Mysuru: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), Mysuru Kendra, has organised a Bharatanatyam recital by P. Praveen Kumar and Chithkala Ensemble, Bengaluru team at BVB premises in Vijayanagar 1st Stage here at 6 pm on Apr. 19.

Profile: Hailing from a family of artistes, Praveen Kumar showed a natural inclination towards arts and dance at a very young age. His tutelage under the eminent gurus, Narmada and Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar, helped him realise the aesthetic depths, traditions of Bharatanatyam and dedicate himself to this ancient  dance form.

Praveen is an accomplished nattuvanar and choreographer and has skilfully ideated several critically acclaimed productions to his credit including Tyagaraja Hruth Sadana, Rtu Vismruthi, Vani, Sakha, Anangha Vilasa, Pandharpur and many more.

Through his dance productions, he has explored aspects like climate change, fabrics, various complexities and nuances within interpersonal relationships, under-discussed dimensions of mythology, besides paying a tribute to cultural icons and poets like Mysore Vasudevachar, Sundaram Pillai and Sage Panini.

From his flawless footwork to his layered understanding nritta, abhinaya and his skilful choreography, Praveen Kumar has consistently received critical acclaim over the years and has redefined himself as a performer, staying abreast with the times.

He believes that learning is always two-sided and has strived to be relevant, without losing the essence of the form.

He has travelled extensively around the globe and in India, taking part in prestigious dance and music festivals and is also the Founder of the Chithkala School of Dance at Bengaluru.

Praveen is an empanelled artiste of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and an ‘A’ grade artiste on television.

He has received numerous awards including Best Dancer of the Season from The Madras Music Academy for the year 2018 & 2019; Karnataka Kalasri from Karnataka Sangeeta Nrutya Academy for the year 2021; Ustad Bismilla Khan Yuva Purskar 2010 from the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi; The Mohan Khokar Award-2010; Obul Reddy Endowment Senior dancer award, from Natyarangam, Chennai 2016; Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Prathibha Purskar from Srjan, Bhuvaneshwar 2016; Chandana Prashasthi from Bangalore Doordarshan 2017.