Prakriti Dance is an innovative performing company based in the United States, specializing in the Indian classical dance form of Kuchipudi. Under the artistic direction of Kasi Aysola, a renowned Kuchipudi dancer and choreographer, the company celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2025, marking a decade of dynamic contributions to Indian dance in the modern world. Prakriti Dance draws from India’s rich movement vocabulary to interpret both traditional and contemporary themes through performance. The company crafts original works that blend storytelling, philosophy, poetry, nature, and sound to transcend cultural boundaries and explore the human experience. With a bold, interdisciplinary approach, Prakriti aims to evolve the Indian aesthetic in conversation with the world today. Prakriti’s original productions include Prakriti: Faces of Goddess Earth, Amba Shikhandi: A Journey of Courage, Through Fish Eyes, and its latest creation, Ritual of Identity, which premieres in 2025 to mark a decade of boundary-breaking work. The company has toured both traditional and original choreography at prominent venues and festivals such as Jacob’s Pillow 90th Anniversary Festival (MA), The Kennedy Center (DC), Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival (DC), Drive East (NYC), Spring to Dance (MI), and the Kuchipudi 50th Flag Festival in India. Prakriti Dance is also deeply committed to access and education. The company has brought Indian dance and storytelling to over 80 schools across the Washington, D.C. area and regularly offers public workshops, university masterclasses, and Kuchipudi training to both emerging and professional artists. Prakriti’s original dance works have been supported by organizations such as the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Barr Foundation, Maryland State Arts Council, National Academies Keck Futures Initiative, The Boston Foundation, and the Boston Cultural Council. Through performance, teaching, and creative collaboration, Prakriti continues to forge a dynamic, diasporic voice for Indian dance in the modern world.
Performance Highlights
Original Thematic Work:
Ritual of Identity
Cannonball Festival in association with Philadelphia Fringe Festival: Sept 2025
Through Fish Eyes
Jacob’s Pillow 90th Anniversary Festival, Beckett Massachusetts: Sept 2022 (supported by Jacob’s Pillow & National YoungArts Foundation)
Nitya Nritya Festival, Jeanne Wagner Theater, Salt Lake City Utah: Sept 2022. (supported by National Endowment for the Arts, Salt Lake County, George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, Salt Lake City Arts Council, Utah Legislature - Utah Division of Arts & Museums)
Jaalam, USF Theater 1, Tampa Floria: Sept 2021(supported National Endowment for the Arts, SouthArts, Culture Builds Florida, Rudram Dance Company)
Kennedy Center, Terrace Theater, Washington DC: Jun 2019 (supported by The National Academies Keck Futures Initiative & The Boston Foundation's Live Arts Boston Program)
Amba Shikandi: A Journey of Courage
Dance Place, Washington DC: Jul. 2018 (Co-presented by Dance Place)
Cary Arts Center, Cary, North Carolina: Mar. 2018 (Presented by Samskrita Bharati)
Ravindra Natya Mandir, Mumbai, India: Feb. 2018 (Presented by RasaBodhi Arts Foundation at EVAM Festival)
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai, India: Feb. 2018
Kalabharathi, Vishakapatnam, India: Feb. 2018 (Presented by Vishaka Music and Dance Academy)
James Armstrong Theater, Torrance, California: Sep. 2017 (Presented by Shakti Dance Company)
Atlas Performing Arts Center, Washington DC: Feb. 2017 (Presented by Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival)
Prakriti: The Faces of Goddess Earth
Dance Place, Washington DC: Jul. 2017 (Co-presented by Dance Place)
Asian Pacific Heritage Month Inaugural Ceremony, Mitchelville, Maryland: Apr. 2015
32nd Annual Choreographers’ Showcase, College Park, Maryland: Jan. 2015
Nrityaseva: A fundraiser for the Tamil Nadu Kidney Research (TANKER) Foundation, Lanham, Maryland: Sep. 2014
Prakriti Dance has been supported by: Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Barr Foundation, Maryland State Arts Council, National Academies Keck Futures Initiative, The Boston Foundation, Boston Cultural Council