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BHARATANATYAM Preeti Vinayak Shah, a professional Bharatnatyam dancer from India, hails from a family of famous artists. Preeti was initiated into the art of Bharatnatyam by Gurus. Shri Narasimhachari and Smt. Vasanthalakshmi and had her intensive training in Bharatnatyam at their institution, "Kala Samarpana". She later continued her abinaya training with PadmaBhooshan Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan, an exponent in the field. Preetis area of expertise lies in fast paced footwork, intense facial expressions especially the nava rasas (nine basic emotions), and the art of Nattuvangam (verbal incantations of the rhythmical patterns of footwork). For the above she has received the rarest of reviews from the harshest of critics in India and the U.S. Preeti has been performing solo in India and in the U.S. She has performed at major Cultural Organizations in India during the December Dance Festival. Her notable performances have been at Sri Kapali Fine Arts, Indian Fine Arts, Nungambakkam Cultural Academy, Kartik Fine Arts, Bharat Kalachar and many more. Preeti was specially invited to perform for the Cultural Secretary of France at the Alliance DFrancaise. In 1992 she was rated at one of the top ten dancers in South India by the Indian Fine Arts Academy. Preetis strong command over rhythm and her flawless footwork have captivated audiences everywhere. She has also mastered the art of Nattuvangam, which is essential to conduct a dance concert. Preeti moved to the United States in 1993, and obtained a Master of Science degree in Neuro-endocrinology. She has been a star performer every semester at The Florida State University. She has given several Master Classes at the School of Dance, The Florida State University. In addition, Preeti represented The Florida State University at the International Conferences of Musicians and Dancers held at Wakulla Springs, Florida in 1994. Preeti gave the inaugural concert at the Hindu Temple of Atlanta for the Mahakumbhabhishekam. Preeti performed on Jan 1, 2000, at the Hindu Temple of Atlanta for the Millennium concert. She also gave a special performance for the Hindu Students Council at Emory in February 2000. Preeti had the privilege of performing for the Hindu Temple in Augusta, Georgia. Preeti choreographed and directed the dance ballet, "MIYA". This was a unique fusion of Indian classical dance styles, folk dances and contemporary dance forms. It was held in June 2000 at the 16th street Playhouse in Atlanta and was very well received by both the Indian and the American audiences. In 1993, Preeti founded the Narasimha Academy of Arts, named after her Guru, where she has imparted professional training to students of all ages. She has conducted concerts for her students and their Arangetram or the debut performances for her students. She teaches both the practical and theoretical aspect of Bharatnatyam. Being a vocalist enables Preeti to conduct dance concerts for others. This combination of singing and Nattuvangam are rare to find in a dancer and teacher. Preeti's Academy is unique because both Bharatnatyam and Carnatic music are show cased every year in the Academy's Annual Recital. Preeti recently formed The Yatra Dance Ensemble of Atlanta. The dance company's forte are folk and contemporary dances. The troupe has performed at the Festival of India, TAMA and GATS for the past two years. Preeti serves as the primary choreographer and artistic director.
CARNATIC VOCAL Besides being an accomplished dancer, Preeti is also a gifted vocalist. She received her initial classical training in Carnatic Music from Shri. Seerghazhi Jayaraman. She later continued her training under the famous legend, Shri. D.K. Jayaraman. Preeti has to her credit an album titled "Omkar". The verbal incantation sequence between Preeti and the percussion artist drew a thunderous applause from the audience. The entire proceeds of this album were donated to the Spastics Society of India. Preeti recently performed on a CD titled, "Maya" which was released by the Florida State University last year. She trains students with the basics and also teaches them unique compositions such as - Aru Padai Murugan Padal, Bharathiyar Padal, Thyagaraja Pancharatna Keerthanai, Ambal Pancharathna Keerthanai, Thiruppugazh, Devaram etc. Her vocal music students can be seen performing at the local organizations, the Annual Recital and at the Thyagaraja Uthsavam.
Preeti performs throughout the year and there are details about her concerts in the Upcoming Recitals section. You can also find information on student performances in the same section. ![]() |