Dr. Smrita Dorairajan

🪔 About

Dr. Smrita Dorairajan is a Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher based in Columbia, Missouri, USA. She began her training in Bharatanatyam at the age of five in Chennai, India, learning from her mother, Padmini Dorairajan, who is also a classical Bharatanatyam dancer and the founding artistic director of the Kalanjali School of Indian Classical Dance. Dr. Dorairajan currently serves as the artistic director of the Kalanjali School of Indian Classical Dance. She emphasizes the rigorous nature of Bharatanatyam, noting that it typically takes five to ten years to achieve a beginner's level of expertise. As of 2019, she had been performing for over a decade. Beyond her contributions to Indian classical dance, Dr. Dorairajan is also a practicing nephrologist. She actively teaches Bharatanatyam to students in Columbia, Missouri, including American students, and has been supported by the Missouri Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program for her work as a master artist. She is dedicated to promoting and performing Bharatanatyam, an ancient Indian classical dance form, and has featured in local media to showcase the art form and her school. Her work aims to enrich the cultural landscape of Missouri by sharing this traditional art. Awards & Honours: Master Artist (supported by the program).