Prathibha Prahlad is a celebrated Indian Bharatanatyam dancer whose multi- faceted personality reflects in the outstanding work she continues to do in the arts field. Her contribution goes much beyond her own trail-blazing dance career which has taken her to prestigious platforms all over the world. A cultural visionary, besides being a star performer of Bharatanatyam, her work the field of arts is profound and unparalleled in contemporary dance history. Starting her performance career at the age of 6, she was hailed a star before she turned 20.

Alongside a spectacular career in dance, which took her to every nook and corner of the Country, besides premier cultural festivals and grand performance venues internationally, Prathibha Prahlad is equally famous for her missionary work in conceptualizing and presenting International Arts Festivals.

The Delhi International Arts Festival,the most famous and the largest Arts Festival in India, of which she is the Founder Festival Director, is a known Brand internationally because of Prathibha Prahlad’s vision, direction, conviction and hard work. The Dept. of Posts, Govt of India, released a ‘First Day Cover’ of the Delhi International Arts Festival in 2011, with Prathibha Prahlad’s mission statement.

Prathibha Prahlad also has the unique distinction of being the only dancer of her generation to be on an Indian Postal Stamp of Rs.5 /- released by the Indian Posts & Telegraphs Dept., as a special honor to her extraordinary and missionary work in the arts field.

Prathibha Prahlad is a performer, teacher, choreographer, researcher, cultural visionary &organizer, arts administrator, writer &arts academic and a cultural feminist activist to all of which she brings exacting standards.

Prathibha Prahlad is the youngest recipient of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for dance. She has also received the Karnataka State Government Award, Sangeet Nritya Academy Award of Karnataka, Orissa Critic’s Best dancer Award, The Mahila Shiromani Award, and TheIndira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award, Kala Shiromani, presented by ISEC and was nominated for the Asia Pacific Cultural Entrepreneur award in 2011. Besides these, she has received several awards and titles. She also has the honor of being anointed official dancer of the Virupaksha Temple-‘NATYA BHARATI’– Sri Srimukham Sree Virupaksha Vidyaranya Mahapeetam-Hampi.

Prathibha Prahlad was elected ‘Bangalore’s Woman of the Decade’in 2000.

A post graduate degree in Mass Communications, and in English Literature and an enviable experience in the performance, print and television media add to her distinction as an arts interlocutor. Prathibha writes articles in leading newspapers and is a frequent invitee to seminars and other academic activities nationally and internationally. She has produced, directed and acted in television serials. Prathibha Prahlad has also authored books on Bharatanatyam& other related subjects.

Prathibha Prahlad’s pioneering work in choreography, combining various dance styles, such as ‘Rhythm & Harmony’, ‘Paanchajanya –sights & sounds of India’, ‘Vande Maataram’- tribute to the Motherland inspired many of her seniors to direct similar productions.

Prathibha Prahlad heads the Prasiddha Foundation& Forum For Arts Beyond Borders, both of which haveestablished themselves as premier cultural organizations of the Country. Through her Organizations, she has championed the cause of arts relentlessly and even procured train travel concessions for all artistes traveling for performances. Through Prasiddha Foundation, Prathibha Prahlad pioneered Cultural Tourism Festivals in Karnataka and also collected Rs.10 lac for the Prime Ministers Relief Fund through her event “Karnataka For Kargil”

Her passionate belief in the strength of traditional forms combined with a contemporary understanding of the changing dynamics in the art world give Prathibha’s dance& choreographies an aesthetic and immediate appeal.

Prasiddha Dance Repertory, of which she is the Artistic Director and Choreographer has become a much sought after dance group and is frequently invited by International Festivals for performances.

Prathibha Prahlad’s work and reputation go much beyond her years in the arts field. She was the convener of the Culture Committee of the Commonwealth Games 2010 and was a member of the expert committee that designed the Opening & Closing Ceremony of the Games.

The other Government Committees, Prathibha Prahlad has served on include- Member of the Executive Board of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, Cabinet Committee forHANNOVER EXPO2000- where she designed the entire cultural component of the Indian Pavilion besides choreographing the main Indian presentation there. (ITPO –Ministry of Commerce), Expert Committee for Tableaux Selection for Republic Day (Ministry Of Defence), Expert Committee for selection for Dance Scholarships- (Ministry Of Culture), Expert Committee for Junior and Senior Fellowships-2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 ,2013- (Ministry Of Culture), Culture committee for Afro Asian Games (Hyderabad). Besides these, Prathibha Prahlad has also been member of Committee to design the Syllabus for dance for CBSE Boards -10th and 12th – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.

She was also requested to design the modelQuestion Paper for C.B.S.E Boards for general and practical – Arts-2009/2010 and was on N.C.E.R.T- Committee to design Syllabus and teaching methodology for cultural studies.

Prathibha Prahlad is not only a “Diva” of Indian dance but is hailed a legend because of the quantum and quality of work she has generated in the last 35 years of her career.

www.prathibhaprahlad.net

prathibhaprahlad@gmail.com