Unsolicited Audience Reponse from the May 2007 premier of Stree Katha in Los Angeles

..Thank you for providing the ... DVD's Of Mythili Prakash's Bharata Natyam...I was moved to tears by Ms. Prakash's performance (Caltec - Beckman Auditorium), especially the pieces to Surya and to Devi. I will remember the expression on her face when she danced the part of the Gopi kissed by little Krishna, it was perfect...It is no wonder to me that her art is resonant; she seems to have given enough of her self away that it has made much room for the technique and the spirit of the art to take a place in her.
   Bennett Schneider, Los Angeles, Ca., May 7, 2007

It was an outstanding performance (at Archana 2007). Everyone is raving about it... Mythili was spectacular and was equally complemented by the other talented dancers. The music was a treat in itself.
   Surekha, Organizer, Ventura, Ca, Monday, 30 April 2007

Mythili, I've just visited your web site and felt I should, one more time, thank you for the experience of your dance and making Las Vegas a part of your tour. Although I don't believe you need any encouragement, I encourage you to continue creating the beauty that you do and to help shrink the world even more. Now I have to learn more about Bharata Natyam!
   Glenn, Las Vegas, NV, Wednesday, 25 Aril 2007

Your performance at Rochester was just superb. Words won't do justice to tell you as to how much we enjoyed it.
   Gurdip Sethi, Rochester, NY, Monday, 23 Aril 2007

Performance on Sunday (in Washington DC) was just spectacular...the perfect harmony between grace and athleticism is truly impressive!... what perfect posture, what straight lines, perfectly crisp movements ...execution was brilliant. The interplay between sound and steps was just delightful to watch... Mythili and the ensemble work together so seamlessly that one can only wonder if they do anything other than practice...
   Anita Balachandra, Washington D.C., Monday, 16 Aril 2007

Your performance last weekend at the Fitzgerald Theater was breathtaking... The fact that our four-year-old son sat through the entire program is in and of itself indicative of your performance.
   Ranga Sourirajan, Washington D.C., Sunday, 15 April 2007

Shakti Dance Company's performance (Dance Yatra) yesterday...was utterly breathtaking. Not even during my years in India did we have the good fortune to enjoy such an electrifying yet moving performance of traditional Indian dance. Mythili is an exceptionally gifted dancer -- She is certainly amongst the brightest shining stars in the field and we eagerly look forward to the next opportunity to see her and the rest of the troupe perform.
   His Excellency Kazuo Kodama, Consul General of Japan, at Los Angeles, Ca., March, 26 2007

Thanks for bringing this wonderful performance (Dance Yatra) to the Electric Lodge, probably the best performance we have seen of Indian dance so far. Mythili it's amazing to see you on stage, you don't dance you flow over the floor... your grace and communication is so strong and at the same time so delicate... beautiful? it is a simple word but probably it is the word that fits better you have a gift that is rare...
   Jorge Vismara, Los Angeles, Monday, 26 March 2007

Mesmerizing and enthralling may be words which just scratch the surface of Mythili Prakash's artistic creation. Her astounding first recorded venture "Natyam: the dance traditional, eternal and evolving" reaches deep into a spiritual tradition, in an ethereal setting, and, amazingly, grounded in a contemporary framework for modern audiences. Not only was Mythili dancing, but so were all her descendants, it was as somehow she was able to coordinate her own dance and that of her Gurus, and her ancestral lineage in one seamless dance. The music enthralled and transported me across to a place where there were no boundaries, nor time....I was left with immense sense of gratitude and appreciation for the richness and depth that it embodies. It is an eternal contribution to the world of arts, a manifestation of the creative cosmic energy of the Universe. Sincerely and with much love
   Dr. C.M. Chantal Toporov

I saw your performance recently, it was absolutely mind blowing. Never have I seen such consummate perfection in performing arts. Elegant, flawless, and completely natural devoid of any theatrics. The expressions are impeccable. Enacting different characters in a narrow time slot is something even the most skilled and experienced actor may struggle to achieve, but in your case the dancing seems like an icing on the cake.
   Surya Kannan - Chennai, January 9, 2007

Was at your performance yesterday. It was outstanding, I liked your costume and the initial item Surya. The Daru Varnam was also very good. You have a bright future.
   Revathi Ramachandran - Bharata Natyam Guru, Dancer - Chennai, December 8, 2006

