NIRUPAMA and her husband and dancing partner RAJENDRA are India's foremost dance exponents who have been incessantly working in the field of dance for over 34 years as dancers ,choreographers, teachers , producers and organizers. With their own worldwide successful and cutting edge production house - ‘Abhinava Dance Company’, Nirupama and Rajendra have choreographed more than 200 original works and have reached out to over 7.5 million connoisseurs at several countries across five continents. 

 

They were conferred with Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskaar by The Honorable President of India.  Both of them are empanelled artistes in the “Outstanding Category” of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Ministry of External Affairs,  Govt. of India.  Nirupama and Rajendra hold “A TOP” grade on Indian National Television - Doordarshan. They are the recipients of several prestigious awards such as “Sangeet Natak Akademi Pursakaar” from The President of India,  "Karnataka Kalashree" from the Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy, Government of Karnataka , “ Nrithya Choodamani”  from Sri Krishnaganasabha, Chennai , “Kalaavathamsa” from Gokulam School of Music,  The "U.S.Krishna Rao & Chandrabhagadevi Couple Award from Attendance, "Kala Saarathi” Award  from Art of Living Foundation, & several other awards & recognition from reputed Indian & foreign organisations. 

 

Their remarkable contribution in the recent years has been, bringing back to the society the community festival  “Madanothsava” that was celebrated 1200 years ago in India. By organizing this festival in 2018, 2020 & 2023 Nirupama & Rajendra brought together hundreds of artists from the field of literature music & dance and also reconstructed the forgotten tradition of Sahakaarabhanjikothsava, Charchari Nruthya. Nearly 25,000 people from all walks of life have come and enjoyed traditional art games fun & food at the festival.

 

Another  path breaking work has been in the field of research and innovation. “Deshi Marga Adavu"  a new set of 108 movement vocabulary was researched and crafted by Smt.Nirupama Rajendra. These brought together the Deshi Adavus of Bharathanatyam with Marga of Natyashastra.108 unique & original names in Sanskrit has been given to the Deshi Marga Adavus by Shathavadhani Dr.R Ganesh.

 

Commissioned by Murty Foundation, Nirupama and Rajendra have worked on the choreography and video documentation of a 7th Century Sanskrit play –Bhagavadajjukam as per the guidelines given in Natyashastra. This documentation is available on the public domain, for posterity.  

 

Nirupama Rajendra has served the arts in the state of Karnataka as an honorary member of the Karnataka Sangeetha Nrithya Academy, Government of Karnataka.