About Prashanthi Chitre:
After a successful career in tech (13 yrs of Microsoft career), Prashanthi Chitre, Founder and Creative Director of PCIPA, made a remarkable transition when she founded her Performing Arts Institute that focuses on holistic growth through dance.
Prashanthi is passionate about creativity and movement in many of its forms. Be it Dance or Teaching, Writing or Storytelling, Photography or Video Editing, Sculpting or anything that inspires her in the moment . As an Engineer and a Creative Director she brings in her unique perspective and diligence to everything she undertakes. PCIPA and its students have been thriving under her unique vision and nurturing guidance since 2012. She has led her students and competition teams through many wins, including a win at Dance USA Dance, a National Dance Competition in 2018.
Inwardly, Prashanthi is an individual with zeal and passion for discovering her true self. Through her unique life experiences, she came to her awareness that each and every individual (every being) on this planet (and universe) is very unique, no one ever has or will ever be born with that uniqueness, and to really embody that unique self is our only purpose for this lifetime.
This awareness has ignited the light within her to become more of her, and to give the best of who she is to herself and this planet. The thirst to align with herself and the nature, led her on this spiritual quest, which brought the presence and blessings of Guru essence into her life. She is a Srīvidyā practitioner and also studies Vedic Chanting.
Prashanthi is passionate about creativity and movement in many of its forms. Be it Dance or Teaching, Writing or Storytelling, Photography or Video Editing, Sculpting or anything that inspires her in the moment . As an Engineer and a Creative Director she brings in her unique perspective and diligence to everything she undertakes. PCIPA and its students have been thriving under her unique vision and nurturing guidance since 2012. She has led her students and competition teams through many wins, including a win at Dance USA Dance, a National Dance Competition in 2018.
Inwardly, Prashanthi is an individual with zeal and passion for discovering her true self. Through her unique life experiences, she came to her awareness that each and every individual (every being) on this planet (and universe) is very unique, no one ever has or will ever be born with that uniqueness, and to really embody that unique self is our only purpose for this lifetime.
This awareness has ignited the light within her to become more of her, and to give the best of who she is to herself and this planet. The thirst to align with herself and the nature, led her on this spiritual quest, which brought the presence and blessings of Guru essence into her life. She is a Srīvidyā practitioner and also studies Vedic Chanting.
Dance Training and Expression:
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Prashanthi is a trained Kuchipudi (Indian Classical Dance form) dancer, and is currently a student of Kuchipudi Guru Sri Pasumarthy Venkateswara Sarma Garu who is a direct disciple of Legendary Guru Padma Bhushan Dr.Vempati Chinna Satyam Garu. Prashanthi got her Kuchipudi training in her formal years from Guru Smt.Vasundhara Garu.
Owing her learning to all her Gurus, Prashanthi has been teaching in the Seattle area for the past 26 years sharing all that she learnt with all those who seek and share the passion for dance. Her passion for dance encouraged her to explore and expand beyond structured classical dance form. Her exploration included and not limited to Folk dances of India, Bollywood, Western, Hip hop, Latin and Indian Contemporary dance forms. She emphasizes that it is very important for a dancer to have a strong foundation and grounding through the classical dance form training. And she shares that she experienced a certain level of freedom by allowing her body to move to infinite ways of movements offered by other dance forms. It is through her exploring and experience, she realizes Dance as a gift of universe which is effort less, limitless, and boundary less, and that it is a pure movement which allows the flow of universe through one’s physical body, helping them become a harmonious part of the universe - the one who is in balance. Healing becomes a natural state of presence when one dances with this awareness of universal flow and balance. Prashanthi’s “Dance as I realized…” in writing. Her blog space: Pure Peace Creations (https://purepeacecreations.com/). |
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Through PCIPA, Prashanthi teaches Kuchipudi as the foundation dance form, and she also teaches and shares her breadth through her own fusion choreographies fusing elements of Indian classical, folk and Bollywood dance forms with western and world dance forms. She has also created specialty classes that teach theme based dancing, choreography and exploration into each individual's unique dance style.
Over the years she has had an amazing journey from being a student to a dancer to a choreographer to a teacher and back to being a student (through her continued learning), and has taught 1000+ students both privately and in groups, with ages ranging from 2 yrs old to 90 yrs old. She has a natural ability to connect with her students and tune into their energies, and enjoys expanding her teaching beyond dancing as a life coach to many of her students.
