The popular lines by H.A. Hans Bose, that Rekha holds close to her heart When I dance I cannot judge, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole, that is why I dance.
Rekha Raju, a child prodigy, started learning dance at an early age of 4 under renowned Gurus- Kalamandalam Usha Datar and Sri Raju Datar and mohiniattam from Guru Smt. Gopika Varma. She completed her Masters Degree in Bharathnatyam with a distinction and is a rank holder of the Vidwath[proficiency] certificate also. She also holds an MBA Degree.At present she did her PhD. Work titling ‘ MARGI- DESI TECHNIQUES IN BHARATHNATYAM AND MOHINIATTAM’.
Rekha Raju did her Arangetram in 2003 and received praises from great critics. Her dance has taken her to places, with her having performed at National & International Festivals held all over India.Her performances at the Yuva Sourabha, organized by the Kannada Culture Department, program at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Institute of World Culture, Delhi Interntional Festival, Poona dance Festival, Kajuraho Dance Festival,Konark Dance Festival, Purana Quila, Chennai seasonal dance festival, Chidambaram Dance festival, Vishwa kannada Sammelan at Belgaum, Kinkini Nrithyatsav, Ananaya Nritrhyollas, Karavali Utsav, International Dance Festival Idiigunji, Andhra Music & Dance Festival, Chennai Music Academy are noteworthy. Rekha has also been touring abroad to spread Indian art. Recently she represented the classical art form of Kearala Mohiniattam and Indore Varta Utsav organized by the government of Karnataka and Karnataka Sangeeth Natak Academy.
Rekha is an auditioned artiste at the Bangalore Doordarshan and an impaneled artiste for the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
To delve deeply into various subjects, Rekha participates in several workshops conducted by great personalities of the field. She says dance is an ocean, the deeper you dive, the deeper it gets. Rekha has performed at several old age homes and special schools. Presently she heads a dance institution 'Nrithya Dhama' , where she trains kids from minority section, and is also associated with the Freedom Foundation, a voluntary group that rehabilitates children with HIV.
Rekha is working as a guest lecturer in dance at the International Center for Management & Indian Studies and this institute trains foreign students to improvise Indian Culture.
Rekha Raju is one of the few dancers who has participated at the Tanjore Dance Festival where 1000 dancers performed entering into the Limca Book of Records. She has been honored by the Bangolre Tamil sangam as the Best Young Dancer to promote Indian Art. She has also been given the title ‘Swarna Mukhi’ by the Kalahalli Temple Trust. She has been awarded ‘Nrithya Vibhushan’,‘ Nrithya Vilasini , Nrithya Rejini and the Yuva Puraskar by Andhra Government for the year 2012. She has had the privilege of being the youngest panel of juries at the Kerala State Youth Festivals.