"Setu": A Bridge Between

Shastriya Festival Initiative

TICKETS FOR PERFORMANCE

"Setu" builds a bridge between the Indian classical dance forms of Kuchupudi and Bharata Natyam by acclaimed artists Sreelakshmy Govardhanan and Shweta Prachande. Join us for an evening of conversation and performance that traces living connection between tradition and contemporary experience.

Two artists, two lineages, and one stage forming a bridge between them.

Sreelakshmy Govardhanan- Kuchipudi Artist

Sreelakshmy Govardhanan is a renowned Kuchipudi dancer, choreographer, and researcher from Kerala, India. While strictly adhering to the robust sampradaya (tradition) of her Guru Pasumarthy Rattaiah Sarma, a doyen of Kuchipudi Yakshagana, Sreelakshmy has carved a niche for herself in the art world by creating a repertoire that is a unique amalgam of tradition and innovation. She has chiseled her art to unravel stories that hold a mirror to contemporary social realities while staying rooted in tradition. Sreelakshmy is the founder and artistic director of the Avantika Space for Dance--a center for learning, performance, and research.

Sreelakshmy Govardhanan has been the recipient of many titles and honours such as ‘Kalashree’ from Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, "Nalanada Nrutya Nipuna," "Kala Ratna," "Singar Mani," Binfield Endowment from Narada Gana Sabha Chennai, Kalavaahini Trust Senior Fellowship, and Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar Award from Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi to name a few. She has captivated audiences at the most prestigious festivals and sabhas  (venues) in India and abroad including The Madras Music Academy, Nehru Centre London, Khajuraho Dance Festival, Konark Dance Festival, Kalakshetra Foundation, Drishti Dance Festival, Battery Dance Festival, and Kalavaahini Dance for Dance Festival.

Shweta Prachande- Bharata Natyam Artist

Shweta Prachande is one of the foremost dancers in the new generation of Bharatanatyam artistes. The expert guidance and mentorship of her Guru, world renowned dancer and choreographer Priyadarsini Govind has helped Shweta understand and appreciate the importance of nuance and aesthetics in dance. This has given her an overall understanding of other disciplines that have contributed immeasurably to the dancer she is today. Her early training under yet another renowned dancer, Dr. Sucheta Chapekar, gave her the foundation to build and grow her dance.

Her passion for dance led her to expand her dance vocabulary through the program in Dance Studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London, UK. This combined with an MFA in Bharatanatyam have provided her with added insights and perspectives on her dance. She has married this dedication and artistry with training in Yoga and the martial art form, Kalaripayattu. All of this, together with her continuous engagement with celebrated scholars and practitioners of art, have informed her dance and who she is as a dancer.

Shweta has received, ‘National Bal Shree Honour’ by H.E. President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, ‘District Youth Award’ by Nehru Yuva Kendra from Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of India, ‘Indian Delegate’ nominated by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. Of India to represent the country during Commonwealth Day Celebrations at Male, Maldives, ‘Indian Delegate’ to participate in the ‘International Classical and Folk Music Dance Festival’ at Kyrgyzstan, Fellowship by Kalavaahini, a trust founded and headed by celebrated dancer Malavika Sarukkai, ‘Sri T.S. Parthasarathy Award’ by Music Academy Madras, ‘Lakshmi Viswanathan Endowment Prize’ for Abhinaya by Krishna Gana Sabha, ‘Singar Mani’ by Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai, ‘Pratibha Puraskar’ from Govt. of Karnataka’s Department of Culture, ‘Natya Ratna’ by Trinity Fine Arts, Chennai

---

This project is supported by United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and Town of Cary.