Artistic Director

Artistic Director

Rani Khanam is the founder of AAMAD DANCE CENTER is one of the most senior Kathak dancer, choreographer and Guru of India today. She has received many National & International Awards & honors for her outstanding Innovative work in the field of classical dance & for creating bridges in between missing links in performing arts with social issues such as; Women Achievement Award 2022, National Integration Award 2017, Loreal Femina Women Award 2014 , 5th National Women Excellence Award, 2012 , World Dance and Islam 2006 -Asian Cultural Council Fellowship, New York., Senior Fellowship award from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India,Outstanding Kathak dancer 1991-The India Foundation's award.

Rani Khanam is known for using dance to amplify and addressing critical issues of equality & social justice for Person with disability and raise awareness about the rights of Indian Muslim women for that she has won renewed praise. Near about 3 decades, her innovative holistic performing arts education methodology, direction and choreography have won National and International recognition. Her style reflects deep comprehension of the dance tradition which has set new dimensions and source of inspirations to younger generation. 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.

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 Ministers of Delhi & Arunachal Pradesh, Governor of Bengal & Arunachal Pradesh 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.

Performance in Abroad & India:

Rani Khanam and her group has performed regularly at reputed international and national dance festivals. She performed one of her greatest work in the presence of the Majesties the King and the Queen and Prime Minister of Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur and another was Salaam - International festival of Islamic Arts in London with legends of Sufi musicians, singers & dancers around the world.

Her dance tours to abroad has covered major festivals like-'Namaste France'- France, Spain, UK, Asia Traditional song & dance Festival-South Korea, Salaam-International festival of Islamic Arts in London, Tropical dance festival in The Netherlands, 'Sound of spell' at Royal festival hall, London, Erasing Borders in New York, Forde International Festival in Sweden-Norway, 'India Week' at TlemcenAlgeria- the Islamic cultural capital of the world for the year 2012 and many solos and group performances in England, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Qatar, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai &Sri Lanka and the 'Festival of India' in USSR, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.