Rema Shrikant

🪔 About

Rema Shrikant is a renowned Indian classical dancer, an established teacher, and an evolved choreographer, celebrated for her mastery in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, and Kathakali. Born on October 29, 1956, she began her dance journey at the tender age of four, receiving initial training from her parents, Guru Krishna Panicker and Smt. Gauri Panicker, at their Nritya Prabha institute in Mumbai. Her pursuit of dance continued with advanced studies at the Faculty of Performing Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara, where she specialized in Bharatanatyam and trained under eminent masters, including the Padmabhushan Awardee Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar. She excelled academically, securing the first rank and a University Gold Medal. Further enriching her repertoire, Shrikant learned Mohiniyattam from the legendary Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma and Kuchipudi from Guru Acharyalu, also receiving guidance from traditional gurus like Kittappa Pillai. With a dancing career spanning over four decades, Rema Shrikant has performed extensively across India and internationally, including the USA, UK, Russia, Japan, and other Far East countries. She is an empanelled artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Government of India, through which she has participated in numerous cultural exchange programs, notably performing Bharatanatyam at the 'Year of India festival 2009' in Russia. A prolific choreographer, her notable works include the Bharatanatyam dance choreography "Srushti Tandavam" and the dance drama "Keraleeyam," which blends Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam styles. In 1976, Rema Shrikant founded the "Ellora Center for Performing Arts" (ECPA) in Vadodara, Gujarat, an institution dedicated to promoting Indian classical dances. Under her guidance, the academy provides training in various classical forms and offers advanced courses for dance teachers and Arangetram preparation. She has been actively teaching for over 40 years, nurturing a large number of students, including her daughter Nritya Gopikrishnan. Her contributions to classical dance have been recognized with prestigious accolades such as the 'Gaurav Puraskar' in 2000 from the Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Academy and the 'Kala Shri' Award in 2012 from the Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademies. She also received the Anjali Merh Gold Medal and a merit scholarship. Awards & Honours: Gaurav Puraskar (2000), Kala Shri Award (2012), University Gold Medal, Anjali Merh Gold Medal, Merit Scholarship.