https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Rekha_RajuRekha Raju - Revision history2026-09-07T18:13:43ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rekha_Raju&diff=153841&oldid=previmported>MarnetteD: rmv deprecated field2020-07-06T18:15:36Z<p>rmv deprecated field</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2015}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Rekha Raju<br>രേഖ രാജു<br />
| native_name =<br />
| native_name_lang =<br />
| image = Rekha Raju DS 2.jpg<br />
| imagesize = <br />
| caption = Raju performing [[Mohiniyattam]]<br />
| birth_date = 10 April<br />
| birth_place = [[Kalpathi]], [[Palakkad district|Palakkad]], [[Kerala]]<br />
| nationality = {{IND}} [[India]]n<br />
| citizenship = [[India]]n<br />
| known for = [[Mohiniyattam]] & [[Bharatanatyam]]<br />
| alma mater = [[Bangalore University]]<br />
| education = [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] in [[Fine art|Fine Arts]]<br />
| occupation = [[Dancer]], [[Choreographer]]<br />
| years_active = 2003–present<br />
| awards =<br />
| parents = Mr. M.R.Raju &<br />
Mrs. Jayalakshmi Raghavan<br />
| website = {{URL|rekharaju.com|rekharaju.com}}<br />
| signature =<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Rekha Raju''' ({{lang-ml|രേഖ രാജു}}) is an [[Indian classical dance]] performer and teacher from [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]]. She specialises in the [[Bharatnatyam]] and [[Mohiniyattam]] dance forms.<ref>[http://rekharaju.com/aboutme.html Official Website]</ref><ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/The-guru-does-justice/2013/05/27/article1607821.ece The New Indian Express News on 27 May 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/now-mohiniyattam-to-be-performed-without-vocals/article6124775.ece The Hindu News on 18 June 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/275562/three-forms-one-stage.html Deccan Herald News on 1 September 2012]</ref><ref>[http://www.britishbiologicals.com/pdf/JagaranCityPlusBangalore.pdf News British Biologicals]</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/dancing-her-way-to-fame/article6447071.ece The Hindu 26 September 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/now-mohiniyattam-to-be-performed-without-vocals/article6123861.ece The Hindu News on 17 Nune 2014]</ref><ref>[http://karnatakanews.com/thisweek.php?dispdt=2014-06-19 Karnataka News]</ref><br />
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==Early life and education==<br />
Rekha was born in [[Palakkad district]], [[Kerala]] to Mr. M.R.Raju, a theatre artiste, and Mrs. Jayalakshmi Raghavan and brought up in Bangalore. She started learning classical dance at the age of four. She trained intensively under various gurus, including renowned Guru Smt Kalamandalam Usha Datar, Guru Sri Raju Datar, Guru Smt Gopika Varma and Guru Prof Janardhanan.<ref>[http://bangalore.afindia.org/classical-dance-rekha-raju/ Website of Alliance Farncaise]</ref> She started her college education pursuing a degree in Commerce, while she studied Administration in Human Resource & Accounts and Performing of Art for her Masters.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/dancing-her-way-to-fame/article6447071.ece The Hindu 26 September 2014]</ref> She completed her Ph.D in Fine Arts from [[Heidelberg University]], [[Germany]]. She is a distinction holder of master's degree in Bharathnatyam and rank holder of the Vidwath [proficiency].<ref>[http://bangalore.afindia.org/classical-dance-rekha-raju/ Website of Alliance Farncaise]</ref><ref>[http://rekharaju.com/aboutme.html Official Website]</ref><br />
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==Career==<br />
She made her stage debut ([[Arangetram]]) in 2003 at [[Ravindra Kalakshetra]] in [[Bangalore]].<ref>[http://bangalore.afindia.org/classical-dance-rekha-raju/ Website of Alliance Farncaise]</ref><ref>[http://rekharaju.com/aboutme.html Official Website]</ref><ref>[http://meetkalakar.com/Artist/1867-Rekha-Raju Website of Meet Kalakar]</ref> 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, including ''Yuva Sourabha'', organized by the Kannada Culture Department, programme at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Institute of World Culture, ''Delhi International Festival'', ''Poona Dance Festival'', ''Kajuraho Dance Festival'', ''Konark Dance Festival'', ''Purana Quila'', ''Chennai Seasonal Dance Festival'', ''Chidambaram Dance Festival'', ''Vishwa Kannada Sammelan'' at Belgaum, ''Andhra Music & Dance Festival'' etc. She has received much critical acclaim for both her solo and group choreography.<ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/The-guru-does-justice/2013/05/27/article1607821.ece The New Indian Express News on 27 May 2013]</ref><ref>[http://bangalore.afindia.org/classical-dance-rekha-raju/ Website of Alliance Farncaise]</ref><ref>[http://rekharaju.com/aboutme.html Official Website]</ref><ref>[http://www.cyberkerala.com/mohiniyattam/rekha-raju.htm Website of Cyber Kerala]</ref> Presently Raju is working as an assistant dance teacher at Bangalore Tamil Sangam and as a guest lecturer in dance at the International Center for Management & Indian Studies where the foreign students trained to improvise Indian culture.<ref>[http://bangalore.afindia.org/classical-dance-rekha-raju/ Website of Alliance Farncaise]</ref><ref>[http://rekharaju.com/aboutme.html Official Website]</ref>{{ clarify | date = September 2015 | reason = What does it mean to "improvise" Indian culture?}} She is an auditioned artiste at the Bangalore Doordarshan and an empanelled artiste for the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. She also heads a dance institution named Nrithya Dhama, where she trains kids from minority backgrounds, and is also associated with the Freedom Foundation, a volunteer group that rehabilitates children with HIV.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/dancing-her-way-to-fame/article6447071.ece The Hindu 26 September 2014]</ref><ref>[http://rekharaju.com Official Website of Nrithya Dhama]</ref> Raju has participated at the ''Tanjore Dance Festival'' where 1000 dancers performed, securing entrance in the [[Limca Book of Records]].<ref>[http://bangalore.afindia.org/classical-dance-rekha-raju/ Website of Alliance Farncaise]</ref><ref>[http://rekharaju.com/aboutme.html Official Website]</ref><ref>[http://meetkalakar.com/Artist/1867-Rekha-Raju Website of Meet Kalakar]</ref> She has been honoured by the Bangolre Tamil sangam as the ''Best Young Dancer to promote Indian Art''. She has also been given the title ''Swarna Mukhi'' by the Kalahalli Temple Trust.<ref>[http://bangalore.afindia.org/classical-dance-rekha-raju/ Website of Alliance Farncaise]</ref><ref>[http://rekharaju.com/aboutme.html Official Website]</ref><br />
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== Awards and Credentials ==<br />
* ''Krishna Gana Sabha Endowment Award'' by Krishna Gana Sabha - 2016<ref>[http://www.carnaticdarbar.com/news/201601/20161221.asp The Carnatic Darbar 26 December 2016]</ref><br />
* ''Yuva Kala Prathibha'' by Bangalore Club for Kathakali and The Arts - 2014<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/dancing-her-way-to-fame/article6447071.ece The Hindu 26 September 2014]</ref><br />
* ''Abhinava Bharathi'' - 2013<br />
* ''Yuva Kala Bharathi'' by Bharat Kalachar - 2013<br />
* ''Natya Veda Award'' by Natraj Dance Academy - 2013<br />
* ''Nrithya Kaumudhi'' title by [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]] - 2012<ref>[http://meetkalakar.com/Artist/1867-Rekha-Raju Website of Meet Kalakar]</ref><br />
* ''Nrithya Vibhushan'' by Bogadi Murthy - 2012<ref>[http://meetkalakar.com/Artist/1867-Rekha-Raju Website of Meet Kalakar]</ref><br />
* ''Nrithya Rejini'' title by Kannur Arts Academy - 2011<ref>[http://meetkalakar.com/Artist/1867-Rekha-Raju Website of Meet Kalakar]</ref><br />
* ''Swara Mukhi'' title by Kalhalli Temple Trust - 2010<ref>[http://meetkalakar.com/Artist/1867-Rekha-Raju Website of Meet Kalakar]</ref><br />
* ''Best Young Dancer'' by Bangalore Tamil Sangam - 2009<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{Commons category}}<br />
*{{Official website|rekharaju.com/aboutme.html}}<br />
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{{authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Raju, Rekha}}<br />
[[Category:Performers of Indian classical dance]]<br />
[[Category:Mohiniyattam exponents]]<br />
[[Category:Bharatanatyam exponents]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Dancers from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Indian classical choreographers]]<br />
[[Category:People from Palakkad district]]<br />
[[Category:Indian female classical dancers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women choreographers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian choreographers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women artists]]<br />
[[Category:Women artists from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]</div>imported>MarnetteD