The Seton Hill University Theatre and Dance Program will present The Spilling Ink Project’s “Samhita: Conversations in Dance,” a classical Indian dance and music production, on Saturday, March 2, in the Carol Ann Reichgut Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Avenue, Greensburg, Pa. Tickets are $10 and went on sale February 14. Call Seton Hill University's Performing Arts CenterBox Office for tickets at 724-552-2929 or purchase tickets online.

Performance: Saturday, March 2, at 8 p.m.

Samhita, which means “to join” or “to collect” in Sanskrit, is an artistic conversation between Vijay Palaparty and Nalini Prakash. Their self-choreographed conversation culminates in a presentation of expression of South India’s tradition and culture.

“Samhita: Conversations in Dance” has received acclaim both in India and the United States. It premiered at Telugu University in Hyderabad in November 2007. The piece was chosen as work of art for study for two consecutive years by Gateway to the Arts’ Aesthetic Education Institute in Pittsburgh.

Prakash, versed in the Bharatanatyam form, and Palaparty, with experience in both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi forms, have created new pieces while also responding to instinct through creative movement. Through “Samhita,” they have expanded their dance repertoire to include new choreographies.

Nalini Prakash is an acclaimed dancer, choreographer and teacher who has performed throughout India and the United States for more than three decades. Her training primarily took place at Shree Bharatalaya (Chennai), where she studied and performed with its founder and principal dancer, Sudharani Raghupathy. Prakash was awarded a Government of India scholarship in recognition of her talent as a dancer. She was instrumental in establishing and spreading arts education in the Nilgiris region through her school and also by founding a larger national institute committed to Indian culture, heritage and education.

Vijay Palaparty trained in India with Uma Rama Rao at Lasya Priya (Hyderabad) and with Sudharani Raghupahty. He was awarded an artistic fellowship from the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and the Humanities in Washington, D.C. for artistic excellence. As founder of The Spilling Ink Project, Palaparty produces and presents literary, visual and performing arts projects. Palaparty earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in professional writing and Master of Arts degrees in professional writing and literary and cultural studies from Carnegie Mellon University. He also earned his Master in Business Administration degree from the University of Maryland, College Park .

Prakash and Palaparty serve as the co-artistic directors of The Spilling Ink Project, a multi-arts organization based in Washington, D.C. The mission of the organization is to interpret, create, perform and present visual and literary arts of India and the diaspora. Through its interdisciplinary approach, the organization seeks to engage audiences and participants and deepen and enhance their understanding of India’s artistic, cultural and social contributions in the United States and around the world.

Venue Information: The performance will be held in the Carol Ann Reichgut Concert Hall in Seton Hill University's Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Avenue, Greensburg, Pa. The Performing Arts Center is a fully accessible and climate-controlled facility. Parking is available in four nearby Greensburg parking areas: the Bell Parking Garage on North Otterman Street (across the street from the Performing Arts Center), the Hellman-Ghrist lot on North Main Street, the Albert Grillo lot on Seton Hill Drive and the Wib Albright lot off West Otterman Street.

Ticket Information: Single admission tickets are $10. Order tickets online, by phone at 724-552-2929, or by mail at SHUPAC Theatre Box Office, Seton Hill University, 1 Seton Hill Drive, Greensburg, Pa. 15601-1599. Box Office Hours, by telephone: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Extended hours on performance days: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday.