Samanvita Kasthuri

Indian contemporary dancer trained in the forms of Kathak and Bharatanatyam for the last eighteen years. Has completed her debut four hour long solo performances in both styles. Extensive experience in creating, composing, and choreographing dances that pull from her classical training in fusion with other movement styles like Contemporary, Hip-Hop and Postmodern. Strong performer with an emphasis on storytelling, technical prowess in complex rhythmical patterns, and a quick learner open to experimenting with unfamiliar styles and techniques. Is currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York.

Choreography and Creation

“ghungroo” – Choreographer and Dancer

Created as part of Sarah Lawrence College’s MFA in Dance from January-April 2026. Incorporates technical foundations of Kathak in fusion with Contemporary movement with an emphasis on storytelling, ‘abhinaya’, and utilizes music that incorporates Hindustani music and Indian-Jazz music. Features undergraduate and graduate dancers from Sarah Lawrence: Samanvita Kasthuri, Ángela Muñoz Ventura, Angela Ugochukwa, Anya Raju, and Aishwarya Satheesh-Kumar. – April 2026

“Krtghna” – Choreographer and Dancer

Commissioned by Saint Louis University and premiered in 2022 for the Saint Louis Literary Arts Award Ceremony honoring author Arundhati Roy. Choreographed  and composed by Samanvita Kasthuri, featuring Nattuvangam and Mrudangam by Prasanna Kasthuri. Presented at the following venues:

• Literary Arts Award Ceremony, honoring Arundhati Roy (St. Louis, April 2022)
• Battery Dance Festival, Young Voices in Dance (New York, August 2023)
• WaxWorks Showcase Series (Williamsburg, NY, June 2024)
• Louis Contemporary Dance Festival (St. Louis, MO, July 2024)
• Breaking Ground Festival (Tempe, AZ, January 2025)
• Disruption - Pack Dance Company’s Spring Concert (St. Louis, MO, May 2025)
• 16th American Natya Festival (St. Louis, MO, June 2025)

“Dancers Making Moves” – Choreographer and Dancer

A multimedia project highlighting 24 St. Louis based choreographers and dancers, featuring a podcast, photoshoot, and a live performance. Collaborative project with Kyla Kikkawa, a movement practitioner based in St. Louis who primarily trains in Krump, to create a fusion piece that combined Nattuvangam, Kathak, and Krump. Premiered May 2025, at Staenberg Performance Lab in COCA (Center of Creative Arts) in St. Louis, MO. – May 2025

“Mirrored” – Choreographer and Dancer

Featured in Saint Louis University’s dance minor concert “Dreamscape”, which experiments with contemporary fusion and elements of Bharatanatyam. A narrative based piece that follows a character experiencing a never-ending nightmare. – May 2024

“What Do You Feel?” – Choreographer and Dancer

A self-choreographed project that involved numerous student groups and local St. Louis dancers presented as my capstone project at Saint Louis University. This project interrogates the role of abhinaya and its application of traditional storytelling in fusion with Western styles of dance. This project was funded by Saint Louis University’s Investigative Learning Experience (ILEX) Grant. – May 2024

“Equal” – Choreographer and Dancer

A self-choreographed and composed piece called “Equal”, and was focused on feminism. The dance was a narrative, story-based Bharatanatyam fusion piece that described the stigma surrounding a woman who was harassed, and her journey to finding strength towards self-acceptance and reaching out for help, shattering the stigma surrounding victims of harassment. Choreographed for the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition and presented at the Fabulous Fox Theater, where this piece was awarded Second Place and an “I” award for the most innovative dance. — April 2019

Performance Experience

“Clothesline” – Dancer

Ensemble dancer in New York based choreographer Jeevika Bhat’s dance production which combined Odissi technique, Contemporary movement, and folk dances from India. “Clothesline” questions how we define home, and how we can maintain connections with our roots and upbringings while staying present in our current spatial and cultural circumstances – October 2025

“The Heartbreak Dance” – Choreographer and Dancer

Choreographed and starred in a music video for a single by St. Louis based rapper, Daemon. Directed by Will Reasoner, released on Youtube and Spotify – May 2025

“Disruption” – Choreographer and Dancer

Ensemble dancer in two pieces as part of Pack Dance Company’s spring concert, “Disruption”. “Bidding Farewell Enthusiasm" choreographed by Logan Guerra (Contemporary Fusion); Solo dancer in “Krtghna” choreographed by Samanvita Kasthuri (Bharatanatyam Fusion); “Hidden in Plain Sight” by Arica Nyamsi (Contemporary/Pedestrian/Improvisational) – May 2025

“Say It” – Dancer

Featured in a music video for a single by St. Louis based singer, Hana Canhasi. Choreographed by Tiala Taylor, released on Instagram – November 2024

“Turning Point” – Dancer

Choreographed by Ty Lewis for the Space Station Dance Residency in St. Louis, MO – August 2024

“Dreamscape” – Dancer

Featured in three student-choreographed works (Contemporary Fusion) as part of Saint Louis University’s dance minor concert as a dancer  – May 2024

Kartik Fine Arts, Kalasankula, Shantala Arts Academy, Anusham Arts Academy - Dancer

Presented an hour long Bharatanatyam repertoire featuring pieces such as Varnams, Ashtapadis, and Tillanas. Choreographed by Guru Prasanna Kasthuri. Presented in venues across India in the cities Chennai and Bengaluru. – December 2023

“Samarpan” – Dancer

Featured as a dancer for “Samarpan”, a four hour long music and dance production focused on the historical depiction of the Indian independence movement, premiered in St. Louis at Touhill Performing Arts Center. Choreographed, composed, and directed by Guru Prasanna Kasthuri and presented with Soorya Performing Arts. – August 2022

“Samarpan” was also premiered at APAP Conference, at New York City Center – January 2025

Training and Education

Masters in Fine Arts at Sarah Lawrence Dance College – Bronxville, New York (In-Progress)

• Contemporary Movement, Cunningham technique, and Hip-Hop
• Creation of group and solo choreography that combines Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and Contemporary; works are presented each semester
• Self-driven research concentrated on the field of Indian Modern/Contemporary dance
• Years Attending: September 2025-May 2027
• Notable Teachers: John Jasperse, Peggy Gould, Janet Charleston, Rokafella

IMGE Intensive  – New York

• Foundational elements of Bharatanatyam, Chhau, and House
• Incorporating self-expression and storytelling through technique and learning a combination
• Intensive spanned March 7-9, 2026
• Notable teachers: Ishita Mili

Space Station Dance Residency – St. Louis, MO

• Modern, Contemporary Fusion
• Years Attended: July-August 2024
• Notable Teachers: Ty Lewis
• Focus: Improvisation, Partnering, Lifting

Pack Dance Company – St. Louis, MO

• Contemporary, Contemporary Fusion
• Years Attended: 2024-2025
• Notable Teachers: Arica Nyamsi

Saint Louis University, Minor in Dance – St. Louis, MO

• Contemporary, Modern, and Basic Jazz
• Years attended: 2020-2024
• Notable Teachers: Holly Seitz Marchant

Soorya Performing Arts – St. Louis, MO

• Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Carnatic music
• Years attended: 2007-Present
• Notable Teachers: Guru Prasanna Kasthuri, Guru Seema Kasthuri, Guru Lalitha Srinivasan, Dr. Nagmani Srinath