Rahman, Indrani, 1930-1999

Indrani Rahman (1930-1999) was an Indian classical dancer who worked as a performer and educator in India and the United States. She was known professionally simply as Indrani. Born in Madras to Ramlal Bajpai and dancer Ragini Devi, Indrani began performing in her mother's troupe at the age of nine. As a child she accompanied her mother as she traveled through the Americas and Europe. Upon reaching adulthood she studied Bharata Natyam under some of the most respected teachers of the day. In 1945 she married Habib Rahman. They had two children.

In 1952, she won the very first Miss India pageant. Later, she joined her mother Ragini Devi's company. She was the first professional dancer to revive the long neglected Odissi style of dance. This style was virtually unknown outside of Odissa until Indrani performed it in Delhi in 1957. She subsequently performed the dances all over the world, helping to popularize the Indian classical dance form.

In 1961, she was the first dancer presented on a national tour by the Asia Society, and also performed for President John F. Kennedy and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during Nehru's official visit to Washington, D.C.

Indrani received the Padma Shri in 1969, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the performing arts and the Taraknath Das Award. She moved to New York City permanently in 1979, and continued to teach, perform and lecture there until her death in 1999.

From the guide to the Indrani Rahman papers, 1940-1996, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)