She loves being a teacher as much as she loves being a student. To her, she is not without her Gurus and feels very grateful for the grace and the opportunity life has brought into her life to play the role of a teacher to so many others! |
Roles and Experience:
Roles Play(ed)’ing:
- Prashanthi Chitre, Institute of Performing Arts (PCIPA): Founder-Director/Choreographer/Instructor since 2012
- Seattle Theater Group’s “DanceThis 2025" Shows: Choreographer (2025)
- India Cultural Ambassador for Consulate General of India, Seattle: Creative Director & Choreographer (Since 2024)
- Aug 15, 2024 India Day Parade: Natyam - Inaugural Dance (Bellevue Downtown)
- Nov 12, 2024 India Culture Week by Seattle University & Consulate General of India, Seattle: Natyam, A dance mosaic of Bharat (Seattle University)
- Dec 14, 2024 World Consular Association Event: Indian Dance Presentations
- Jan 26, 2025 76th Republic Day Celebrations of India: Natyam, A dance mosaic of Bharat (Bell Harbor International Conference Center)
- Mar 4, 2025 World Academic Quest at University of Montana by Montana World Affairs Council: Indian Dance Instruction to 500+ Students
- Seattle Theater Group’s “Dance 4 Parkinson's Disease": Faculty (Since 2024)
- Seattle Theater Group’s “DanceThis” Winter Dance Camp: Faculty (2024)
- Microsoft Corporation, Bollywood Workshop: Visiting Teacher (2022)
- Seattle Theater Group’s BEST of “DanceThis”: Choreographer (2020)
- Seattle Theater Group’s “DanceThis” Digital Series: Faculty (2020)
- Seattle Theater Group’s “DanceThis” Winter Dance Camp: Faculty (2020)
- DanceThis 2019 Dance Camp at Centrum, Port Townsend, WA: Faculty (2019)
- Seattle Theater Group’s DanceThis 2019 Shows: Choreographer (2019)
- Dance Coach & Choreographer: For Miss India Worldwide Pageant Winner Shree Saini (2018)
- Dance USA Dance, A National Dance Competition (Zee TV Dance Reality Show - Season 2): Award Winning Choreographer for PCIPA Rockstar Team (2018)
- Seattle Theater Group’s “DanceThis” Intensive Dance Camp: Visiting Teaching Artist (2017)
- DanceThis Intensive Dance Camp at Centrum, Port Townsend, WA: Faculty (2016)
- Seattle Theater Group’s “DanceThis” Intensive Dance Camp: Faculty (2016)
- Keiro Northwest, a non-profit organization: Visiting Teacher for Seniors (ages 60yr-90yr) (2016)
- Teatro ZinZanni’s “Lighter Than Air” Shows: Choreographer (2015)
- Seattle Theater Group’s DANCEThis 2015 Shows: Choreographer (2015)
- Spectrum Dance Theater, Kuchipudi & Bollywood Workshops: Visiting Teacher (2015)
- University of Washington Dance Program, Bollywood Workshop: Visiting Teacher (2015)
- VoiceBox Technologies, Bollywood Training: Visiting Teacher (2014)
- Bellevue Children’s Academy: Dance Enrichment Teacher (2013-2017)
- Cascadia Montessori School: Dance Enrichment Teacher (2012-2016)
- Dance with DREAMS, a non-profit dance organization: Founder-Choreographer (1999-2012)
- Microsoft Corporation: Software Engineer-Program Manager (1999-2011)
Kuchipudi Rangapravesham - Graduations:
- Kuchipudi Rangapravesham 2023 (PCIPA's First Kuchipudi Graduation; Rangapravesham of Misha and Nayoni)
Created Dance Productions:
- Natyam, A Dance Mosaic of Bharat (2024-2025) (PCIPA Production Created for Consulate General of India, Seattle, in collaboration with Indian Community Partners)
- Padma Vasini - 2025 (PCIPA Kuchipudi Production)
- Ek Vairagi Duja Sansari - 2024 (PCIPA Kuchipudi Production)
- Mahishasura Mardini - 2022 (PCIPA Kuchipudi Dance Production with Guru Pasumarthi Venkateswara Sarma Garu)
- Neelkant - 2019 (PCIPA Kuchipudi Production)
- Mann, A Story of Mental Health - 2019 (PCIPA Production)
- Buddha: Mara and Me - 2018 (PCIPA Production)
- Yin-Yang - 2014 (PCIPA Production)
- Rashee, An affair with stars - 2011 (Dance with DREAMS production)
- Mausam Xpress – 2010 (Dance with DREAMS production)
- Desi Girl – 2009 (Dance with DREAMS production)
- My Fair Lady, A Bollywood Ballerina – 2007 (Dance with DREAMS production)
- Cinderella, A Bollywood Ballet – 2005 (Dance with DREAMS production)
Created Dance Shows/Concerts:
- LEHER 2025 (PCIPA Annual Student Concert)
- LEHER 2024 (PCIPA Annual Student Concert)
- LEHER 2023 (PCIPA Annual Student Concert)
- LEHER 2022 (PCIPA Annual Student Concert - PCIPA 10 Year Celebration)
- PCIPA Winter Concert 2019 (PCIPA Winter Concert)
- LEHER 2019 (PCIPA Annual Student Concert)
- PCIPA Winter Concert 2018 (PCIPA Winter Concert)
- LEHER 2018 (PCIPA Annual Student Concert)
- PCIPA Winter Concert 2017 (PCIPA's Very First Winter Student Concert)
- LEHER 2017 (PCIPA Annual Student Concert)
- LEHER 2016 (PCIPA Annual Student Concert)
- LEHER 2015 (PCIPA Annual Student Concert)
- LEHER 2014 (PCIPA Annual Student Concert)
- Elements, 3 causes 2 Maestros 1 show - 2014 (PCIPA production with Bollywood Choreographer Mr.Sandip Soparrkar)
- Yendharo Mahanubhavulu – 2013 (PCIPA Kuchipudi presentation at Telugu Bharathi Inauguration)
- Keeravani Concert 2013 (PCIPA Opening Act Presentation)
- LEHER 2013 (PCIPA Annual Student Concert)
- LEHER 2012 (PCIPA's Very First Annual Student Concert)
- Sonu Nigam Concert 2012 (Dance with DREAMS Opening Act Presentation)
- Little Drops Orphanage Fund - Charity Event 2008 (Dance with DREAMS Presentations)
- Raga 2 Rock - Chandana Dixit Live Music Concert 2003 (Dance with DREAMS presentations)
- Numerous Dance Presentations at multiple (not for profit/charity) events like AllGoRhythms, Shaam Mastani, NorthWest Folklife Festival, IAWW, IACA, WATS (WA Telugu Samithi), Marati Mandal etc., since 1999 through 2013