the gurus
Smt. Hema Rajagopalan
Smt. Hema Rajagopalan, is a Bharatanatyam Dancer, Teacher, and Choreographer, of international repute. She is the Founder, & Artistic Director, of Natya Dance Theatre, a Professional Touring Company, & School, that has specialized in Bharatanatyam, for more than 47 years. Her innovative work preserves Bharatanatyam in its full integrity, developing the art form in new directions, and bringing it to diverse audiences all over the world. Smt. Hema, has performed as a soloist, at prestigious venues, throughout the world, receiving critical acclaim.Noteworthy among them being Mandapa in Paris, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan London , The Edinburgh Festival, The Festival of India at the Smithsonian Museum, The Field Museum in Chicago, The Embassy of India in Geneva, and in India, at NCPA Mumbai, Krishna Gana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, Kartik Fine Arts, Bharat Kalachar in Chennai, and the India International Center in Delhi. As a choreographer, she has created numerous short works, and over fifty evening-length productions that have toured to leading national and international venues.Her Gurus are some of the foremost figures in Bharatanatyam - Padmashri K.N. Dandayudhapani Pillai, and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan, one of the world’s greatest exponents of Abhinaya - the art of conveying emotion, in a stylized manner, by means of the hands, the body, and facial expressions. Noteworthy, amongst the many prestigious awards that Smt. Hema has received are: An Emmy Award for the PBS production of World Stage Chicago , 7 National Endowment for the Arts Choreography Awards (The highest number ever received by any U.S choreographer) In India, the Vishwa Kala Bharathi Award for artistic excellence. In 2004, she received the Nritya Seva Mani - Devotee of Dance Award from Bhairavi, a prominent organization, based in Cleveland, Ohio. Smt. Hema is the first U.S. based dancer to receive this award. Also, in 2004, she was the first choreographer, working in an Indian tradition, to be selected among leading Chicago choreographers, by the Chicago Dancemakers Forum, to create new work. In 2011 , she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Soorya Dance Festival in St Louis and most recently in 2021 she was awarded the Dance Legacy Award by See Chicago Dance recognizing her contributions to the Dance field at large.Scores of students trained under Smt Hema , have distinguished themselves as Performers, Teachers, and Choreographers. Her teaching accolades include, the Master Teacher Award, from the Asian American Heritage Council, and the Master Teacher Award, from the City of Chicago. She also has served as a dance panelist, with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Illinois Arts Council, and other state arts agencies. Additionally, Smt. Hema has been appointed by the Canadian government, to assess Bharatanatyam dance training programs and frequently conducts workshops, and Master classes, at colleges and universities throughout the country. Smt Hema feels that as artist, her task is to produce not only aesthetically pleasing performances, but also to consider her responsibilities as a citizen of the world. She is deeply influenced by the evolving cultural environment around her, and uses her art to foster cross-cultural understanding and social-harmony.
Smt. Krithika Rajagopalan
Smt Krithika Rajagopalan, is a performer, Master teacher, and choreographer, who began her dance training, under Smt. Hema Rajagopalan, and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan. Trained in Gyrotonic, Pilates, and Kalari Payattu (an Indian martial arts form ) , Smt. Krithika, utilizes this movement technique, as a training method for Bharatanatyam. She has performed internationally, in both solo, and ensemble performances, at numerous prestigious venues. Her works include, original commissioned performances , with acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and the Silk Road Ensemble, alongside collaborations with, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, to create story-telling works for the stage. Her choreographic credits, include solo and full - length productions, as well as collaborations, such as: Sita Ram” - a rock opera performed with Lookingglass Theatre and the Chicago Children’s Choir, The Flowering Tree , Shakti Chakra, Ahimsa: Toward Non -Violence, & Alakshaya. All of these works have received the Chicago Reader Critic’s Choice Award. She has also choreographed works such as: Amma (Mother), - in collaboration with the modern dance company - Hedwig Dances.
Rasa - in collaboration with Padma Bhushan Kumudini Lakhia and Smt. Hema Rajagopalan, Mitra, & World Stage Chicago - an Emmy award winning PBS production.
Smt Krithika, was the first Indian choreographer ever, to be nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award, and often co-choreographs with her mother. Together they have organized two dance conferences, created dozens of evening length productions, and developed the School, and Company, of Natya Dance Theatre. Her other accolades include: the Chicago Dance Award, a Jerome Foundation Grant, the Master Teacher Award, from the Illinois Arts Council, the Woman Warrior Award & The City of Chicago’s Commitment to the Arts Award, In 2015, she was chosen to be the Artist in Residence, at Shangri-La, as part of the Doris Duke Foundation’s residency. Smt Krithika, continues her passion to create, produce, choreograph, innovate, and teach the art, while staying true to the foundation of Bharatanatyam. Creating work that strives to bring:
social awareness to the environment, global issues,, inter-connectedness of cultures, communities, and people, are the bedrock of her work.
