Sumona Apsara Parii is the Artistic Director of ShivShakti School of Dance. She is also a dedicated, passionate International Bharata Natyam and Bollywood Exponent, Dancer, Choreographer, as well Teacher.  

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Sumona performs at cultural, art and dance festivals, retreats, workshops, weddings, and other special events. In addition, she specializes in (custom) choreography for individuals, couples, and families or groups who would like to perform or dance for special occasions, such as weddings and other cultural events.  

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She is also active as a judge of Bharata Natyam and Bollywood Dance competitions, as well auditions.  

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Sumona commenced her journey of Bharata Natyam in 1989 in Virginia. In 1997 she won second place and in 1998 she won first place for the International Dance Competition.    From 2001, she explored with a variety of Bharata Natyam styles with other prominent dance gurus.  

 

Then, Sumona moved to California in August 2008 for her final graduation dance training.  She eventually did her Bharata Natyam Arangetram (Debut Performance) in September 2011 in Bellflower, California.   

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Sumona initiated her one woman show, Beauty of Indian Dance with Sumona, in 2012 in California.  She has performed and taught Bharata Natyam, Bollywood  and Contemporary Indian Dances for this presentation at Encinitas Library in Encinitas, California, and over eleven Fairfax County Public Libraries in Virginia.     She travels extensively around the globe to share Beauty of Indian Dance with Sumona in various events. 

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Since May 2012, Sumona has also performed in countless government agencies for Asian-Pacific Islander Celebrations throughout the D.C Metropolitan area, such as in Voice of America and the U.S Department of Justice. 

 

In addition, she performed/performs in prestigious venues such as in the Asia After Dark:  Bollywood and Beyond at the Smithsonian, the Folk Dances of India Festival at Wolftrap and The Embassy of India, as well at auditoriums of George Mason University, George Washington University, California State University and Gallaudet University.  

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Sumona was the Performing Artist and Hostess of her own TV dance program, Nritya Sansaar, which aired every 2nd Saturday of the month on Women's Wordview GTV on MHZ (cable) channel.  In Nritya Sansaar, she talked about  and performed Bharata Natyam, Bollywood Dance and Contemporary Indian Dance.  

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She is also a qualified and certified Yoga Teacher from Cloud Nine Yoga in Huntington Beach, California.   She has taught Bollywood Dance Yoga, Hatha Yoga, and Vinyasa Flow Yoga in California, Virginia and Washington.

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In addition, she conducts her Mudra Workshop with Sumona Apsara Parii in diverse yoga and wellness studios, in which she lectures and performs Bharata Natyam.  She shares the intricate sisterly relationship between the Hasta Mudras (hand gestures) in Bharata Natyam and Yoga.  

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Her students at Yoga and Wellness Teacher Trainings in California at the Hemalayaa Wellness Program, and in Washington D.C. at the Buddha B Yoga studio, and Beloved Yoga in Reston, Virginia have greatly appreciated her workshops.  

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Sumona continues to thrive and grow in her passion of dance, performance, choreography, judging competitions and auditions, as well workshop facilitating and teaching.  She has been performing (and performs)  for more than 10 years in the U.S, Europe, India and abroad.