Krithika Rajagopalan

🪔 About

Krithika Rajagopalan is a distinguished Bharatanatyam performer, teacher, and choreographer, serving as the Co-Artistic Director and Principal Dancer of the Natya Dance Theatre in Chicago, United States. Born to renowned Bharatanatyam guru Hema Rajagopalan, Krithika began her dance training under her mother and the esteemed Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan. Although initially resistant to dance as a child, she fully embraced Bharatanatyam after a pivotal performance at age 11, eventually leaving a corporate finance career to dedicate herself to the art form. Throughout her career, Rajagopalan has presented numerous solo and ensemble performances at prestigious venues worldwide, including the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., the Music and Dance Festival of Madras, India, and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, India. Her notable engagements include performing for President Bill Clinton and collaborating with cellist Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble. Krithika is also trained in Yoga, Kalari Payattu (Indian martial arts), Gyrotonic, and Pilates, which she incorporates into her holistic approach to dance education. As a choreographer, she is known for creating new works, often engaging in cross-cultural collaborations with Western-style modern dance troupes. Rajagopalan is committed to developing a strong, healthy dancer curriculum and strives to create awareness and accessibility for Bharatanatyam internationally, innovating art that addresses social awareness while preserving the integrity of the classical form. She is recognized for her ability to diversify classical forms through innovative movement vocabulary and the incorporation of new musical compositions. Awards & Honours: Illinois Arts Council Master Teacher Award, Jerome Foundation Residency, Artist in Residence at The Doris Duke Foundation in Shangri-La, Jerome Foundation Grant, Artist residency at the Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois Arts Council Fellowship, Woman Warrior Award from Columbia College Chicago, Commitment to the Arts Award from Mayor Daley and the city of Chicago.