Hyderabad Dancer Gets Akademi Award for 2024
Dr Rajeswari went on to establish herself as one of the leading Bharatanatyam performers in the country. Over the years, she has presented numerous solo performances and dance productions in India and abroad.
Hyderabad-based Bharatanatyam dancer Dr Rajeswari Sainath has been selected for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2024, one of the highest national honours in the field of performing arts in India. The recognition comes after more than five decades of dedication to classical dance, and the award will be presented by the President of India at a special ceremony in New Delhi.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Dr Rajeswari said she was delighted and honoured to receive the award. “I have been a part of the dance world for the past 55 years, and this recognition is a proud moment in my long artistic journey”, she said.
Born and based in Hyderabad, 65-year-old Dr Rajeswari is a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and teacher. “I began dancing from a very young age, since I was nine years old, and I have been in the industry for more than 55 years now”, she said.
Dr Rajeswari went on to establish herself as one of the leading Bharatanatyam performers in the country. Over the years, she has presented numerous solo performances and dance productions in India and abroad.
Her notable productions are dance dramas based on Indian culture, mythology and spirituality. Her work is recognised for blending traditional Bharatanatyam techniques with innovative choreography while remaining rooted in classical values.
In 2006, she received the prestigious Rajiv Pratibha Puraskar Award from the Andhra Pradesh government, and in 2018, she received the Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu government for her contribution to the art form.
“I did my PhD in dance in 2019, with a specific focus on the mathematics aspect of dance and movements. One of my most cherished moments is having a solo performance at the Sydney Opera House’s main concert hall. I’ll never forget that”, she said.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award is conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s national academy for music, dance and drama. Instituted in the early 1950s, it is regarded as one of the country’s most respected cultural honours. The award recognises artists who have made outstanding and sustained contributions to the performing arts through performance, teaching, scholarship and preservation of artistic traditions.
