Anjana Banerjee

🪔 About

Anjana Banerjee is a highly regarded Indian classical dancer specializing in Bharatanatyam, recognized as a leading exponent of the art form. Hailing from Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), West Bengal, she holds the distinction of being the only Bengali dancer to achieve national acclaim in this South Indian classical dance style. Her extensive training includes tutelage under eminent gurus such as K.N. Dakshinamoorthy Pillai, a master from the distinguished Dandayuthapani Pillai School, and K.P. Kittappa Pillai of the Panjjnallur School. She also had the opportunity to work with Shrimati Saraswati, director of Ramana Sudas Natyalaya and MBK Trust in Madras. Banerjee's career is marked by significant performances and contributions to Indian classical dance. She gained wider recognition as the heroine of the 1989 Bengali film 'CHHANDANEER,' which depicted a Bengali girl's journey to learn Bharatanatyam and was selected for the INDIAN PANORAMA. She is also noted for her innovative experimentation with performing Bharatanatyam to the compositions of Rabindranath Tagore. Her international presence includes participation in the Sanskritik Festival of India in the UK (1985), Tagore's 125th Birth Centenary Celebration in the UK (1986), India's 40th Independence Day Celebration in G.D.R. Berlin (1987), and the Jawaharlal Nehru Centenary Celebration in the UK (1989). She has toured extensively across Europe, including the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, and Belgium, under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Throughout her career, Anjana Banerjee has performed at numerous prestigious festivals across India, including the Spirit of Freedom Concert in Madras, Samukhananda Dance Festival in Delhi, Begum Aktar Dance and Music Festival in Delhi, and the Konarak Dance Festival in Bhubaneswar, among many others. Her contributions have been acknowledged with awards such as the All India Critic's Award in 1987 and the 'NRITASHREE' title from the Kartik Academy of Arts in India. She founded and leads a dance institution named Nritya Kutira. Among her documented students is Susmita S., who completed her Arangetram under Anjana Banerjee Thakurata in Kolkata in 2012 and now directs the Nritya Niketan Dance Academy in Burdwan, India. Awards & Honours: All India Critic's Award (1987), NRITASHREE.