Soorya Performing Arts

Baithak Series

Baithak Project encourages children and youth to perform individual talented young artists in classical dance, music. It will provide them performance space, a small remuneration ($50 - $300) to cover their travel expenses, audience, publicity and video coverage. Few times, we invite senior artists to share their knowledge with children and youth. (Baithak means sitting and enjoying art forms. This an ancient method to appreciate art forms) . This is a weekly performance series for children & youth - to encourage art education and creativity. This is an ongoing event. Started on September 10th 2017. We are planning to support 30 events in 2018. Anyone interested please send us your details to info@sooryadance.com or visit Natya.org.

We also encourage other dance schools, art organizations follow this suit to build up a healthy supportive artistic environment to bring awareness of your art form and become more creative.  We would love to collaborate with any other organization, so it can lead to a very long future commitment to arts and society.

Past Baithak Performances

March 25th - Kathak by Samanvita Kasthuri

April 1st - Carnatic vocal by Neha Bharadwaj

April 15th - Bharathanatyam by Shree Govani

April 29th - Bharathanatyam by Sophia Salingaros

May 13th - Kuchipudi by Lalita Jilakara

Mahek Bhakta  -  12/17/2019

Mahek Bhakta is a keen dance student. Her lines of movements have attracted many patrons. She has performed in Soorya's many productions such as Shalivahana, Om Ganesha, She attended Guru Pulikeshi Kasturi's dance workshop. She is a competitive athlete and a high achiever. She studying 8th grade in Belleville, Illinois.

Sara Parikh  -  3/11/2018

Sara Parikh has learnt Kathak with Guru Prasanna KAsthuri since 2009. She participated in numerous Kathak performances inside and outside Missouri. She is a Sophomore in Lafayette High School. Her other activities include - singing, playing violin and participating in musicals.

Priya Kanna - 3/04/2018

Priya Suresh Kanna has pursued Carnatic singing as her passion for about 13 years now, and also has played the violin for a couple orchestras in St. Louis since she was in 5th grade. She is currently the Music Director of SLU's premier indian fusion Astha A Cappella team, and spends her free time jamming to her favorite Bollywood and Pop songs. Although her future goals include pursuing Medical school, she is determined to share her love for music through frequent mini concerts such as this one. Two summers ago, she completed her Arangetram through Soorya Performing Arts under her loving guru Seema Kasturi. Last fall, she gave a Katcheri for the Annual Recital of Anurag School of Music. She is beyond excited to be singing tonight, and she hopes you all appreciate the beauty and grace of this art form- Indian Carnatic music. She is an aspiring pre-med 2nd year student at Saint Louis University, with a Neuroscience major and minoring in both Sociology and Health Care Ethics. 

Priya Kanna will be accompanied on Mrudangam by Guru Prasanna Kasthuri.

Arna Gowda -  2/25/2018

Arna Gowda is an active student who does multiple activities such as Tennis, Drama and also dance.  She is a dedicated student and performer of Indian classical dances and music. She is a eighth grader in John Burrough Middle School in St. Louis, MO, actively involved with Band and debate in her school. She is an active member in Sangama Kannada Sangha. She also volunteers in many places. She has participated in 6 Akka events.  She has performed in many major projects of Soorya Performing Arts including - Dashavatara, Rainbow 2, Anubhava Mantapa and Subhadra Parinaya. She has performed in Chicago, Carbondale and St. Louis.

ANushka Ramgounda - 2/18/2018

Anoushka Ramgounda is learning Bharathanatyam since 2010. She also learnt Kuchipudi for a few month before joining the Soorya family. She is 9th grade in Magnet school of St. Louis. She has participated in debates. She is a dedicated and disciplined person, who wishes to achieve in a planned way

Hansika Sakshi  -  2/11/2018

Hansika Sakshi is a dedicated student and performer of Indian classical dances and music. She is a freshman in Ladue high school in St. Louis, MO, actively involved with Band and debate in her school. She teaches young children occasionally in Soorya Dance Company. She has performed in World Telugu conference held in St. Louis in 2017, American Natya Festival, Nations Festival and many other venues. She has performed in many major projects of Soorya Performing Arts including - Dashavatara, Rainbow 2, Anubhava Mantapa and Subhadra Parinaya. She has performed in Chicago, Carbondale and St. Louis.

Niharika Sanjeeva - 2/04/2018

Niharika Sanjeeva is the youngest dancer to perform till now. She started when she was five under Guru Prasanna Kasthuri.  She is taekwondo champion; guitar player and also sings carnatic music.  She has performed in International events like AKKA and American Natya Festival with her guru Prasanna Kasthuri's dance team. She is also a keen Pianist and won several awards.  

Bharathanatyam by Jahnavi Vishnubhotla -  1/28/2018

Jahnavi Vishnubhotla is a highly talented artist of Indian classical dances and music. She is a freshman in Ladue high school in St. Louis, MO, actively involved with Band and debate in her school. She teaches young children occasionally in Soorya Dance Company. She is a devoted student of Sitar, who took lessons with Ustad Imrat Khan saab. She has performed in many major projects of Soorya Performing Arts including - Dashavatara, Rainbow 2, Anubhava Mantapa and Subhadra Parinaya. She has performed in Chicago, Carbondale, Chennai and St. Louis.

