Kalpana Raghuraman

🪔 About

Kalpana Raghuraman is a prominent Indian classical dance figure, choreographer, and artistic director, recognized for her innovative integration of Bharatanatyam with contemporary and urban dance forms. Born and raised in the Netherlands, she inherited the Bharatanatyam tradition from her mother, Sharadha Raghuraman, who was a pioneer in establishing the first Bharatanatyam school, Noopur Dance School, in the Netherlands. Kalpana completed her Arangetram and further deepened her knowledge of Bharatanatyam through intensive studies in India, notably with Guru Padmini Ravi in Bangalore. She also holds a background in cultural anthropology, a perspective she often incorporates into her choreographic work. Raghuraman is the founder and artistic director of her own company, Kalpanarts (also known as KalpanArts Reimagined), based in The Hague. Through Kalpanarts, she has developed a unique hybrid dance language that transcends traditional boundaries, making Indian dance accessible and relevant to diverse audiences in the Dutch mainstream dance landscape and beyond. Her work is characterized by rhythmic footwork, expressive hand gestures, and powerful body lines, where tradition and innovation mutually reinforce each other. She aims to strip the narrative aspect of movements to use dance to address contemporary societal themes. Her pioneering efforts have garnered significant recognition. In 2024, Kalpana Raghuraman was appointed Creative Associate at the Dutch National Ballet for the 2024-2026 season, marking a historic appointment as the first woman of color from outside the ballet world and the first Indian choreographer to hold such a position. Since 2025, she has also served as the curator for Indian dance and music performances at the Korzo Theater in The Hague. Her contributions to the arts were further acknowledged when she was appointed to the jury of the Amsterdamprijs voor de Kunst in 2019. While she is known for sharing her knowledge and offering masterclasses, specific named students are not extensively documented in available sources. Awards & Honours: Amsterdamprijs voor de Kunst jury (2019).