Live
- India's growth on resilient trajectory, equity markets in consolidation phase
- KJo on 23 years of ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’: One of those pinch me moments
- WPL 2025 auction: Nandini, Kamalini set to be most sought-after names
- MP CM to inaugurate Sarsi resort in Shahdol, 200-bed hospital in Mauganj today
- TGPSC makes arrangements for Group-2 exams to be held tomorrow
- WPL 2025 Auction: When and where to watch, date, time, live streaming, venue
- Japan: Citizens protest US military-related sexual violence
- Buy on dips strategy working well in Indian stock market amid sharp rebound
- Sri Lanka concludes sovereign bond restructuring
- Lal Krishna Advani hospitalised at Delhi's Apollo Hospital
I want to simplify Mohiniattam
Dr Rekha Raju is a classical dance performer and teacher from Bengaluru, Karnataka. She specialises in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam. She started learning classical dance at the age of four. She trained intensively under various gurus, including renowned Kalamandalam Usha Datar, Raju Datar, Gopika Varma and Prof Janardhanan. She started her college education pursuing a degree in Commerce. For her
Dr Rekha Raju is a classical dance performer and teacher from Bengaluru, Karnataka. She specialises in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam. She started learning classical dance at the age of four. She trained intensively under various gurus, including renowned Kalamandalam Usha Datar, Raju Datar, Gopika Varma and Prof Janardhanan. She started her college education pursuing a degree in Commerce. For her Masters, she studied Administration in Human Resource; Accounts and Performing Art.
She completed her PhD in Fine Arts from Heidelberg University, Germany. She made her stage debut in 2003 at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru. She has been performing on various stages in India and abroad from the age of four and performed as a soloist for many respected institutions of dance in India.
She participated at the event created by Dr Padma Subramanyam at Tanjore Dance Festival where 1,000 dancers performed, securing entry into the Limca Book of Records. She has been honoured by the Bengaluru Tamil Sangham as the Best Young Dancer to promote Indian Art.
She has also been given the title Swarna Mukhi by the Kalahalli Temple Trust. She was in Hyderabad to participate in Rasollas - Indian Classical Dance Festival at Shilparamam Amphitheatre last week.
What drives you to carry on with such dedication to dance?
My mother was the one who initiated me into dance when I was three-year-old. She is the one who motivated me to go that extra mile. My father was a great support; without both of them my dance career is nil. I am grateful to my parents, my Guru my family and friends for making me what I am today. My students are my strength and they are like pillars of my dance academy.
What was the PhD programme in Germany all about?
I, for a change, wrote a project which involved management in dance. It was about how dance can be used in management.
Who are the dancers who inspire you?
Guru Prof Janardhanan is my main inspiration. Even at the age of 76, he performs with same zeal and commitment. Padmashree Bharati Shivaji, Padmashree Geetha Chandran, Guru Rama Vaidyantahan, Guru Dr Vaijayantji Mala Bali, Gurus Padmabhushans Dhananjayan and Shanta Dhananjayan, Guru Bragha Bessel and many more. Each has so much to learn from.
What are the social causes that you work for?
I work with NGOs that support educating children, who are deprived of even the basic necessities in life. I work with children from Freedom Foundation who are affected with HIV. I perform at least two charity shows in a year for organisations that help children, women and elderly. I also help a blind school every year.
What are your future plans?
Mohiniattam should be presented before all classes of audience. People think Mohiniattam needs special knowledge to understand, which is wrong. Hence, I want to make it simple. Mohiniattam should be a prominent art form in every festival.
By: Askari Jaffer