Sanjana Prabhakar

Sanjana Prabhakar is a talented dancer, learning Bharathanatyam since 2010 in Soorya Dance Company. She has hallmark of perfect Nritta and a graceful presentation of abhinaya. She has performed in International events like AKKA and American Natya Festival with her guru Prasanna Kasthuri's dance team. She is also a keen Pianist and won several awards.  

Mounica Gandi

Mounica Gandi started learning Indian classical dance at the age of 6 under Guru Prasanna Kasthuri. She has caught the attention of art connoiseurs as a one of the most dedicated, versatile, graceful artists from Soorya Dance School. He impressive performances in "Neeriksha' with Guru Seema Kasthuri got her attention of press. She has precise nritta and she expresses very effectively all abhinayas. This passion of dance has made her a darling of all patrons. In the past she performed festivals such as American Natya Festival, multiple Indian Dance Festivals, Sankranti Festivals in Chicago, and many other venues.  She attended gymnastics, cross country and tracks;  and learns Indian classical music as well. She is currently a freshman at Parkway South High School.

What's Melakartha - by Guru Seema Kasthuri

Guru Seema Kasthuri will introduce the concept of 72 parent melodies or raagas of South Asian Carnatic music. She will briefly explain the idea, creation and appreciation of these 72 melakarta or parent raga in a brief lecture demo.

Here is the website of Seema ji for more details - http://seemakasthuri.com

Bharathanatyam by Sadhana Mathesh -  11/18/2017

Sadhana Mathesh is an avid learner of Indian classical dances, she devotes lots of her time and energy in search of true art form. She is inspired by the teachings of great saints of India including Shankaracharya to Saibaba. She is a sophomore in Lafayette High school in Wildwood, MO, actively involved with Indian community in Ayyappa bhajan group and also Sai center for higher learning. She teaches young children herself apart from her own learning. She is a long distance cross country runner. She has performed in many major projects of Soorya Performing Arts including - Dashavatara, Rainbow 2, Anubhava Mantapa and Subhadra Parinaya. She has performed in Chicago, Carbondale, Chennai and St. Louis.

Meduri Srinivas  -  11/07/2017

Sri Meduri Srinivas, son of the great Veena Vidwan late Sri Meduri Narasimha Rao, vainika siromani late Smt. Satya Gnana Prasunamba, is an accomplished ‘A’ grade veena artist from Hyderabad, India. To name just a few, he performed concerts before many dignitaries, including the Honorable Governor and Chief Minister of  Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister of Singapore, Sri. Srinival also performed several times for Nada Neerajanam conducted by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD)  and Doordarshan (broadcast nationally).  He will be presented a short concert to introduce to students of Soorya Dance and Music Community.

Nithya Raman  - 11/05/2017

Nithya Raman is a Bharathanatyam student of Soorya Dance Company. She has learnt Bharathanatyam by different Gurus. AT present she continues under Guru Prasanna Kasthuri. She is keen on exploring the rhythm and abhinaya aspects through this performance. She is a sophomore in Marquestte High School, she was inspired to perform dances from mother Gayathri Raman, who is a dancer. 

Introduction to Natya Shastra  - 10/29/2017

Natya Shastra is the foremost work in performing arts such as music, dance and theater written by sage Bharatha in 2nd century. It consists of 6000 shlokas (Sanskrit verses). Guru Prasanna Kasthuri will explain some of the salient feature of this amazing job.  

Samhita Prabhakar - Baithak Series - 4 - 10/22/2017

Samhitha Prabhakar, an Eighth grader at Rockwood's Crestview Middle. She has been learning Indian classical dance Bharatanatyam under the tutelage of Guru Prasanna Kasthuri. She was inducted to Indian dance at an young age of 6 years and has been passionate about this ever since. She has been learning Indian Classical music from Guru Seema Kasthuri alongside the Dance. She performs regularly in Sangama Kannada Sangha. She has actively participated in productions such as Dashavatara, Anubhava Mantapa and Nireeksha. Occasionally, she enjoys dancing to the tunes of Bollywood songs. Her admiration for Indian art & culture which she imbibed from her Gurus has only been growing.

Of late, Samhita is passionate about Taekwondo and aims to achieve a black belt.

Sansita Palakollu - Baithak series 3 - 10/15/2017

Sansita Palakollu is a Bharathanatyam student of Guru Prasanna Kasthuri. She is learning in Soorya dance company since 2009. She has participated in in productions like Dasha Avataaram, Anubhava Mantapa and Subhadra Parinaya. She is an 8th grade student, sje is an active member of Hindu Youth Group and also Bhagavad geetha classes She learns carnatic music from Guru Vidya Anand

Sanjana Anand -Baithak series 2 - 9/17/2017

Sanjana Ananda is a Bharathanatyam student of Guru Prasanna Kasthuri. She is learning in Soorya dance company since 2010. She has participated in in productions like Dasha Avataaram, Anubhava Mantapa and Subhadra Parinaya. She is an 8th grade student, who volunteers in many social organizations such as - Missouri river cleaning projects, Soup Kitchen for homeless and many more. SHe learns carnatic music from Guru Mala Gopinath

Roshni Rameshkumar Rajan - Baithak Series 1 - 9/10/2017

Roshni is a 8th grade student, who  loves to dance all the time. She is very talented and enthusiastic child, who eagerly accepted the challenge to perform 45 minutes dancing in this first Baithak Series. She is learning Bharathanatyam since 2010 with Guru Prasanna Kasthuri. Apart from dancing, she is interested in robotics, tamil school and also she learns carnatic music under Guru Seema Kasthuri.