About Avijit Das Kuchipudi Dancer in , Bangalore

Avijit Das (Avi) is a spirited dancer who believes in Indian classical dance as not only a medium of showcasing the

rich tradition but also a naturalistic channel of expression that is innate to all cultures. With an immense conviction in

the modern interpretations of classical dance, he challenges his audience to rejuvenate their sense of aesthetics.

Like a glimpse in the mirror, Avi’s fire brand style of work both when performing as well as teaching, aim to encourage

self-identity in the viewers or students. Avi is also an excellent team player who share his passion for perfection and

constantly strives to incorporate new ideas to create exciting choreography. He is eager to collaborate and any artist

can easily partake the wealth of his exquisite art history.

Avijit Das is grade artist from Chennai Dooradarshan.

BACKGROUND

Avi was initiated into Bharatanatyam at the age of five under the guidance of Smt. Sanaka Biswas of Shanti Niketan,

West Bengal, India. Avi obtained his Diploma in Bharatanatyam from Kalakshetra (Rukmini Devi College of Fine

Arts), Chennai, India (http://www.kalakshetra.in/) on a meritorious scholarship in 2011. He also developed keen

interest in the Kuchipudi style of dance. After initial training in Kuchipudi Art Academy under legendary Guru Sri

Vempati Chinna Satyam (http://www.kuchipudi.com/) and renowned Kuchipudi exponent Smt. Manju Bharggavee,

he is currently training under the guidance of Sri Jaikishore Mosalikanti (http://shivamohanam.com/shivamohanam/).

Avi also has a Diploma in Carnatic music.

PERFORMANCES

INTERNATIONAL (SOLO)

• 2016

• 15th August 2016 Battery Dance Festival, Indo-American Arts Council, New York City, USA

• 13th August 2016 Erasing Boarders Dance Festival, Indo-American Arts Council, New York City, USA

• 30th July 2016 Ananda Mela, ISKCON, Seattle, USA

• 2015

• 31

st July 2015 Theatre Production call “Dance like a man” by Pratidhwani, Seattle, USA

• 21st

June 2015 Kuchipudi Margam, Veda temple, Seattle, USA

• 2013

• 23rd February 2013 1

st International Indian classical dance festival, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

INDIA (SOLO)

• 2016

• 30th January 2016 Kuchipudi Margam at Kannada Bhavana, Bangalore

• 2015

• 23rd December 2015 “Lecture Demonstration on Rama Bhakti” in Indian Habitat Centre, Delhi

• 23rd November 2015 “Feathers presents - Indian classical dance for youth” in Kolkata

• 14th November 2015 “LSHVA FESTIVAL” in Bangalore

• 5th April 2015 Natarani dance festival in Ahmedabad

• 15th March 2015 Temple festival in Chennai

• 2014

• 12th November 2014 Indradhanush Dilli festival in Delhi

• 25th October 2014 Dasavatara festival in Bangalore

• 20th March 2014 “Festival of Bhadrachala Ramadasa Keertanam” in Bangalore

• 9th February 2014 “Karavali Utsav” organized by Department of Kanda and culture Mangalore

• 3rd February 2014 Second JATHI Festival by “Nataraja music and dance academy”, Seva Sadan, Bangalore

• 3rd January 2014 “The Indian Institute of World Culture” Bangalore

• 2013

• 21st December 2013 “Alvas Virashat Festival” in Mangalore

• 10th November 2013 “Nartaka festival” in Chennai in Bharatiya vidaya Bhavan

• 25th October 2013 Yavanika (Bangalore) ICCR every Friday slot

• 27th April 2013 J G college of fine arts in “WORLD DANCE DAY” inaugural show

• 13th April 2013 Kuchipudi performance at “Nrithanrithyathi Dance festival” in Bhilai

• 25th January 2013 “Mamallpuram Dance Festival” - by tourism and cultural Department of Tamil Nadu

• 2012

• 24th November 2012 “BHARAT SANGEET UTSAV” in Coimbatore as part of purusha festival

• 11th May 2012 Performance in kuchipudi village on Annamachariya 63rd birthday

• 29th April 2012 World dance day organized by Ahish Mohan Khokar “Dance History”

• 18th April 2012 Kuchipudi recital in “Vyshakhi festival” at Bhubaneswar

• 17th December 2011 Aiyyappan temple in Bangalore

GROUP PERFORMANCES

• 2013

• 27th May 2013 Tyagaraja Gaana Sabha part of ICCR program, Hyderabad

• 18th May 2013 Natyavedam dance festival in Bangalore at Chowdiah memorial hall

• 2011

• 11th October 2011 Kuchipudi Art Academy at Thirupathi in the dance drama ‘Rukmini Kalyanam’

• 30th September 2011 Kuchipudi Art Academy in Delhi

• 7th January 2011 ‘Spanda’ (by Leela Samson), Music Academy, Chennai

• 2011 Kamani Auditorium Delhi as part of Kalakshetra Performance

• 2011 Krishnan Temple in Singapore

• 2011 Performances Dol Utsav and Ritu Ranga

• 2009, 2010 and 2011 Performed in renowned Sabhas in Chennai like Krishna Gana Sabha, Music Academy

