Archana Raja

🪔 About

Archana Raja is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, teacher, and choreographer, known for her expertise in both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. Born and raised in Chennai, India, her artistic journey began at the age of five, though her family was not initially inclined towards the arts. She received her foundational Bharatanatyam training under the eminent Guru Sheela Unnikrishnan at Sridevi Nrithyalaya in Chennai, where she trained for two decades and completed her Arangetram in 2006. Raja also pursued advanced learning in Bharatanatyam with Renjith Babu and Vijna Vasudevan. In 2020, during the pandemic lockdown, Raja began training in Kuchipudi under Kasi Aysola, director of Prakriti Dance, and presented her Rangapravesam in Chennai in 2023. This transition, after establishing herself in Bharatanatyam, was uncommon and met with some criticism, but she remained grounded through her teacher and honesty in her practice. Archana Raja is based in the United States, specifically the Bay Area, and is recognized for her exceptional artistry and ability to engage diverse audiences worldwide. She has performed extensively at major dance festivals in locations such as Dubai, Ireland, California, Oman, New York, Barcelona, and Chennai, including the Jacob's Pillow Festival with Prakriti Dance and the Nishagandhi Festival. Her creative collaborations include working with renowned choreographers like Dr. Anita Ratnam and Padmashri Shobana. As a choreographer, Raja is known for reimagining classical repertoire through a modern, socially conscious lens, exploring themes of gender, mythology, and identity in her original productions, such as a reimagining of Yellamma's story and a piece on plastic pollution. She founded Laya Dance in India in 2019, serving as its Artistic Director, with a vision to teach the essence of Indian classical dance. She also contributes as the Artistic Associate of Prakriti Dance and has worked with Navatman Dance NYC. With over twenty years of experience, she has trained over 100 Arangetram students at Sridevi Nrithyalaya.