A Celebration of Dance

Sahana Gupta, disciple of Viji Prakash, in Bharata Natyam, with musical accompaniment by Viji Prakash (Nattuvangam & Choreography), Aswini Srinivasan (Mridangam), Vidya Harikrishna & Janani Hamsini (Vocals), Mahesh Swamy (Flute), Krishna Kumar (Violin), and Venkatesh Krishnan (Lighting). 

3200 Motor Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034, 7:00pm 

General Seating, doors open at 6:30pm 

Net proceeds will be donated to the South Asian Network (SAN). SAN provides life-changing support to South Asian families through culturally responsive services, including domestic violence assistance, mental health resources, legal aid, youth leadership, and immigrant rights and community advocacy. Every donation helps build a safer, healthier, and more empowered community.

Sahana has been learning Bharata Natyam with Viji Prakash for the past 12 years, and completed her Arangetram (solo dance debut) in 2023. She is a current member of the Shakti Dance Company and actively performs, ranging from a recent dance tour in India this past winter, to local Southern California events such as the Ojai Dance Festival and The Festival of Chariots at Venice Beach. When she is not dancing, Sahana is committed to community service projects, including involvement with the South Asian Bar Association of North American Foundation and South Asian American Justice Collaborative. She is proud to support the South Asian Network by way of this performance. Sahana is a recent Harvard Westlake graduate and will be a freshman at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service this fall.

A revered artist, teacher, and cultural ambassador, Viji Prakash is among the pioneering figures who helped establish Bharata Natyam as a vibrant and respected art form in the United States. While captivating audiences worldwide through acclaimed solo performances and international tours throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she laid the foundation for a lasting legacy by establishing the Shakti School of Bharata Natyam in Los Angeles in 1977. For more information, visit shaktibharatanatyam.com. 

Bharatanatyam is one of India's oldest classical dance forms, originating over 2,000 years ago in the temples of Tamil Nadu. Known for its intricate footwork, expressive storytelling, and graceful movements, it combines rhythm, music, and facial expressions to bring stories from Hindu mythology, history, and everyday life to the stage. Today, Bharatanatyam is practiced and performed worldwide as both a vibrant cultural tradition and a powerful art form.