Ramya Ramnarayan presents Sadhana
at Tamarind Arts Council

Ramya Ramnarayan presented Sadhana, an offering of Indian classical dance at the Tamarind Art Gallery Museum in New York City late last month to a packed audience. Ramya Ramnarayan is a Bharathanatyam performer, choreographer, educator and a torchbearer of this art, who blends tradition with innovation. She has carved her own niche among the cream of leading dancers from India. Ramya started her own Bharathanatyam production company and school called Nrithyanjali, in North Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. The New Jersey State Council on the Arts recognized her dedication to the art form with many grants under the Master- Apprenticeship program.

As a Bharatanatyam dancer, Ramya’s objective is propagation of this Indian Classical Dance form. She endeavors to achieve this objective by teaching this form of ancient art at Nrithyanjali and in schools and Universities around the United States. Ramya also promotes awareness of the Bharatanatyam art form within the community by performing in multifarious forums, along with her students. She derives utmost personal gratification from dancing and imparting this knowledge to others.

Bharatanatyam in all its splendor and glory was introduced to Ramya at the early age of five. She had rigorous training in all the basic steps called Adavus from Adayar K. Lakshman, a legend from the Kalakshetra School of arts in India. After learning this art’s basic intricacies for six years, she performed her Arangetram, (The Stage debut) at the age of eleven. From then on she pursued this art to receive advanced training. In this direction, she received training in the traditional Guru Sishya Parampara, a close symbiotic relationship between the master and student from stalwarts like S.K. Rajarathnam Pillai, Padmabhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan and Dr. Padma Subramanyam.

Under the able guidance of Late S.K. Rajarathnam Pillai of India, she had advanced training in both Nritta and Nritya for several years. Rajarathnam Pillai was one of the senior most disciples of the doyen Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai and a great teacher and choreographer of his time. She had the privilege of learning the intricacies of Abhinaya from Kalanidhi Narayanan, a great dancer and tutor. She is the only living legend of Bharatanatyam who is an authority in Abhinaya today. She also underwent training in the theoretical aspects of Bharatanatyam and Nattuvangam (wielding of cymbals), from Dr. Padma Subramanyam. She also trained with her about Bharata’s treatise, Natyashastra. Dr. Padma Subramanyam has done extensive research and secured her doctorate degree on Natyashastra by presenting a thesis on Karanas.

The Hindu wrote of her as “a renowned dance guru and her Bharathanatyam recital had the characteristics of an experienced dancer. Ramya breezed through her Varnam with ease exploiting every possibility for abhinaya. The essence of viyoga shringara was brought out convincingly by Ramya through the Varnam. The padams that followed were enchanting. The best, however, was ‘Vishamakkaara Kannan’ by Oothukkadu Venkatakavi. Ramya acted out the antics of Krishna so well that that the spectators were heard exclaiming.”

Through her dance company, Ramya has extended the outreach of Bharathanatyam to help build artistic sensitivity by presenting educational and enriching dance showcases under the auspicious of the Young Audiences. Over the years she has organized fundraisers and has donated over $80000 to various charities such as Tsunami Relief Fund, the American Red Cross, Wellness Community Center, Easton Hospital, Kids Peace America, Free the Children, North Brunswick Public Library, Guruvayoor Appan Sannidhi, and Ranganatha Seva Samithi.

Ramya has won the much coveted “Kalaimamani” and “Nadanamamani” titles. The Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey have passed a joint resolution recognizing Ramya Ramnarayan for her commitment, dedication and achievement in the art of Indian Classical Dance. She has the distinction of being the first non-resident Indian to win such testimonies. She has received a special award from the Cleveland Aradhana Committee, the honorable title Nrithya Seva Mani (2008). The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and NEA have awarded her the prestigious Artist Fellowship Award for Choreography (2008) in recognition of her creative talent. Ramya has been appointed by the Governor of New Jersey as the Board of Trustees for the Asian American Study Foundation a New Jersey State Organization (2008). ■

BY AJAY GOSH