Renjith Choorakkad

🪔 About

Renjith Babu, often known as Renjith Choorakkad, is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, teacher, and choreographer specializing in Bharatanatyam. Born in Calicut, Kerala, he commenced his Bharatanatyam training at the age of five under Smt. Prasanna Prakash. He further honed his skills at the esteemed Kalakshetra in Chennai, where he earned his dance diploma in 2000. Following his graduation, Renjith pursued advanced training under the veteran Guru Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar, a mentorship that continues to this day. He also delved into abhinaya through the 'Navarasa Sadhana' (Phase 1) methodology developed by Kathakali and Kudiyattam artist Sri. G Venu. Renjith Babu has been a principal dancer in numerous acclaimed productions by senior gurus, including Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar and The Dhananjayans. He performs extensively with his wife, Vijna Vasudevan, as the celebrated duo "Renjith & Vijna." Together, they have performed, taught, and choreographed for over two decades, captivating audiences across India, Europe, the USA, Canada, the Middle East, and South-East Asia. Their notable performances include appearances at the Madras Music Academy's Annual Dance Festival, The Darbar Dance Festival in London, and the Nishagandhi Festival. In 2002, Renjith and Vijna co-founded the Sāraswatham Foundation (initially named "Dhwani" until 2016) in Chennai, an institution dedicated to integrating Bharatanatyam, Music, and Yoga. Renjith's expertise extends to teaching Bharatanatyam nuances, theory, and Nattuvangam, and he has conducted workshops in dance schools across India, Australia, and the United States. He is also a certified Yoga Siromani and incorporates elements of yoga and martial arts into his artistic practice. Awards & Honours: Yuva Kala Bharathi Award, Ujjayini Natya Puraskaram, Tandava Yoga Sundaram, Natya Ratna (2017), Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar Award for Bharatanatyam (2018), Central Government Scholarship.