Radica Giri

🪔 About

Radica Giri is a California-based Bharatanatyam danseuse, teacher, and choreographer, recognized for her expressive performances and dedication to the classical art form. She received her foundational training under the esteemed Vazhuvoor veteran Kalaimamani K.J. Sarasa and has also engaged with the Kalakshetra and Pandanallur banis. She continues her advanced training under A. Lakshman of Chennai and considers Padma Shri Professor Sudha Rani Raghupathy as her Maha Guru. Giri is the founder and head of Anjali Natyam School of Dance in Saratoga, California, where she imparts education to over 100 students, fostering the guru-shishya tradition. Her artistic philosophy emphasizes the pure joy and spirituality derived from expressing epics through Bharatanatyam. Throughout her career, Radica Giri has performed extensively, both in the United States and in India, particularly in Chennai. A notable highlight was her 2014 production of "Chitrangada," a dance drama based on Rabindranath Tagore's work. This innovative piece saw her evolving the story through a blend of Bharatanatyam, Mayurbhanj Chhau, and Manipuri dance, performed with her troupe Anjali Natya. She has also been a regular performer at prestigious events like the Margazhi festival in Chennai, where her 2020 performance was based on the River Ganga. Beyond dance, Giri had a stint as an actor in the 1980s, appearing as a heroine in Tamil films such as Bharathiraja's "Nizhalgal" and "Oruvar Vazhum Aalayam" with Prabhu. She continues to explore and present diverse themes through her Bharatanatyam performances, aiming to expose her students to significant cultural occasions.