Three Aksha Bharatanatyam Dance Company:
Three Aksha was founded in Philadelphia in 2003 by Artistic Director Viji Rao, and is based at Girard College, where she has been an artist in residence since 2008. Three Aksha seeks to preserve and promote Indian culture and heritage through classical Indian Bharatanatyam dance choreography in the Philadelphia area and in other ethnically diverse regions of the world. Three Aksha has performed in major cities across the US, the UK, Europe and India.
Three Aksha has been recognized for its development of new choreography within the realm of classical Indian tradition, and for its work in the Kalakshetra style of Bharatanatyam, which is renowned for its focus on the body. The company’s dancers have trained in Kalakshetra Bharatanatyam under Viji for a minimum of six years, and have also studied under teachers in India.
In addition to its active performance and touring schedule, Three Aksha shares its expertise in Indian dance in workshops and lecture-demonstrations throughout the Delaware Valley. As a complement to the socially conscious themes that frequently play into the company’s performance work, Three Aksha engages with social issues by working with youth and with fundraising programs.
Many of Three Aksha’s students have pursued Bharatanatyam to its fullest, completing arangetrams (debut performances) and receiving support for apprenticeships from the Philadelphia and New Jersey Councils on the Arts.
Director Viji Rao has been studying Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form, since she was three years old. In addition to being a dancer, Viji works as a historian and teacher, with the goal of preserving and presenting this ancient dance form. She promotes cross-cultural awareness through teaching, workshops, and demonstrations in local schools, community centers, as well as colleges and universities. Through Viji’s original work, which she creates with her company Three Aksha, and collaborations with other local artists, she incorporates contemporary, socially relevant themes, from dowry practices to war veterans. Viji’s role as practitioner is to educate the diverse community she is a part of in Pennsylvania about the need and necessity for an art form that is a component of exploring and sharing personal identity, emotions and cultural awareness. Her work as choreographer is one way second-generation Indians and others will be able to connect to their roots in a new place and time.
Live Carnatic musical accompaniment by Praveen D. Rao and Sai Vamshi:
Praveen D. Rao is a much sought after Composer and performer seasoned with over 30 years of stage experience performing both tabla and keyboards under the guidance of renowned gurus Guru Pt. R V Sheshadri Gavai and Pt. Ravindra Yavagal.
His performances range from classical concerts to fusion ensembles, showcasing his versatility. As a composer, he seamlessly blends classical and contemporary genres, contributing his unique style and original music score to innumerable productions across the globe like Three Aksha’s "Prayog" and "Natya Shastra”.
Praveen has been serving on the advisory of many Art institutions in India and presently he is the Director of the Param Cultural Center, Bangalore. He has also founded ‘Prakruthi’ a non profit foundation in India promoting Social awareness through performing arts.
He has received numerous awards and accolades including ‘Karnataka Kalashree’ State award from the Government of Karnataka, India.
Sai Vamshi, a versatile multi-instrumentalist, is skilled in various percussion instruments such as Mridangam, Drums, Cajon, Djembe, Ghatam, Khanjira, and Electronic Percussion Pads. Trained in South Indian Classical music by Guru Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma and kit drumming by Drums Maestro Arun Kumar, he excels in Carnatic Classical, Fusion, Film Music, and Western Genres.
A prodigious talent, Vamshi demonstrated his remarkable concentration and ambidexterity by singing an Avadhana Pallavi while simultaneously playing two different Talas on his hands at the age of 11. As a member of the Cosmos Atma Band, he performed over 30 shows across the USA at a young age.
Vamshi's talents have led him to accompany renowned maestros such as Sri P. Unnikrishnan, Sri Prapancham Balachandran, and Sri O.S. Arun, further solidifying his reputation as a remarkable musician.
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