When dance meets destiny

Vyshnavie Sainath Prabhu 
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Dr Vyshnavie Sainath Prabhu, an internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancer, TedX speaker and a scholarship holder from Goldman Sachs (IIM Bangalore) will perform at Karunashryaya this weekend. The dance, titled Manas Strotah – myriad emotions through dance, is about life textured by the events that shape it, says Vyshnavie.

“The common thread that runs through this fabric is the emotion that each event evokes in us. Dance is therapeutic in nature. The dance is about the nava rasas (the nine emotions), hence Manas Strotah is an exploration of these emotions through stories from our Indian mythologies.”

Vyshnavie is also a choreographer and an educator with a Ph D in dance. She believes in using dance to create a social impact, and bring joy and healing. “I am not formally associated with Karunashraya, but am keen to leverage dance as a medium for various social causes. This is the first time I am performing for Karunashraya with the aim of spreading awareness about this facility. The event is also an attempt to leverage Indian arts as a medium to raise funds and as a medium of healing.”

Vyshnavie took to dance early in life and being the daughter of dancer Rajeswari Sainath, says dance is in her DNA. “Over time, the aim was how I can make the dance socially relevant in today’s world, help people understand the art form and how they can pursue it too.”

Manas Strotah is choreographed by Vyshnavie’s mother. “Indian art is so powerful that there is always something to take away from it for anyone watching or associated with it.” Vyshnavie is known for presenting dance ballets on topics including mythology, social, medical and women empowerment.

Manas Strotah, Vyshnavie says,is an attempt to establish connectivity between the performer and the audience. The performance will also include rhythmic poetry on Shiva, representing his powerful tandava. It will be a solo thematic presentation to a recorded music.