Famous Dancers

1. Raja & Radha reddy: They have given a new dimension to the old-age art of kuchipudi. Thus, the unique art was awarded by the PADMA SHREE in 1984, the Sahitya Kala Parishad Award in 1990 and the prestigious Sangeet Natak Award in 1992. They have also had the honour of being awarded with the 2nd highest civilian award in India, the Padma Bhushan award of the new millennium, individually but simultaneously in the year 2000.
2. Yamini reddy: Yamini has toured the United Kingdom, France, the United States and Dubai. In Dublin(Ireland) and Fort Lauderdale (USA), the Mayors presented her with the golden key to the cities. She has been awarded the 'Yuva Ratna Award' Youth Vocational Excellence award, FICCI young achiever's award, Devadasi National Award and Sangeet Natak Akademi Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for dedication towards Kuchipudi Dance.
3. Pandit Birju Maharaj: Birju Maharaj has won many accolades, including Padma Vibhushan in 1986, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Kalidas Samman. He also received honorary Doctorate degrees from Banaras Hindu University(Varanasi) and Khairagarh University. Filmfare Award for Best Choreography for song 'Mohe Rang Do Laal' from 'Bajirao Mastani' in 2016. He was the recipient of the Lata Mangeshkar Puraskaar in 2002. Bharat Muni Sammaan, 2012 National Film Award for Best Choreography.
4. Uday Shankar: Best known for fusion style of dance & was popularised in Europe & United States too in 1920s. In 1962, he was awarded by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's The National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama, with its highest award, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship for lifetime achievement, and in 1971, the Govt. of India, awarded him with its second highest civilian award the Padma Vibhushan.
5. Sonal Mansingh: An Indian Classical Dancer & choreographer of odissi dancing style. She was awarded by Padma Bhushan (1992), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987, and the Padma Vibhushan, also India's second highest civilian award, in 2003; making her the second woman dancer in India to receive such an honour after Balasaraswati.
6. Balasaraswati: An Indian dancer rendering Bharat Natyam & was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1957 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1977, the third and the second highest civilian honours given by the Government of India. In 1981 she was awarded the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award of The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai. The New York Times dance critic Anna Kisselgoff described her as one of the "supreme performing artists in the world". She was classified as one of the 100 prominent Indians who have shaped the destiny of India.
7. Rukmini Devi Arundale: She was known as the theosophist dancer. She was honored with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award of India, in 1956, for her contribution to arts. The Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar (Akademi Award), the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists, was bestowed upon her in 1967 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. The Animal Welfare Board of India presented her with ‘Prani Mitra’ award in 1968 for her work as an animal rights activist.
8. Mallika Sarabhai: One of India’s leading classical dancers and choreographers. She won the Best Film Actress Award for, ‘Mena Gurjari’, a Gujarati film, by the Government of Gujarat in 1975. She was granted with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Creative Dance, in 2000. The Indian Merchants' Chamber (IMC) named her the Woman of the Year in 2003. She became the proud recipient of the Theatre Pasta Theatre Award in 2007. She was honored by the Government of India with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in India, in 2010 in recognition of her invaluable contribution to the arts.
9. Madhuri Dixit: One of the leading actresses for Indian cinema. She has received six Filmfare Awards, four for Best Actress, one for Best Supporting Actress and one special award. She has been nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress a record fourteen times. She was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, by the Government of India in 2008.