Apeksha Niranjan

🪔 About

Apeksha Niranjan is a celebrated Bharatanatyam artist, choreographer, teacher, and cultural ambassador from India. Born in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, she began her dance journey with Kathak at age six, transitioning to Bharatanatyam at eight. She received rigorous training from esteemed gurus Dr. Sucheta Chapekar and Dr. Alka Lajmi, specializing in the Thanjavur bani. Her foundational training also included studies under Guru Pandit Badrinath Kulkarni and at the Nalanda Dance Research Centre in Mumbai. Academically, she holds a Bachelor's Degree (Visharad) and Master's Degree (Alankar), along with Parangat certifications in Bharatanatyam from the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal (ABGMVM). Renowned as the "Queen of Expressions" for her profound Abhinaya, Apeksha Niranjan is also a graded artist of Doordarshan and a former Marathi actress, having performed under the name Apeksha Kashikar. In 2004, she founded Nrityanjali Performing Arts in Navi Mumbai, an institution that has trained over 200 students in Bharatanatyam, offering both offline and online classes to a global student base. Her career spans national and international stages across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including Poland, South Korea, Thailand, Canada, Italy, Georgia, USA, France, and Sri Lanka. Apeksha is recognized for her innovative choreography, creating thematic productions like "Nayanam," "Yamuna Gatha," "Keertan Rang," "Nari Shakti," and "Anubhava." She also engages in cross-cultural collaborations, such as "Nritya Duende" with Flamenco guitar, "Santawani" with Western classical music, and "Ganga Spotyka Warta" with Polish folk music. Her deep personal connection to Poland, stemming from her Polish grandmother who was a World War II refugee in India, has led her to serve as a cultural ambassador for Poland House and perform extensively in the country, including a landmark 50th recital in 2026. She was honored by the Polish Museum of America in 2025 for her production "Anubhava," which narrated the story of Polish orphans rescued during WWII. Awards & Honours: National Best Performer Award — Parthsarathi Swami Sabha, Nritya Shiromani Award, Yuva Kala Ratna Award, Vengi Kala Ratna Award, Nupur Kala Ratna Award, Nataraj Sanman, Nritya Jyoti Title, Natyakala Choodamani Title, Nrityaranjini Title, Nrityashivali Title, Best Choreographer Award — DMCC, Mumbai Choreography Competition, Honored by the Polish Museum of America (2025).