Nitya Narasimhan

🪔 About

Nitya Narasimhan is a professional Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher, choreographer, and the founder and artistic director of Prayukti Arts, an institution dedicated to fostering South Asian art education and appreciation. Her journey in dance began at the age of four, training under Guru Suma Mani in Chennai, India, and completing her arangetram (debut solo performance) in 2003. She also received initial guidance at the Lalit Kala Academy, Bangalore, and further honed her skills with Guru Suma Mani at Kalarpana, Chennai. Narasimhan's advanced training includes studying under Guru Rukmini Vijayakumar of Raadha Kalpa Dance Company, learning Marga-Nritta Karanas with Guru Vithya Arasu of Natyakala Vidhya, and pursuing a Nattuvangam diploma program with Dr. G.V. Guru Bharadwaaj. She continues to deepen her Bharatanatyam practice under the tutelage of Smt. Shweta Prachande. She also holds a Post Diploma in Movement Arts & Media from the Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Bangalore, where she was exposed to various forms including contemporary dance, Kalaripayattu, Chaau, and Ballet, and trained in the Iyengar Institute of Yoga's Art of Teaching program. Based in Sunnyvale, California, Nitya Narasimhan regularly travels to India for performances and workshops. She founded Prayukti Arts in 2017, establishing a platform for Indian classical dance classes, performances, and community events in the Bay Area and beyond. Her artistic philosophy emphasizes upholding traditional Bharatanatyam values while acknowledging its evolving future. As a performer, she has been part of notable productions with companies like Navadarshana, Nava Dance, and Vidhya Subramanian's ensemble. She is also recognized as a Mentor Artist by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts. Awards & Honours: Natya Ratna (2022), ACTA Apprenticeship - Mentor Artist, Sunnyvale Mayor's Award, Stevie® Bronze Award, Dancers Group CA$H Grant (2020), Lasya Vrindarani.