Rekha Raju

Rekha Raju is an Indian classical dance performer and teacher from Bangalore, Karnataka. She specialises in the Bharatnatyam and Mohiniyattam dance forms.

Early life and education Rekha was born to M.R.Raju and Jayalakshmi Raghavan and brought up in Bangalore. She started learning classical dance at the age of four. She trained intensively under various gurus, including Kalamandalam Usha Datar, Raju Datar, Gopika Varma and Janardhanan. She started her college education pursuing a degree in commerce, while she studied Administration in Human Resource & Accounts and Performing of Art for her master's degree. She has been performing on various stages in India and abroad from the age of four and performed as a soloist for many respected institutions of dance in India, including Yuva Sourabha, organized by the Kannada Culture Department, programme at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Institute of World Culture, Delhi International Festival, Poona Dance Festival, Kajuraho Dance Festival, Konark Dance Festival, Purana Quila, Chennai Seasonal Dance Festival, Chidambaram Dance Festival, Vishwa Kannada Sammelan at Belgaum, Andhra Music & Dance Festival etc. She has received much critical acclaim for both her solo and group choreography. Presently Raju is working as an assistant dance teacher at Bangalore Tamil Sangam and as a guest lecturer in dance at the International Center for Management & Indian Studies where the foreign students trained to improvise Indian culture. Raju has participated at the Tanjore Dance Festival where 1000 dancers performed, securing entrance in the Limca Book of Records. Yuva Kala Prathibha by Bangalore Club for Kathakali and The Arts - 2014 Abhinava Bharathi - 2013 Yuva Kala Bharathi by Bharat Kalachar - 2013 Natya Veda Award by Natraj Dance Academy - 2013 Nrithya Kaumudhi title by Government of Andhra Pradesh - 2012 Nrithya Vibhushan by Bogadi Murthy - 2012 Nrithya Rejini title by Kannur Arts Academy - 2011 Swara Mukhi title by Kalhalli Temple Trust - 2010 Best Young Dancer by Bangalore Tamil Sangam - 2009