Indrani; Performer, Teacher of Classical Indian Dance

Indrani, 68, a versatile performer and teacher of India’s classical dance whose performances were known for their combination of refinement and dramatic vibrancy. As a soloist and with her ensemble of dancers, Indrani carried the message of Indian culture to all five continents. She made her U.S. debut in New York in 1960 and in 1961 was the first dancer presented on a national tour by the Asia Society. In 1961, she performed for President John F. Kennedy and visiting Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the White House. She learned Indian-style dance from her mother, Ragini Devi, an American-born dancer who had a leading role in the revival of classical dance in India in the 1930s. Well versed in the Indian styles of Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi and Mohini Attam, Indrani was the first professional dancer to master Orissi, the classical dance of the east Indian state, and to perform in the style in India and abroad. She joined the faculty of the Juilliard School in New York in 1976 and continued her affiliation up to her death. She is survived by a daughter, Sukanya Wicks of Orr’s Island, Maine, a son, Ram Rahman of New Delhi, and two grandsons. Her husband, Habib Rahman, India’s chief architect, died in 1995. On Friday, in Beekman Downtown Hospital in Manhattan, N.Y., of a stroke.