We were completely taken in when we saw your brilliant performance for the first time on Aug, 18, 2006 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore. We witnessed your captivating dance again at the Madras Music college on Nov 22, 2006. We are very keen to attend all your performances during our stay in Chennai for the Bharata Natyam season.
   Vasanthi Natarajan - Chennai, December 6, 2006

I enjoyed your performances at the Festival this weekend in Richmond. I am familiar with Indian music because of my interest initially in the Beatles, and from them to Ravi Shankar. However, I had never seen Indian dance. Your dancing was mesmerizing and beautiful. I especially enjoyed the joint dancing with the Hula dancers. When you and the young man danced back and forth, it brought tears of happiness to me. This was the perfect summation of what the folk festival is all about, cultures sharing and appreciating and learning together. I hope you will return to Richmond in the future and share your gifts with us.
   Betsy Cockriel - Richmond,Virginia, October 15, 2006

Hi Mythili - I had a chance to watch the Natyam DVD... and it truly is beautifully conceived and executed. I really liked the vision in Kaala Yatra, ....the scenes between Mahabalipuram and the theater - it translated really well. Chidambaram was very creatively done - I really enjoyed the choreography......Sakhi Prana is such a wonderful javali, and not easy to do - I enjoyed the way you interpreted it and presented it. As with all of your nritta, Current is so exciting and energizing. I am always excited to see someone who takes nritta to the next level, both in the complexity of rhythm as well as in the combinations of adavus used. I find in many cases that nritta gets repetitive and predictable in many presentations these days, and Current was neither. Hats off to you for both wonderful choreography in use of rhythm, steps and use of space. I'm also really happy to see this kind of adaptation for "contemporary" Bharata Natyam. In many cases these days, I think that people are compelled to create "contemporary" BharataNnatyam, and, in my opinion, is not always true to the tradition and context from which it was born - I appreciate that you are creating contemporary Bharata Natyam that still looks and feels like a classical dance tradition.
   Suchi Sairam, Bharata Natyam Dancer/Promoter - Minneapolis, USA, August 15, 2006,

Today I watched this beautiful dance video. It was an experience of joy and excitement. The cinematography is excellent, making the video feel better than even the live performance. The introduction with very enchanting pictures of the ancient temples describing the origin of the Bharat Natyam with divine settings is very impressive and relevant. The music compositions are superb, rendering exhilarating support to the dance numbers. The editing is of very high standard, coordinating all sequences with great harmony. Above all else the dances of Mythili are like a wisp of fresh air, spreading sweet morning fragrance all the way. She is indeed a born artist, starting her career from the high level, where her illustrious mother Viji Prakash has planted her. She portrays various emotional moods with great rhythm and style. Her movements are mesmerizing, creating an ocean of art and pure bliss for the viewers. She appears like a goddess of dance with spiritual divine face imparting grace and compassion in every step. I fondly predict that she will be the recipient of the highest honors in due course of time, not just as an Indian artist, but also more like a world figure. She has the making of a bright career, and a place in the stars. For any one who cares to know about Indian classical dance, this video provides an excellent and authentic introduction. .
   Dr. Badlani - Los Angeles, USA, August 15, 2006,

Dear Miss Prakash - I would like to thank you again for your wonderful performance at the Mandapa. Your nritta was a stunning combination of tandava and lasya and your abhinaya exquisite. I know what I am talking about as I studied Bharatanatyam for 13 years in UK and since my move to France I have been teaching and performing in the Limousin. An intimate knowledge of an art form tends to make one a somewhat critical spectator but I had nothing but praise for your performance. It is a very long time since I experienced such joy as your nritta inspired in me and your portrayal of the shamed Draupadi moved me to tears. The varnam was spectacular and the inclusion of story telling episodes a welcome change.
   Madge Hirsch - dancer/ teacher, after Mandapa program- Paris, France, May 15, 2006,

Dear Viji, Myhtili was amazing, as always, the choreography was great and her energy and abhinaya were fantastic. I was sitting with all the dance students, who were truly awestruck...She has lots of new fans here, who are already looking forward to her next tour.
   Priyadarshini Sahathevan - dancer, after Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan program, London, UK, April 29,2006