Apeksha Niranjan
"Queen of Expressions"
A Journey Born from Devotion
Apeksha Niranjan is one of India’s most celebrated Bharatanatyam artists — a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and cultural ambassador whose journey is as extraordinary as her art. Her story begins in the culturally rich city of Kolhapur, where a young girl with a natural gift for expression first fell in love with the world of classical dance.
Born into a uniquely diverse heritage — her paternal grandmother Polish, her paternal grandfather a Maharashtrian from Kolhapur — Apeksha grew up with an innate openness to cultures, stories, and people. This rare cultural tapestry has deeply enriched her as an artist and shaped the universal quality of her performances. She feels a profound connection to Tanjavur, the heartland of Bharatanatyam, and carries that sacred link into every performance she creates.
Her journey into dance began with Kathak, which she studied as a child. But it was Bharatanatyam that truly captured her heart. Spending hours watching classical dance on television and studying instructional performances, she discovered her deep calling. As she describes it:
“I discovered my inclination towards Bharatanatyam through watching and observing.” — From that moment, there was no turning back.
Training & Artistic Foundation
Apeksha trained rigorously under two of Bharatanatyam’s most respected gurus — Guru Dr. Sucheta Chapekar and Guru Dr. Alka Lajmi. Under their exacting guidance, she developed not only impeccable technical command of the classical form but also a profound understanding of its spiritual and expressive dimensions.
A former Marathi actress — known in her acting years as Apeksha Kashikar — and a Graded Artist of Doordarshan, she brought a natural gift for storytelling and character to her dance. These formative experiences deepened her understanding of emotion, expression, and the dramatic arts, laying the foundation for what would become her most celebrated quality: her Abhinaya.
She has learnt the basics of all Indian classical dance styles and is deeply familiar with the broader classical dance heritage of India — knowledge she generously shares through her lecture demonstrations on the seven classical dance forms of India.
Awards & Recognitions
- National Best Performer Award — Parthsarathi Swami Sabha
- Nritya Shiromani Award
- Yuva Kala Ratna Award
- Vengi Kala Ratna Award
- Nupur Kala Ratna Award
- Nataraj Sanman
- Nritya Jyoti Title
- Natyakala Choodamani Title
- Nrityaranjini Title
- Nrityashivali Title
- Best Choreographer Award — DMCC, Mumbai Choreography Competition
Academic Qualifications
Apeksha’s artistic mastery is rooted in a strong academic foundation. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree (Visharad)and Master degree (Alankar) in Bharatanatyam from the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal (ABGMVM), one of India’s most respected classical arts institutions.advanced levels reflecting exceptional depth of training, scholarly understanding, and command over both the technical and expressive aspects of the art.
Notably, she completed the Parangat Diploma in Bharatanatyam from the Nalanda Dance Research Center, securing the First Position — a distinction that speaks to her extraordinary dedication and mastery of the classical tradition.
These achievements stand as a testament not just to her talent, but to her lifelong commitment to excellence and disciplined study in the rich tradition of Indian classical dance.
The Queen of Expressions
Apeksha is celebrated the world over as the “Queen of Expressions.” Her performances are distinguished by the extraordinary depth and beauty of her Abhinaya — the expressive language through which the dancer becomes the story, the character, and the emotion all at once.
“Expressions in Abhinaya are an art which is inherently present in you. As you grow up, these expressions develop and evolve, becoming a part of your performance. As a performer, you need to review your dance, revisit your acting, and continuously revive your expressions.”
Her Abhinaya Workshops have drawn students from across India and the world. Dance students, advanced practitioners, and professional performers seek her guidance specifically to deepen their expressive vocabulary — and leave transformed by her approach.
On Stage — National & International Presence
India — A National Presence
Over 21 years, Apeksha has performed on some of India’s most prestigious stages and at its most celebrated festivals and temples. Her national performances span classical sabhas, cultural festivals, temple courts, and concert halls across the country.
Poland
Poland holds a deeply personal significance for Apeksha — her grandmother was a Polish refugee who found shelter in India during World War II and married an Indian doctor in Mumbai. This extraordinary heritage has driven a passionate artistic and cultural bond between Apeksha and Poland. She is the Cultural Ambassador of Polish House and has performed extensively across Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Konin, Wroclaw, Gliwice, Sobotka, and Zernica.
Her Indo-Polish productions — Ganga Spotyka Warta (Bharatanatyam on Polish folk music), Poland Meets India, Dzieci Maharadzy — The Maharaja’s Children (with Polish author Monika Kowaleczko-Szumowska), and Sangam (with Polish Kathak dancer Magdalena Niernsee) — have been celebrated as landmark cultural exchanges between India and Poland.
South Korea
Apeksha performed Buddha — The Awakened One at the Buddhism International Dance Festival in Seoul in 2024, and presented Nayanam at the Indian Embassy for ICCR Seoul. She also conducted workshops at the Vivekanand Cultural Centre, Seoul, and at a yoga studio in Daejeon.
France
She performed Nayanam at the prestigious Le Mandapa, Paris — one of France’s most iconic Indian classical arts venues — in November 2024.
Italy
Apeksha performed at the DAP Festival in Pietrasanta, Tuscany — one of Italy’s premier international dance festivals — as the only Indian classical dancer among ballet and contemporary artists. Her performance left the audience and fellow dancers in awe of Bharatanatyam’s expressive power.
USA
In 2025, Apeksha performed Anubhava — a production narrating the story of the Polish orphans rescued during World War II by Maharaja Jam Saheb of Nawanagar — in Chicago, where she was honoured by the Polish Museum of America. The production was also presented in Georgia and Poland.
Thailand, Canada & Sri Lanka
Apeksha has performed and conducted lecture demonstrations in Bangkok, Thailand (Bunditpattanasilpa Institute with Thailand Foundation), in Calgary, Canada (West Mount Charter School), and in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Georgia
She conducted an Introduction to Bharatanatyam Workshop at the Theater & Film State University, Tbilisi, Georgia in 2025 — continuing her mission to bring Indian classical dance to new horizons.
A Choreographer's Vision
As a choreographer, Apeksha has created both traditional recitals in the classical Margam format and bold thematic productions exploring the full expressive potential of Bharatanatyam. Her acclaimed thematic works — Nayanam, Yamuna Gatha, Keertan Rang (Bharatanatyam on Marathi Abhangas), Nari Shakti — The Power of Womanhood, and Anubhava — The Experience — have been performed on major stages across India, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Her collaborative creations — Nritya Duende (Bharatanatyam with live Flamenco guitar), Santawani (Indian dance with Western classical music), and Ganga Spotyka Warta (Bharatanatyam with Polish folk music) — break new ground. For Apeksha, collaboration is an extension of her belief that Bharatanatyam is a living, evolving dialogue between cultures.
Nrityanjali Performing Arts — Her Legacy in the Making
In 2004, Apeksha founded Nrityanjali Performing Arts in Navi Mumbai — a Bharatanatyam academy that has evolved into a cherished institution over two decades. With more than 200 students trained under her guidance, Nrityanjali stands as a living embodiment of her teaching philosophy and devotion to the art.
The academy offers both offline and online classes, enabling students from across India and around the world to learn directly from her. Through workshops, lecture demonstrations, and performances across India, Poland, South Korea, Thailand, Canada, Italy, Georgia, and the USA, Apeksha continues to expand the global reach of Bharatanatyam through Nrityanjali.
“I feel the happiest when the audience, especially abroad, says that they understand and resonate with the dance. That is the vision — to make Bharatanatyam reach everyone.”
— Apeksha Niranjan
