Samanvita Kasthuri

🪔 About

Samanvita Kasthuri is an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist specializing in Bharatanatyam and Kathak, with a growing focus on contemporary fusion. Hailing from a family deeply rooted in literature, dance, music, and yoga, she is a third-generation writer, and a second-generation musician and dancer [3, 4]. Her paternal grandparents, Mr. Raghusutha and Mrs. K.R. Padmaje, were Kannada literary figures [3]. Samanvita began her training in Bharatanatyam and Kathak at the age of five under the tutelage of her father, Guru Prasanna Kasthuri, who established Soorya Performing Arts in St. Louis in 2002 [5]. She also received Carnatic music training from her mother, Guru Seema Kasthuri [3, 4]. Kasthuri completed her Kathak Rangmanch Pravesh in 2015 and her Bharatanatyam Arangetram in 2016 [3, 4]. She has had the opportunity to learn from distinguished artists including Dr. Lalitha Srinivasan, Shivananda Hegde, Ramesh Ramalingappa, and Shila Mehta [4]. In 2008, she received blessings from Padmabhushan Birju Maharajji during his visit to St. Louis [3]. Throughout her career, Samanvita has performed at prestigious festivals such as the American Natya Festivals, Festival of Nations, and Nadam Dance Festivals in India [2, 3]. She has also performed at venues like the Fabulous Fox Theater, Sheldon Concert Hall, and the Battery Dance Festival [2, 3, 4, 7]. Her choreographic works often blend Indian classical dance with contemporary and hip-hop elements, focusing on storytelling [5, 6, 7]. Notable productions include "Equal" (2019), a contemporary piece on female injustices, and "Krtghna" (2022), commissioned by Saint Louis University, which explores environmentalism [4, 5, 7]. Samanvita is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Dance at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, where she continues to develop her fusion choreography [7]. She serves as a Principle Dancer and Co-Artistic Director at Soorya Performing Arts and is a Company Dancer and Teaching Artist at Pack Dance Company [4, 5]. Awards & Honours: Third Place, St. Louis Teen Talent Competition (2017), Second Place, St. Louis Teen Talent Competition (2019), "I" Award (2019), Aspiring Artist Award, Best Dancer, Desi Dance Network's National Bollywood Fusion collegiate dance competition, Summer Award, Indian Raga's Fellowship Program (2021).