(dance drama called ‘Panchali Shapatam’) and in several dance drama productions of Kalakshetra)

TEACHING

• June 2014 to present “Presidency school East” in Bangalore

http://www.presidencyschooleast.org/

• April 2013 to present “Kim Aham” in Bangalore

https://www.facebook.com/KIM-AHAM-561436623990365/timeline/

• Sept. 2013 to present “From within Academy” in Bangalore and in Seattle (USA).

http://www.fromwithinacademy.com/

• April 2011 to July 2011 “Akash Ganga Dance Company” in Singapore.

http://www.aakash-ganga.com/

• August 2012 to March 2015 “Prakriya Green wisdom school” in Bangalore

http://www.prakriyaschool.com/site/

WORKSHOPS

• 2016

• July Intensive Kuchipudi Dance Workshop, Pleasanton, CA, USA

• 2014

• July 18th

- 20th Three-day workshop for the kids at “K F I” (Krishnamurti foundation) school, Chennai

• June 1

st – 15th Natyavedam Faculty Workshop, Ravindrabharathi, Hyderabad

• November 1

st – 10th Workshops as Faculty, Natyavedam, Kerala, organized by Kerala Sangeet Natak academy

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Natyamayooram by “Nrithanrithyathi Dance festival” in Bhilai

• Featured as Indian classical dancer in the exhibition called “INSPIRED BY INDIA” at SOTHEBY’S studio in

London in the field of Dance, three dance pictures have been showcased in the exhibition

• Dance magazine “INDIA” in Germany featured Avijit Das as one of the young talented KUCHIPUDI male dancer

from Indian with an article on August edition

• Columnist for Narthaki online magazine.

http://www.narthaki.com/info/rev12/rev1213.html

• Official partner for India and a writer for india! magazine in Germany and POOL international magazine in India.

http://issuu.com/poolmagazine/docs/pool31/13?e=1914850/5963945

• Natyaveda Award by “Nataraja Music and Dance academy” Vishakhapattanam on 3rd of February 2014.

REVIEWS

• Erasing Borders Dance Festival, Indo-American Arts Council – DanceViewtimes

by Leigh Witchel – August 21, 2016

Das performed at both concerts as well, but perhaps because he was pinch-hitting Saturday for another artist, we saw

him at his best on Monday. “Tarangam” showed off his nature in a way “Dashavatara Shabdam” didn't. To use ballet

terms, Das is a petit allegro dancer: lithe and wiry, with speed, line, and a high center of gravity that seemed to float

even when he was heading down into a knee bend. “Dashavatara Shabdam” made him look lightweight instead of like

a speed demon. In “Tarangam,” he showed off his musicality and attack, moving from side to side during the tongue-
twisting patter, finally stopping in attitude front and passing through a stable grand rond de jambe to the back.

http://www.danceviewtimes.com/2016/08/the-cosmopolitans.html

• Erasing Borders Festival of Indian Dance, Part 2 Outdoors – Dancetabs

by Marina Harss - August 17, 2016

But the highlight, at least for me, was the performance by Avijit Das, a kuchipudi dancer from Bangalore. Das dances

with a striking subtlety and crispness, a characteristic he shares with another kuchipudi dancer, Shantala

Shivalingappa. Both were students of Vempati Chinna Satyam, a great innovator of the form. Perhaps these are

elements of his school of kuchipudi. A slight, almost godlike smile illuminated Das’s face. His expression was open

and bright, communicative but not ingratiating. His jumps were light and sharp, almost weightless. Das danced

a tarangam, which included the traditional rhythmic gliding on a brass plate. It’s a trick move – look how I can cover

ground on this plate without showing any effort in my upper body! – but whenever he or Shivalingappa do it, it

acquires an ineffable grace.

http://dancetabs.com/2016/08/erasing-borders-festival-of-indian-dance-part-2-outdoors-new-york/

• BWW Review: ERASING BOARDERS FESTIVAL Transports The Audience To A Higher Plane

by Juan Michael Porter II, August 17, 2016

Avijit Das of Bangalore looked like a Disney Prince professing his undying love to some lucky damsel in

"Dasavtaram, Tarangam". Choreographed by Guru, Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, this piece presented Mr. Das as both

a prince and a warrior, or a tiger in love. Granted this tiger used spry pas de chats, slicing arms along a diagonal, and

a powerful attitude devant - that looked like a tail ready to envelop a loved one within a tight embrace - to express his

passion. Ardor - or pride that is strong because of love - was what this dance communicated to me, particularly during

the bowl dance. In the final section of this solo, Mr. Das stood on the edges of a brass bowl and shimmied rhythmically

through lower body isolations to "walk" and slide forward across the stage. The vibrations of his lower body seemed

to shake the very foundation upon which he danced, and yet to look at him from the waist upwards was to see a smiling

man hovering in the air. Words are inadequate in detailing such marvels; some things have to be seen to be believed.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwdance/article/BWW-Review-ERASING-BORDERS-FESTIVAL-
Transports-The-Audience-To-A-Higher-Plane-20160817

• Broad Hints of Modern Angst at a festival of Indian Dance – New York Times

by Brian Seibert – August 16,