51+
Years of Experience
1+
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About
Hema Rajagopalan is a globally renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher, and choreographer, originally from Chennai, India. She began her dance journey in 1956 at the age of six, studying under the devadasi guru Swarna Saraswathy. Demonstrating exceptional talent, she performed her first arangetram after just six months of training in 1956. Rajagopalan…
Journey Timeline
1956
Began Bharatanatyam training — At age six under Guru Swarna Saraswathy.
1956
First Arangetram — Performed after six months of training.
1974
Moved to Chicago, Illinois
1975
Founded Natya Dance Theatre — Became its Artistic Director.
2001
Curated "In the Diaspora: Spiritual, Classical, Contemporary" — First U.S. Bharatanatyam dance conference.
2004
Received Nritya Seva Mani Award — From Bhairavi Fine Arts Society / Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana.
2004
Selected by Chicago Dancemakers Forum — First Indian classical choreographer chosen.
2006
Curated "Dance India" — Second U.S. Bharatanatyam dance conference.
2011
Received Lifetime Achievement Award — From Soorya Dance Festival in St. Louis.
2018
Natya Dance Theatre awarded MacArthur Foundation grant — Received $50,000 for international collaboration.
2021
Received Dance Legacy Award — From See Chicago Dance.
2022
Selected by the Women's L Project — Harrison Station in Chicago renamed in her honor.
Photo Gallery
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Video Library
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Signature Performances
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Performance Map
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Awards & Honors
- National Endowment for the Arts Choreography Award — National Endowment for the Arts
- Emmy Award
- Vishwa Kala Bharathi Award for Artistic Excellence
- 2004 · Nritya Seva Mani (Devotee of Dance) Award — Bhairavi Fine Arts Society / Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana
- 2011 · Lifetime Achievement Award — Soorya Dance Festival
- 2021 · Dance Legacy Award — See Chicago Dance
- 2022 · Women's L Project Honoree (Harrison Station renamed)
- Master Teacher Award — Asian American Heritage Council
- Master Teacher Award — City of Chicago
Media Coverage
- Indian-American dance company gets prestigious MacArthur grant
News India Times
- Hema Rajagopalan
Goodman Theatre
- HEMA RAJAGOPALAN
University of Florida - Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions
- Hema Rajagopalan
Chicago DanceMakers Forum
Students
Testimonials
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Upcoming Workshops
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