Smt Hema Rajagopalan is the Founder and Artistic Director of Natya Dance Theatre, an organization that specializes in performing, and teaching Bharatanatyam, the dance-theatre of India. Natya Dance Theatre recently celebrated its 47th anniversary. Smt Hema,  is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer of international repute, committed to preserving Bharatanatyam in its full integrity, developing the art form in new directions,  and bringing it to diverse audiences.

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Her gurus are some of the foremost figures in Bharatanatyam: Padma Shri Awardee,  Shri K. N. Dandaayudhapani Pillai and Padma Bhushan Awardee,  Smt. Kalaanidhi Narayanan. She has performed as a soloist at prestigious festivals  and venues throughout the world, receiving critical acclaim. Noteworthy among them are: the Avignon Festival in France,  The Edinburgh Festival in the UK, The Festival of India at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC and the Field Museum in Chicago, the Music and Dance Festival in Chennai, and many other music and dance festivals in major cities across India. Noteworthy venues include:  Mandapa in Paris, the NCPA in Mumbai, and the India International Center in Delhi.  

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Amongst the many prestigious awards that Smt Hema has received are: an “Emmy Award”  for the PBS production of World Stage Chicago, seven “National Endowment for the Arts Choreography Awards” (the highest number ever received by any American choreographer), and, in India, the “Vishwa Kalaa Bhaarathi Award” for artistic excellence. In 2004, she was the first choreographer working in an Indian movement tradition to be selected by the Chicago Dancemakers Forum to create new work, and was also honored by the Bhairavi Fine Arts Society, and Cleveland Tyaagaraja Aaradhana with the “Nritya Sevaa Mani Award” : Smt Hema  is the first US-based dancer to receive this award. In 2011 she was honored with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Soorya Dance Festival in St. Louis, and in 2021,  she was awarded the highly acclaimed “Dance Legacy Award” by See Chicago Dance, recognizing her immense contributions,  impacting the dance field at large.

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Most recently, in 2022, the Women’s L Project named the Chicago L stations , recognizing 141 strong women of influence, creativity, and courage . Natya’s very own,  Smt Hema Rajagopalan,  was given this incredible honor as she was named at the Harrison Station in Chicago.  Each of these women are brilliant role models, who have persevered in a male dominated world, and worked hard towards achieving  life-changing work in their respective fields. 

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Despite facing so many hurdles, they continue to make strong contributions not only to their city, but to society, and the world. We are so proud of Smt Hema Rajagopalan, who shares this distinction,  amongst many other distinguished luminaries,  such as Michelle Obama,  Jane Byrne,  Gwendolyn Brooks, Ruth Page, Betty Ford, Mahalia Jackson, and Oprah Winfrey.

Scores of students who have trained under her have distinguished themselves as performers, teachers and choreographers. Her teaching accolades include the “Master Teacher Award” from the Asian American Heritage Council,  and the “Master Teacher Award”  from the City of Chicago. She has served as a dance panelist with the “National Endowment for the Arts”, the “Pew Charitable Trusts”, the “Illinois Arts Council”,  and other state arts agencies.

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Additionally, she has also been appointed by the Canadian government to assess Bharatanatyam dance training programs and conducts workshops and master classes at colleges and universities throughout the country.

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Smt. Hema strongly feels that as an artist, her task is to produce not only aesthetically pleasing performances,  but also to consider her responsibilities as a citizen of this world. She is deeply influenced by the evolving cultural environment around her, and uses her art to foster cross-cultural understanding and social harmony. As a choreographer, she has created numerous short works, as well as over fifty evening-length productions that have toured to leading national and international venues.