About
Biography
Nirupama Rajendra is an accomplished Indian classical dancer whose artistic practice spans Bharatanatyam and Kathak. Based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, she has played a significant role in reimagining classical dance presentation while maintaining fidelity to its traditional foundations. From an early age, Nirupama demonstrated a deep passion for dance and began formal training in Bharatanatyam at the age of five. Her exposure to Kathak followed soon after under the guidance of the eminent Guru Maya Rao, under whom she trained in both dance forms.
During her formative years, Nirupama viewed dance not merely as a technical discipline but as a powerful medium of expression and communication. This philosophy continued to shape her artistic choices as she matured as a performer. She pursued her academic education at Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, while continuing intensive dance training. It was during her time under Guru Maya Rao that she met Rajendra, her future collaborator and husband, with whom she would later form one of Indian classical dance’s most recognizable duos.
In 1994, Nirupama and Rajendra established the Abhinava Dance Company to make classical Indian dance more accessible to diverse audiences. The company emerged as a platform for experimentation, blending traditional Kathak and Bharatanatyam vocabularies with contemporary movement sensibilities and global music influences such as jazz, Spanish, Afro, and world music. Inspired by the choreographic vision of Kumudini Lakhia, Abhinava developed a distinct aesthetic that respected classical structure while expanding narrative and visual possibilities.
As a choreographer and performer, Nirupama has been involved in numerous productions and festivals. Her work often explores themes drawn from mythology, spirituality, nature, and human emotion, presented through carefully structured choreography. Notable productions associated with her artistic journey include OJAS, Krishnaa—Fire to Frost, Rasaananda, and Harshika. Through Abhinava, she also co-curates the annual Madanothsava festival, a celebration of spring and artistic renewal.
Nirupama Rajendra’s contributions to the performing arts have been widely recognized. She has received several prestigious honors, including Natya Mayuri, Karnataka Kalashree, Nritya Choodamani, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.