Nirupama Rajendra


Nirupama and Rajendra are noted Indian classical dancers in the Bharathanatyam and Kathak dance forms. They are from Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Life and work

Nirupama and Rajendra own Abhinava dance company, where they teach Bharathanatyam and Kathak and work to spread traditional classical dance forms. They have choreographed and produced dance works and have travelled performing in several cities in USA, Canada and Europe. They have worked in dance for over 20 years. They hold the rating of "A TOP," the highest artists rating on Indian national television.

Performances and reviews

In 2010, Abhinava gave a performance with the name "Ojas," a Sanskrit word meaning "vigor." It was hosted by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai and Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore. As reported in The Hindu, the two-hour show unconventionally presented Kathak dance as a well-produced performance with slick choreography. As a part of The Joy Giving Week, they performed at SAP Labs, Bangalore for a social cause. They have given Kathak performances at Bhagavatam festival and at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Chennai.

Awards and recognitions

In 1998, Nirupama was titled Natya Mayuri and Rajendra Natya Mayura by the Govt. of Karnataka for their dance excellence. In 2011, the duo was awarded Karnataka Kalashree Award, a Karnataka State Government Award for their contribution to Indian traditional dance forms. In 2013, Nirupama Rajendra were honoured for their contributions at Maha Maya, a dance festival organized as a tribute to dancer US Krishna Rao in Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bangalore.