Anjali Raj

🪔 About

Anjali Raj is a distinguished professional Odissi dancer, celebrated for her expressive performances and profound dedication to the Guru Devaprasad Das dance style. Her journey in classical dance commenced at the age of five, and she has since devoted over 17 years to mastering the art form, earning recognition as a graded artist from Doordarshan. Anjali received her rigorous training under the tutelage of Guru Sri Bharat Charan Giri and is an alumna of the RAWA Academy in Bhubaneswar. Her artistic merit has been further acknowledged with a senior scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Central Government of India. Anjali Raj has captivated audiences on numerous national and international platforms. As a principal dancer with RAWA Academy's troupe, she has showcased Odissi in diverse locations including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and various cities across the United States such as Houston, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, and New York. Her solo repertoire is extensive, featuring performances at prestigious events like the International India Dance Festival in Bhubaneswar, Brahan Natyanjali in Thanjavur, the International Dance Festival in Sri Lanka, International GrooveFest in Thailand, and Global Village in Dubai. Her performances often delve into rich thematic content, such as her portrayal of Radha's agony and surrender to Krishna's flute, and her presentation of four nayika bhedas (kalahantarita, khandita, prositapriya, and svadheenapattika) of the ashtanayikas. Anjali Raj Urs, an Odissi dancer, was also noted for her sensitive depiction of Radha's emotions at the Naman Festival in Bangalore in 2025 and was graded by DDK Bengaluru in 2024. Her significant contributions to Odissi have been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Sree Jayadeva Rastriya Puraskar, Nritya Kalasree, Guru Devaprasad Yuva Pratibha Samman, and the IDF Honor 2019 in Sri Lanka. She was also recognized as a "Future Face of Odissi" after securing a place among the top ten dancers at the IIDF-2017 (India International Dance Festival). Anjali Raj is deeply passionate about disseminating the beauty and depth of Odissi, aspiring to connect with and bring joy to audiences through her artistic expression. Awards & Honours: Sree Jayadeva Rastriya Puraskar, Nritya Kalasree, Guru Devaprasad Yuva Pratibha Samman, IIDF Future Face of Odissi, IDF Honor (2019), Senior Scholarship.