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{{Short description|Indian classical dancer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox dancer
| name = Nirupama Rajendra
| image = NirupamaRajendra Bharathanrithyam karanas BoghaNandeeshwaraTemple.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Nirupama posing during Bharatanatyam at ''Bogha Nandeeshwara Temple''.
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]] [[Karnataka]], [[India]]
| death_date =
| origin =
| height =
| dances = [[Bharathanatyam]], [[Kathak]]
| occupation = Dancers & Artistic Directors of Abhinava Dance Company
| years_active =
| current_group =
| former_groups =
| website = {{URL|http://www.abhinavadancecompany.com/}}
}}

'''Nirupama Rajendra''' is an Indian classical dancer who performs in [[Bharatanatyam|Bharathnatyam]] and [[Kathak]] dance forms. She is based in [[Bangalore|Bangalore, Karnataka]]. Nirupama and her husband Rajendra (ನಿರುಪಮ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜೇಂದ್ರ) perform Kathak together. They established the Abhinava Dance Company in 1994 with an aim to make dance more accessible. They are known for fusing traditional and [[contemporary dance]] styles. The dance duo has given many performances and received several awards including Natya Mayuri and Natya Mayura (1998), Karnataka Kalashree (2011) and Nritya Choodamani.

== Early life ==
[[File:Nirupam Rajendra.JPG|thumb|Rajendra Performing at Maha Maya Dance Festival, [[Ravindra Kalakshetra]], Bengaluru in 2013]]
Nirupama had a passion for dance from a very young age. She began her formal training in Bharathanatyam at the age of five. She saw dance as a major form of expression and enjoyed sharing it with people. Her passion for the art form of Kathak began under the tutelage of Guru [[Maya Rao]]. She learnt both Kathak and Bharatanatyam as a young child.

=== Personal life ===
Nirupama met her spouse as a young adult when both she and Rajendra were students under their Guru Maya Rao. She is an alumna of Mount Carmel College,
Bangalore. At the age of 25, they got married and started as young dancers, who chose their careers in performing arts. As the couple grew, their journey was that of experimentation, training, and practice. Today they are widely recognized as artists who have given a new and modern twist to Kathak through their dance company Abhinava.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What's kept dancer couple Nirupama and Rajendra together? - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/whats-kept-dancer-couple-nirupama-and-rajendra-together/articleshow/67976773.cms|access-date=2021-03-28|website=The Times of India|date=14 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-08|title=Taking the pandemic in their stride|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sunday-herald/sunday-herald-art-culture/taking-the-pandemic-in-their-stride-911988.html|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref>

== Abhinava Dance company ==
“Abhinavas” was established in 1994 with an objective to make traditional Indian dance forms approachable to audiences in India and around the world. The Dance Company blossomed under the passionate influence of the dancing couple Nirupama and Rajendra. The dance company has choreographed various dance recitals that embody both God and Nature.

Deeply rooted in tradition, the duo has developed a distinctive presentation style, a fusion of ethnic and contemporary dance and music genres like Jazz, Spanish, Afro, and [[World music|World Music]]. The style of merging contemporary with traditional art was inspired by [[Kumudini Lakhia]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Swaminathan|first=Chitra|date=2016-12-01|title=An interesting story unfolds|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/An-interesting-story-unfolds/article16736180.ece|access-date=2021-03-28|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Abhinava Dance Company has revitalized classical dance, keeping in mind the originality of the art form. While incorporating new techniques and styles, the main challenge lies in retaining the actual essence of the story.

=== Performances ===
Nirupama, throughout her career, has choreographed and performed for various events. The company also hosts an annual festival called Madanothsava,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Govind|first=Ranjani|date=2018-03-21|title=Day-long dance, music and games|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/day-long-dance-music-and-games/article23313291.ece|access-date=2021-03-28|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> which a celebration of life and the season of Spring. Some notable performances are:

* Harshika - 2020
* Festival Parva - 2020 - 3 day - Day 1 - Rama Katha Vismaya (Ramayana),<ref>{{Cite news|date=17 February 2020|title=Dance, drama, Disney and more in Rama Katha Vismaya|work=Express News Service|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/feb/17/dance-drama-disney-and-more-in-rama-katha-vismaya-2104316.html|access-date=28 March 2020}}</ref> Day 2 - Interdisciplinary Conclave, Day 3 - Madanothsava (Spring Celebration)<ref>{{Citation|title=Performed Activity Study Day Range|date=2020-02-07|work=Definitions|publisher=Qeios|doi=10.32388/px8och |s2cid=241150572 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
* Kala Dwaraka - 2020 - Online Dance Festival<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-08|title=Taking the pandemic in their stride|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sunday-herald/sunday-herald-art-culture/taking-the-pandemic-in-their-stride-911988.html|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref>
* Rasaananda''(love for Krishna)''
* Krishnaa - Fire to Frost - 2019 - based on Draupadi
* OJAS - A rendition of Krishna - 2010

[[File:Nirupama Rajendra1.JPG|thumb|Rajendra OJAS Performance in Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bengaluru in the year 2013]]

== Awards and recognitions ==
For her tremendous contributions to the field of Performing Arts, she has received various awards such as:

* Nirupama- Natya Mayuri - (1998)
* Rajendra Sir- Natya Mayura- (1998)
* Karnataka Kalashree Award for their outstanding contribution in the field of performing arts- (2011)
* Krishna Gana Sabha's prestigious dance title Nritya Choodamani
* 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.narthaki.com/info/rev13/rev1349.html |title= Award for the dancing duo Nirupama Rajendra at Maha Maya |publisher=www.narthaki.com|date= |accessdate=2013-09-18}}</ref>
* [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 February 2024 |title=Announcement of Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for 2022 and 2023 |url=https://sangeetnatak.gov.in/public/uploads/annoucement/1709191095_Final%20Press%20Release%20for%20Sangeet%20Natak%20Akademki%20Fellowship,%20Sangeet%20Natak%20Akademi%20Awards%20and%20Ustad%20Bismilla%20Khan%20Yuva%20Puraskar%20for%20the%20years%202022%20and%202023.pdf |access-date=20 March 2024 |website=Sangeet Natak Akademi}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Nirupama Rajendra}}
*{{url|www.abhinavadancecompany.com|Official website}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Artists from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Bharatanatyam dancers]]
[[Category:Dancers from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Kathak dancers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian female classical dancers]]
[[Category:Women artists from Karnataka]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women artists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]

Nirupama Rajendra - Revision history

Pankaj Kumar (Actor): put up some entry w/ refs...