London: Hyderabad-born Ragasudha Vinjamuri makes all Indians proud by becoming the first artiste to perform Indian Classical Dance at both the Houses of British Parliament, known as the mother of all parliaments, for 7 times. She has presented creative dance pieces on topics such as Ayurveda, Music therapy, Non-violence, Women power and others. World Records India team has noted the milestone as the world’s first, which will remain etched in the history.
An academic tutor teaching at the University of Sunderland in London, she moved to Britain twelve years ago and has been training and promoting classical and folk dances of India in the UK. A double post graduate by education, teacher by profession and a writer by disposition, she has learnt Bharatanatyam under Guru late Dr Uma Ramarao in Hyderabad and gave performances representing Lasya Priya Higher Learning Institute. Her performances at World Telugu Congress in Tirupathi inaugurated by honourable President of India Pranab Mukherjee and at United Nations Convention on Bio Diversity (COP11) in 2012 received great appreciation.
She has founded Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence through which she teaches and choreographs dance and has the distinction of showcasing folk dances of India such as Lambadi dance for the first time in the UK. She also has the distinction of initiating Children’s day celebrations in London several years ago, and holds credit for celebrating International Human Rights Day, UN World Water Day, International Dance Day etc through art and cultural programs involving children and women.
Commended as a fine artiste, her work is appreciated by people from various walks of life, from community leaders to parliamentarians in the UK. Different organisations in Britain and Switzerland have felicitated her with awards and citations for her contributions towards Indian art and culture. She has received Pravaasi Stree Shakti Award in 2016 at the hands of Culture Minister Shri Azmeera Chandulal, and was recently shortlisted for the prestigious Asian Women Achievers awards under Art and Culture category in the UK. In June, she has received the first D C. Narayana Reddy memorial award called Saptapadi Puraskaram at a function in Hyderabad Telugu University. Earlier in July, she has also received the Osmania University Centenary Award for her cultural contributions during the recent Osmania University Centenary Celebrations in the UK, at the hands of Lord Bilimoria, Member of British Parliament in the House of Lords, in the presence of MLC Sri N.Ramchander Rao, Dr Sravan Dasoju, NCERT Member Sri P. Murali Manohar and other dignitaries.