Neelima started learning
dance in 1985
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Neelima Raju's
CV
Select Performances as a Soloist
1991-2000
Kalabharathi, Visakhapatnam; Andhra Mahasabha, Mumbai;
Kuchipudi Nrityotsav (Central Sangeet Natak Academy); Vishaka Utsav (Govt of Andhra Pradesh); Sagar Utsav (Dept of Culture, Govt of Andhra Pradesh); 4th Biennial World Telugu Conference (2000)
2001-2010
Gunghroo Festival (Ustad Allaudin Khan Sangeet Academy,
Govt of M.P); Konark Music and Dance Festival; Annual Music and Dance Festival (Chennai); Tour of Orrisa (2003, South Zone Cultural Center, Govt of India); National Center for the Performing Arts, Mumbai; Triveni (Buffalo-USA); Indian Association of Buffalo; Kalabharathi, India; India International Center, New Delhi, India; Henrico County Theatre, Richmond, VA
2011-Current
Kent State University, Canton; Sai Narayana Organization, Richmond, VA; Hindu Temple, Atlanta; SV Temple, Pittsburgh; Albany Indian Association, Albany; Hindu Temple Society, NY; Chicago Fringe Festival, Chicago; Sai Temple, Richmond, Virginia; First Niagara Rochester International Fringe Festival, Rochester, NY; Columbus Arts Festival; Rahway Culture Crawl Arts Festival, Rahway, NJ
Current Solo Repertoire
Kuchipudi-A dance and theatre tradition from India.
Running Time-1hr 30min. Choreographer Ms Neelima Raju
Kuchipudi through the ages.
“Shastra, Viniyoga and Prayoga-Selected works from the traditional repertoire”. Running Time-1hr 30 min.
Gods and Goddesses of India.
Through this evening length’s solo dance performance work, I explore the inner intangible masculine and feminine energies as tangible external representations of gods and goddesses. The work consists of five dance pieces with an English introduction before each piece. The dance pieces are either describing the attributes or telling a story about the exploits of the god or goddess. Choreographers Ms Neelima Raju. Running Time 2hr.
Exploration of Vishnu Tattwam
through the medium of Poetry, Song and Dance. Running Time- 2hr. Choreography Traditional and Ms Neelima Raju. Running Time 2hr.
Nayika, the Protoganist.
Running Time- 1hr 30 mins
Certificates, Scholarships and Awards
Certificate of Merit and Talent Award,
2000 for Kuchipudi Dance from Visakha Music and Dance Academy, a premier organization for the Arts in Visakhapatnam.
Natya Ravali,
1999 Ugadi Talent Award for Kuchipudi.
Smt Kurella Sitamahalakshmi Memorial Award,
2000 for service in the cause of Kuchipudi.
Natya Visharada, Kuchipudi Diploma, June 3rd 2001,
Diploma issued by Padmabhushan Dr Vempati Chinna Satyam, for deserving students who have completed a minimum of 10 yrs of study as an apprentice, learning the aspects of Kuchipudi.
Certificate of Scholarship in Kuchipudi
given by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. (2002-2004).
Permanent Residency
in the US in the EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability in the Arts), Category, 2014 from the Government of the United States.
Memberships in Dance Organizations
International Dance Council
CID-UNESCO, Paris.
Lectures on Indian Dance in the United States
State University of New York at Buffalo,
Asia at Noon Series, Dept of Asian studies, March 2005. “Kuchipudi, the classical dance of Andhra Pradesh”.
Albright Knox Art Gallery,
March 2007.- “Understanding the language of Indian dance”.
Smt Kurella Sitamahalakshmi Memorial Award,
2000 for service in the cause of Kuchipudi.
Understanding the language
of Kuchipudi Dance- ICAPS Nrityotsavam 2016.
Samskrutha Bharathi,
USA-Shastra, Viniyoga, Prayoga in Kuchipudi Dance.
Articles authored on Kuchipudi
India Association of Buffalo-Art and Culture Series 2 articles.
(a) The divine art of dancing – Origins of Indian dance forms, March 2008. (b) Classical Dance Traditions of Andhra Pradesh, June 2008.
Kalaspandana, Bangalore, India, Dance Magazine,
“Kuchipudi- The versatile dance form of India” October 2011.
Teaching Activities
Neelima is very passionate about imparting the skills, knowledge and understanding of Kuchipudi dance to the next generation of committed students. She currently teaches in Edison, NJ, USA.