Nina Rajarani MBE

🪔 About

Nina Rajarani MBE is a distinguished figure in Indian classical dance, renowned as an artistic director, choreographer, dancer, and teacher. She received her Bharatanatyam training under Prakash Yadagudde at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's London branch, supplemented by additional training with Chitra Visweswaran in Chennai, India. Rajarani was awarded Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Diploma in Bharatanatyam in 1986 and staged her Arangetram in 1987 under the tutelage of Prakash Yadagudde. Since 1988, she has continued her training regularly in Chennai with the esteemed Shanta and V.P. Dhananjayan, also receiving a scholarship in 1989 from the Arts Council of England and ADiTi for intensive training with the Dhananjayans. In 1991, Rajarani founded the Srishti – Nina Rajarani Dance School at the Harrow Arts Centre in Middlesex, UK, providing traditional training in Bharatanatyam and Karnatik Music, with Kathak classes added in 2016. The school is an Approved Dance Centre of the ISTD, offering professional training for dance teachers. In 1992, she established Srishti – Nina Rajarani Dance Creations, a touring company that presents innovative Indian classical dance and music works nationally and internationally. Rajarani is a founder committee member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing's (ISTD) Classical Indian Dance Faculty, serving as its Secretary from 1999 to 2014 and currently as Vice Chair. She has also been a senior Bharatanatyam examiner for the ISTD since 2001 and was instrumental in devising the ISTD Bharatanatyam syllabus. Her choreographic work has garnered significant recognition, including winning The Place Prize, Europe's largest choreographic competition, in 2006 for her piece "QUICK!". In 2009, Nina Rajarani was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the Queen's Birthday Honours for her services to South Asian Dance. She frequently collaborates with her husband, vocalist and composer Y Yadavan, on new works. Awards & Honours: MBE (Member of the British Empire) (2009), The Place Prize (2006).