Asha Prem

🪔 About

Asha Prem is a distinguished figure in Indian classical dance, primarily known for her expertise in Bharatanatyam. She is the artistic director of Dances of India, a premier Indian dance school and one of the oldest classical Indian dance companies in the United States, based in St. Louis, Missouri. Prem received extensive training in Bharatanatyam as a child in Bangalore, India, where she studied closely with her teacher Sunandana for fourteen years. After relocating to St. Louis in the late 1960s, Asha Prem, along with her husband, the late Dr. B.N. Premachandra, founded Dances of India in 1976. Before establishing the company, she taught Bharatanatyam classes at Washington University and privately. The couple's vision was to introduce and promote Indian dance and culture in the St. Louis area, giving their first performance in 1976. Under her artistic direction, Dances of India has presented annual performances and original dance-theatre productions, often blending Western classics with Indian music or Indian myths with Western music. Asha Prem is a highly respected teacher, known for her dedication to passing on the tradition of Bharatanatyam. She and her assistants teach over one hundred dance students annually, welcoming individuals of all genders, racial, ethnic, religious backgrounds, and ages. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes providing a nurturing environment for students to develop their own style within the classical framework. Her contributions to the arts have been recognized with significant accolades, including the 2018 St. Louis Visionary Award for Outstanding Teaching Artist and the 2020 Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis Artist Fellow. Her daughter, Nartana Premachandra, now serves as the President of Dances of India, continuing the family's legacy. Awards & Honours: St. Louis Visionary Award for Outstanding Teaching Artist (2018), Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis Artist Fellow (2020).