My name is Nartana Premachandra and I'm a writer, classical Indian dancer, storyteller, and public speaker in St. Louis, Missouri. I'm currently President of Dances of India, celebrating its 43rd season in 2020-2021.

I've been writing for years---novels, poetry, and non-fiction.  I was recently published in Belt Press’ The St. Louis Anthology and Panorama, the Journal of Intelligent Travel. (http://www.panoramajournal.org/seen-dr-premachandras-st-louis-pilgrimage/ ) I also write and narrate dance-dramas for Dances of India. Our most recent production, in 2019, put an extra romantic spin on the already romantic, deeply beloved Hindu love stories between Radha and Krishna. It was called The Secret Letters of Radha and Krishna. In 2018 we gave new life to a little-known character in the epic The Ramayana in The Forgotten Ramayana: The Tale of Urmila, the Sleeping Princess. For our 40th Anniversary in 2017, we created Devi of the Ashes--Cinderella in India.  In 2016 we presented The Music of Water--Tales of Adventure, Love, & Magic Along India's Sacred Rivers.

To catch a glimpse of our productions, please visit:  www.DancesOfIndiaStLouis.org

Here’s a little bit on me: I was born in St. Louis, Missouri. My mom, Asha Premachandra, is Artistic Director of Dances of India, and my dad, the late Dr. B.N. Premachandra--medical researcher in the field of endocrinology and founder of Dances of India--are originally from Bangalore, India. I graduated with a B.A. in French from Washington University in St. Louis and then studied International Relations/Finance at the London School of Economics and at Webster University's campus in London.  I've lived in Paris and London for several years, and worked in Yokohama, Japan, for one year. And I spent several storybook summers in what used to be the quiet, idyllic, suburb of Jayanagar, in Bangalore, throughout grade school and high school.

Early this year I gave a talk for the Missouri History Museum entitled River Cities. It focused on the Mississippi, the Ganges, and the Seine, and their respective cities of St. Louis, Varanasi, and Paris—which are also the three rivers of my life! Please visit: https://youtu.be/zvrtcPgFDHE

I also gave talks for a wonderful local yoga community called Yoga Buzz on mudras (hand gestures), stories of gods and goddesses, and a more in-depth session on the divine feminine in Hinduism.

In 2019 I gave a talk at the Saint Louis Art Museum on Hinduism, Buddhism, and the Silk Roads entitled Om Mani Padme Hum: The Jewel in the Lotus of the Heart. I also gave a 4-week talk on that at Ladue Chapel. Such a fascinating topic!

I also told a story at the 2019 Arts & Faith Concert at the Sheldon Theatre! Here is the link to that: https://youtu.be/CkhNVYczYmY

In 2018 I gave a talk on Gandhi's influence on Dr. Martin Luther King at the Missouri History Museum, St. Louis Ethical Society, Florissant Community College, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and Ladue Chapel. I additionally gave a Gallery Talk at the Saint Louis Art Museum entitled: The Strong Wondrous Song of the Body: Meaning, Myth, and Metamorphosis Through the Art of the Sculpted Dancer, in which I spoke about movement in the sculptures of Edgar Degas, Rene Sintenis, and Georg Kolbe. And in 2017 I gave Gallery Talks in the Saint Louis Art Museum:

Jan 2017:  In the South Asian Gallery--The Great Dance of the Universe:  Myth, Movement and Meaning in Indian Art.

Aug & Sep 2017:  In the Islamic Gallery--An Iridescent Exchange:  Fashion & the Fantastic Along the Silk Road

I also gave a four-week series of talks at Ladue Chapel in October 2018 entitled A Mosaic of Many Hearts, an introduction to the religions, art, and history of the Indian subcontinent.

In 2016, in addition to performing around town, I performed and gave storytelling sessions in the Indian art galleries in the Saint Louis Art Museum. In 2015, I gave readings of my work at Southwest Illinois College--East St. Louis and Washington University (at a memorial for Professor of Classics Emeritus Kevin Herbert). I also gave a workshop entitled A Mosaic of Many Hearts--on Indian literature, myth, and dance--at the Saint Louis Art Museum. (Yes, I love that title so I decided to use it again!).

In addition I have given many dance demonstration/workshops around St. Louis in many different corporations and universities/cultural institutions.

Please visit www.dancesofindiastlouis.org for more information on Dances of India!