Hima Bindu Kanoj was initiated into Indian Classical Dance at the age of seven, with specialisation in Kuchipudi. She holds a Doctorate in dance from the University of Hyderabad. She is a graded artist from Doordarshan. She also works as a Guest Faculty for Dance in the University of Hyderabad. She is pursuing advanced training of dance under Prof. Anuradha Jonnalagadda, her Research Supervisor and Guru.
She achieved her doctorate after studying “Dance during the Vijayanagara period (With reference to Andhra temples of Vijayanagara)”. Hima Bindu says that as part of research, her study and area of work included field work on around 30 temples of South India, their history, study of temple architecture, iconography of dance sculptures and dance inscriptions related to the temple, along with the study of important ancient dance treatises covering topics of dance and music.
Dr. Hima Bindu Kanoj established the Muvva-Nritya Raaga Nigamam to promote Indian Classical Dance and Music. The institute’s objective is to train students in the art of Kuchipudi dance. The members of Muvva are actively working for the promotion of Kuchipudi dance. Today, there are about 65 students undergoing training in Kuchipudi dance, ranging from beginners to advanced learners.
Under the leadership of Dr. Hima Bindu Kanoj, Muvva has brought out many memorable dance ballets like ‘Bhavayami Raghuramam’ – Ramayana unfolding through the composition of Maharaj Swathi Tirunal wherein all the ‘kandas’ of Ramayana are depicted through ‘sancharis’ (episodes) with nine different ragas; ‘Naama Ramayanam’ – A short thematic presentation of the Ramayana in 108 names of Rama as the story unfolds from the birth of Lord Rama to his coronation as the king of Ayodhya; ‘Rutu Sobha’- A Kuchipudi dance ballet on Environmental awareness depicting the beauty of the seasons and how important it is to maintain the balance of life by nurturing nature and protecting its seasonal cycle.
The ballet on ‘Kala Bharateeyam’ tried to showcase the Indian arts of Dance, Music, Painting and Sculpture, how they are distinct with an individual magnificent beauty from each other, yet, how inter-related and inter-connected they remain. Using Kuchipudi dance as a medium, the ballet highlights the common quest of every art which is to attain the infinite, to realize the Universal being. Another environmental issue raised was ‘Sujala Sravanthi’ based on the Indian Rivers, their importance and relation with the people of India both, culturally, spiritually and how they have helped us progress towards a better living.
Hima Bindu has kept the Muvva flag flying with performances at the Nrityanjali Festival, Malaysia, 2019; U.S.A. visit (Florida and Tennessee) as a select member of Group Study Exchange programme conducted by Rotary International; and Europe tour on behalf of Indian Council of Cultural Relations (I.C.C.R). Since 2013, Hima Bindu has participated in all major dance festivals across the country, including Tide Natarja dance festival, Chennai, February 2020. She has participated three times in the Nada Neerajanam programme conducted by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (2013, 2015 and 2016).
She has presented many papers at various Workshops on varied topics of Indian Dance, Art and Culture.