Rani Khanam

Rani Khanam is one of the most sensitive and astute interpreters of Lucknow Gharana of Kathak today and she has been performing professionally for the past thirty years. She brings to her dance a rare sense of devotion and dedication, which leaves the audience with a sense of spiritual fulfilment.

Her style reflects deep comprehension of the dance tradition which has set new dimensions and source of inspirations to younger generation. While deeply rooted in tradition she has evolved her own individual style in Kathak. She achieved her rigorous training by renowned doyens of Kathak Ustd Fattan Khan, Smt. Reba Vidyarthi and Pt. Birju Maharaj, Rani Khanam graduated with top honours from Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. 

 Inspired by her intimate knowledge of Islamic and Sufi texts, she has a deep vision to perform on unique repertoire of Sufiana poetry (Qalam) & Islamic verses, which has received rich reviews. Liberating experience for the 30years that she has been dancing, and at this juncture, Rani Khanam is share with the world, some of what she has learned, gained and evolved, especially with the new generation of serious students of Kathak.

As a choreographer, Rani Khanam has won accolades from everyone right from the common man to the dignitaries. Her Choreography have received applaud and encouragement from the dignitaries Including the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Minister & Deputy Chief ministers of Delhi, UP, MP, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, and Governors of Bengal and UP etc. As a choreographer, she experimented with a wide variety of themes: traditional, contemporary as well as issued based dance productions. She has choreographed over 200 items.

The Indian and international art critics consider her an excellent and creative dancer. 

She is an empanelled artist in “Outstanding Category” of the Indian Council for Culture Relations (ICCR) and “Top Graded” artiste at the Delhi Doordarshan.

She has involved herself in research work on the subject of:

1.     ‘Re-uniting Katha -Vachak” & “Bhav–Batana’in Kathak Lucknow style

2.     ‘World dance and Islam” ACC – Asian Cultural council’

3.     ‘Contribution of Persian Culture to Kathak dance’

Community Based Choreographic & Creative Works:
Rani Khanam firmly believes that dance should be linked with social issues and she has used her artistic calibre to create awareness through her choreography which articulates her convictions that dance can be vehicle to build social bridges :

 1.     Work with Person with Disabilities:

Through creative training and choreography, Rani Khanam has credited with many path-breaking works in performing arts and she generates unique employment avenues for person with disabilities &women in the field of art & culture. Rani Khanam works with differently abled artists, who perform on Wheelchairs. The unique performances perform by young artists with disabilities, are sensitizing, empowering and motivating to the mass and inspire the audience.

2.     Dance Work on the Rights of the Women:
Rani Khanam is known for using classical Kathak to amplify and addressing critical issues of equality& social justice for Indian Muslim women and women in general. Her critically acclaimed dance

3.     “Black and White” brings activism and the art together which seeks to raise awareness about the rights of Indian Muslim women for that she has won renewed praise.

4.     Creative work on Social Issues:
Also her international (UK) production ‘SHIVER’s choreography has thrown the spotlight on the issues of social stigma, HIV / AIDS and volatile stories of South Asian women.