ARTIST BIO

Kamala Cesar was born in Brooklyn, New York and is Native American (Mohawk Tribe) and Filipino. She studied Bharata Natyam (the classical dance of South India) both in the United States and in India, under T. Balasaraswati, Bharata Natyam's legendary and foremost exponent, she is one of the few American disciples carrying on the style of T. Balaswarasati in this country. Ms. Cesar has participated in programs sponsored by the American Society for Eastern Arts, the Center for World Music, Asian Traditions, The American Dance Festival and Wesleyan University and in 1986, she was a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Folk Art Apprenticeship. In the years since she began her study of Bharata Natyam in the early seventies, Kamala Cesar has performed extensively in the United States, Europe and in India. She is the founder and Artistic Director of Lotus Music & Dance studios, a not-for-profit organization designed to support multicultural programs that further the understanding, appreciation and preservation of traditional arts and the creation of new works that evolve from traditional art forms.

Since 1997 Ms. Cesar has directed a number of Native American and Cross Cultural productions including Mohawk Heartsong, Journey Through the Longhouse, Eagle Spirit, A Tribute to Native High Steelworkers, Drums Along the Hudson, A Native American Celebration and currently, Message of Peace, Excerpts from the Peacemaker's Journey. She also has been studying the Mohawk language and participates each year in the annual Strawberry Festival at Kanatsiohareke, the Mohawk Community in Fonda, New York.

Website:

www.lotusmusicanddance.org