Florida State University commissions dancer Preeti Shah’s work
Florida State University commissions dancer Preeti Shah's work
Atlanta-based Bharathanatyam dancer, Preeti Vinayak Shah, was commissioned to direct and perform a group dance production for the Florida State University (FSU), College of Music, in Tallahassee, Fla. Titled "Om Pranava Shabdham – the primordial chant," the work was presented by Preeti and five of her senior disciples on September 9th at a packed auditorium. About 700 attended despite a home football game! The 2-hour program on Hindu deities and their association with the chant "OM" enthralled the mostly Western audience; so did the finale based on the powerful "Mrutyunjaya Mantram." Kati Schardl, art critic for the Tallahassee Democrat, commented, "Preeti was simply poetry in motion. Surely she was guided by the Gods in her performance! She was absolutely riveting." As an alumnus of FSU, Preeti has been presenting her work there for 13 years. Dr. Seaton, from the College of Music, noted how Preeti surpasses herself every year. It was no different this year. Preeti's disciples – Jessica Garro, Ashwathy Mohanan, Shruthi Panicker, Supriya Shridharan and Praveena Vadrevu – accompanied her in a production that was co-sponsored by the India Association of Tallahassee.
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