Provider Details
Provider: Prakriti Dance
Contact Details
Address
North Bethesda, MD
Teaching Artist
Prakriti Dance, led by renowned Kuchipudi artist Kasi Aysola, is a cutting-edge company which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025. Specializing in Kuchipudi, Prakriti creates original works that blend traditional Indian dance with contemporary storytelling and themes. Committed to education and outreach, Prakriti has presented programming at more than 80 schools in the Baltimore/DC area and offers classes, public workshops, and university masterclasses. The company has presented performances at major venues like Jacob’s Pillow, The Kennedy Center, and festivals nationwide and internationally. Their notable works include Prakriti: Faces of Goddess Earth, Amba Shikhandi: A Journey of Courage, Through Fish Eyes, and the upcoming Ritual of Identity. Prakriti’s original dance works are supported by major arts organizations, including the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Maryland State Arts Council, National Academies Keck Futures Initiative, and the Boston Foundation. Prakriti continues to push boundaries and amplify the voice of Indian classical dance in the modern world, while also fostering collaboration among artists of varied experiences to explore the arts of the Indian diaspora in America and uncover a unique, collective voice.
Events and Programs Offered
Nature Stories from the Panchatantra
Prakriti Dance presents a collection of stories that explore the essence of nature alongside enduring moral values and life lessons. Rooted in the rich Indian Classical Dance tradition of Kuchipudi, this performance brings each narrative to life through expressive storytelling, with intricate hand gestures (mudras),…
Program/Event Format:
In School Residency, In School Workshop, In School Performance
Art Forms:
Storytelling, Dance and Movement
Through Fish Eyes
This unique program utilizes dynamic classical Indian dance styles to spark students’ interest in what lies beneath the ocean’s surface. Prakriti Dance shares the wonders of marine life through the language of dance and illuminates the ways in which humans are affecting the world’s oceans.…
Program/Event Format:
In School Residency, In School Workshop, In School Performance
Art Forms:
Storytelling, Dance and Movement
Storytelling Through Classical Indian Dance
Prakriti Dance shows stories told in a new way – through the body and face movement of classical Indian dance. Stories presented will draw from Indian mythology and the fables of the West, showcasing dance as a versatile language that transcends cultural boundaries. Students learn…
Program/Event Format:
In School Residency, In School Workshop, In School Performance
Art Forms:
Storytelling, Dance and Movement
Introduction to Classical Indian Dance Workshop & Residency
Using a combination of dance movements and rhythms based on classical Indian dance styles, students explore the traditions, music, and stories of South India and how they have shaped the classical performing arts. Students learn traditional dance steps and experience the dance style’s intricate rhythms…
Program/Event Format:
In School Residency, In School Workshop
Art Forms:
Storytelling, Dance and Movement