QUICK!
Performed by Ash Mukherjee, Shane Shambhu, BK Shafeekudeen and PN Vikas

THE PLACE PRIZE 2006 WINNER

Nina Rajarani carried out her Bharatanatyam training under Prakash Yadagudde at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s London branch, during which time she also had additional training with Chitra Visweswaran of Chennai, India, during her visits to London.  Nina was awarded Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Diploma in Bharatanatyam in 1986, and in 1987 she staged her Arangetram under her guru Prakash Yadagudde.  Since 1988 Nina has received training regularly in Chennai under Shanta and VP Dhananjayan.  In 1989, the Arts Council of England in conjunction with ADiTi (the national organisation for South Asian Dance in the UK) awarded Nina a scholarship to undergo an intensive training period with the Dhananjayans in Chennai. Nina’s dance style today is unique in its assimilation of the best qualities from each of the different traditions followed by the gurus with whom she has trained. Nina has also received Karnatic music vocal training under Sivasakti Sivanesan at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s London branch, and under Karpagam Balasubramanian in Chennai.

Nina’s work strives to maintain the authenticity of Indian classical dance and music traditions but presents these forms in innovative ways.  Prior to forming her company Srishti in 1995, Nina started touring as an individual in 1992. Srishti has toured several productions nationally in the UK and internationally in Europe and India – Mirage (2006), Women are from Venus… (2005), Equilibrium (2004), She (2003), Vaachikam (2002), Santripti (1998), Independence (1997/8), Hidden Forces (1996/7), Utsav (1995), Golden Chains (1994) and Meetings (1992/3). Srishti’s projects have been regularly funded by Arts Council England, and international organisations including the British Council. 

Nina has earned herself an admirable reputation as a teacher and has to her credit a thriving school of dance based at the Harrow Arts Centre in Middlesex, since 1991.  The school has recently opened two further branches at the South Street Arts Centre in Reading and at the Playbox Theatre in Warwick. In recent years, Nina Rajarani has been closely involved with a committee of dance teachers that has devised a syllabus for Bharatanatyam with graded examinations.  These examinations are being conducted by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) that runs examinations worldwide for various different dance styles including Ballet, Tap and so on.  Nina is currently the secretary of the South Asian Dance Faculty of the ISTD and is also a Bharatanatyam examiner for the ISTD.