. In this production, dancers sang and
danced simultaneously, which is a rare achievement in the field of
Bharathanatyam. He collaborated with Pandit Vishwamohan Bhat to compose his
innovative – “Rainbow-II” – a dance production based on famous English and
American Poems. He was invited to
International Tap festivals held in Oklahoma and St. Louis and performed in
Asian Festivals in Columbus, Ohio.
Recently, he presented “Zero” – a dance drama on the life of Indian
Mathematician Aryabhata. He has performed extensively across USA, Canada, and
Europe. He has so far created 22 major works, since 1987.
Apart from a devoted performer, Prasanna Kasthuri also organizes Indian
performing events to provide platforms to his peers and to upcoming artists. He
believes a good community is the one where art and artists flourish. Under his
leadership, St. Louis witnessed the very first Indian Drama Festival – “Nataka
2007” and the very first Indian Classical Dance Festival - “St. Louis Indian
Dance Festival” in 2008 and later in 2010 and 2011. His organizing ability has
provided performing opportunities to more than 1000 artists. His other
achievements such as 24-hour non-stop performance (1986), a rank in Vidwat
Certificate (an Equivalent to MS in dance) (1985), and a Masters Degree in
Information technology (1996) always shine high in his resume. Apart from these
he has trained hundreds of students in India, Europe and in USA.
More than 25 students have performed arangetrams under his guidance.
Prasanna owes his learning to the blessings of his Gurus Smt. Maya Rao (Kathak),
Smt. Lalitha Srinivasan, Smt.
Narmada (Bharathanatyam), Guru Nagamani Srinath (Carnatic Music).
Along with these teachers, he salutes the giants of Indian Performing
arts such as Birju Maharaj, Imrath Khan saab, Mahalingam Pillai, Adyar
Lakshmanan, Chitra Visweswaran, Pandanallur Gopalakrishna and others, who
blessed him through their workshops and residencies. Prasanna is also a good
singer and he composes his own music to his productions. His recent passion is
playing Mrudangam, which he adores and respects, is guided by veteran Mrudangist
Ramesh Ramalingappa.
Prasanna's major dance
productions include –
"Kadu Kuniyithu" (1987) -Dance production for children on the story of animals
"Kavya Kinkini" (1989) - A Bharathanatyam repertoire based on poetry from
Kannada epics
"Subhadra Parinaya" (1991) - A Sanskrit dance drama from Mahabharatha
"Shrungara Naayakaru" (1994) - A Portrayal of Romantic heroes corresponding to
the Nayikas of Indian dance.
"Rasa Gati" (1996) - Adoption of Rasa theory and Carnatic tala structures
"Jnana" (1998) - Mini dance drama based on moral stories
"Avataara" (1999) - Metaphysical interpretation of incarnations
"Cherishnu" (2000) - A dance spectacle of Bengali literature
"Silambu"(2002) - Dance drama based on 2nd century Tamil epic Silappadikaram
"Anubhava Mantapa"(2002) - Dance reflection of 12th century Sharana literature
"Maarga" (2002) - A Bharathanatyam dance repertoire
"Thoughts"(2002) - A thought provoking dance presentation based different works
of philosophers of India
Rainbow - I (2004) - English poems into Indian Solo dancing
Katha Kahe Kathaka (2004) - Presentation of Kathak dances
Rhythms in Motion (2005) – Rhythms across the life
Shaam - e - Kathak (2006) – Dances on Ghazals - love-lorn songs
Rainbow - II (2006) – English poems into Indian Dancing with a Grammy award
winning musician
Works of Amir Khusro and Sri Aurobindo (2006)
Call of Flute (2007) – USA’s first Indian opera through classical music and
dance of India
Nal Damayanti (2007) – Story of Nal and Damayanti
Dokka Seethamma & Heerkani (2008) – Two stories of Great Indian women
Tiger & Merchant (2009) – A children short dance drama
Bahulya (2009) - Multiligual, Multi Culture Bharathanatyam Performance
Zero – A dance depiction of life and achievement of mathematician ARYABHATTA
Bhakti Patha - A dance presentation
of Nava vidha bhakti- through Harikatha, Dance and Music