PROFILE

Aparna Satheesan is a graceful and gifted Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and teacher, well known globally for her ability to use creativity in presenting innovative ideas through multiple classical dance forms of India. She has over 25 years of experience in the dance field and has over 500 performances to her credit. She is trained in 7 different Indian classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Ottam Thullal, Kerala Nadanam and Folk dance. Aparna's exceptional ability in dance, draws a great connection between the physical and emotional aspects.

She is renowned for her creative productions and for her abhinaya skills. She has been giving a lot of performances in India and abroad. Prestigious events organized by Heartland Film festival, Indian Council of Cultural Relations [ICCR], Karur Natyanjali festival, Soorya Festival(India), Guruvayoor Temple festival, Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, featured performer at The Balaji temple Chicago, Samarpana at Vyllopilli Samskruthi Bhavan, Light and Sound Show, Global Rhythms, Navratri Festival by Soorya Performing Arts USA, Kala Utsav by Indian Consulate Chicago and many more, are some of her major performances. Performing for an event directed by Oscar Award Winner, Sri. A.R Rahman had added more stars in her career. In 2017, she was selected as the state ambassador in Kuchipudi for the international organization, IndianRaga and also was awarded the dance fellowship at IndiaRaga.

She is a talented and well-established dancer who excels in nritta as well as abhinaya aspects of dance and also a well-trained nattuvanar. She has organized and performed for several charitable events for fundraising. Apart from these, she had also worked as a VJ for some of the leading television channels like Asianet, Soorya TV, Kairali, Asianet Plus etc. She had also worked as an RJ and dubbing artist for Malayalam movies.

ABOUT GURUS

Aparna has mastered multiple Indian Classical Dance forms from eminent legendary Gurus like Sri. PadmaBhushan Dhananjayans, Smt. Vyjayanthi Kashi, Smt. Regatta Girija Chandran, Sri. Nelliyodu Vasudevan Namboothiri, Smt. R.S Lekshmi, Smt. Chithra Mohan.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Natya Shiromani National Award by India festival USA
Abhinandan Saroja Award by National Institute of Indian Classical Dance, India
Bharatha Shastra Nrithya Praveena National Award by All India Dancer's Association, India
Featured Performer at the Heartland Film festival, USA
Runner up in Bharatanatyam at Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, USA
Awarded the Kuchipudi Dance Fellowship by Global IndianRaga Organization
State Ambassador at IndianRaga Organization
State Youth Festival winner for Kathakali, Kuchipudi and Folk Dance
Kalaathilakam [Overall champion] at School Youth festivals in Kerala
Kalaathllakam at Swathi Thirunal Trust, Kerala

DANCE PRODUCTIONS

Aparna has premiered her own first dance production “Krishna '' at The Sangam event, organized by Eli Lilly Corporation, Indianapolis, IN USA, where she played the main role as Krishna, which got great appreciation from the artist community.

Aparna's another main dance production was Sri Rama Charitham by Nrityapriya Fine Arts, which was premiered in 2017, where she played the main role as Sri Rama.

Her other major productions/choreographies are Aarohanam, Shivoham, Natya Samyoga, Samarpana, Nirvikalpa, IndianRaga productions, Digital Diwali and many more.

DANCE AND CHARITABLE WORK

Aparna's passion is giving back to the society. She has worked with many charitable organizations and is dedicated to contribute back to society and make a small change in the world through her gifted art. In 2015, she started a non-profit organization SAMYOGA FOUNDATION India, in memory of her late father G. Satheesan, which was officially inaugurated by Princess of Travancore, Her Highness Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi. She has conducted several fundraising events for the welfare of the society under the project "Transforming Life through Dance" in India and abroad.