Namita Ajodhia

🪔 About

Namita Melantha Ajodhia, also known as Namita Bhaggoe-Ajodhia, is a Surinamese Indian classical dancer and teacher specializing in Kathak and Bharata Natyam. Born on February 22, 1982, her interest in expression and movement began as a toddler, leading her to take dance lessons at a very early age. She commenced her dance journey with Bollywood dance steps at age three and then pursued Kathak and semi-classical Indian dance as a student of Perkaash Makhan (Shakshi Gopal) at Theater Thalia from ages three to five. Subsequently, from age five to twelve, she continued her Kathak training at the Indian Cultural Center (ICC), also known as Swami Vivekananda Culture Center. In 1996, a pivotal moment occurred when she witnessed a Bharata Natyam performance by Geeta Ramlal from the Netherlands, which deeply mesmerized her and solidified her desire to learn this South Indian classical dance form. The following year, in 1997, she began her Bharata Natyam training under Madhoerie Jagmohan, achieving her junior degree in 1999. Namita completed her Bharata Natyam Arangetram (debut performance) on May 18, 2001, as part of Madhoerie Jagmohan's first batch of graduates. Alongside her dance studies, she also pursued a degree in Civil Engineering at the Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname. On June 4, 2001, Namita Ajodhia founded her own dance school, Namita Nritya Vidya Bhavan, in Paramaribo, Suriname. As the owner, director, choreographer, and teacher, she imparts knowledge in Bharata Natyam, Bollywood, folk, and fusion dances. Her school has been instrumental in promoting Indian classical dance in Suriname, with several students completing their Arangetrams under her guidance, including Vishaja Boedjawan, who was the first graduate from Namita Nritya Vidya Bhavan and the first of the third generation of Bharata Natyam dancers in Suriname. Namita Ajodhia has also performed internationally, including a trip to India in December 2013 under Guru Madhoerie Jagmohan and a dance show in Saint Vincent in 2019. Awards & Honours: Miss India Suriname (2000).