Anita Ratnam
Indian classical and contemporary dancer and choreographer
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Anita Ratnam (born 21 May 1954) is an Indian classical and contemporary dancer and choreographer. Classically trained in Bharat Natyam, she has also received formal training in Kathakali, Mohiniattam, and tai chi and Kalarippayattu, thus creating a dance style which she has coined "Neo Bharatam".[1][2][3]
- dancer
- choreographer
- actress
Anita Ratnam | |
|---|---|
Ratnam, 2012 in Cologne | |
| Born | 21 May 1954 Madurai, Madras State, India |
| Education | Kalakshetra |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for | Director, Arangham Interactive, Chennai |
| Website | www.anitaratnam.com |
Education and training
Anitha Rathnam had her initial dance training under Bharatanatyam guru, Adyar K. Lakshman[4] and later went to Rukmini Devi Arundale's 'Kalakshetra' for advanced training and earned a Post graduate diploma in Dance. She trained in Bharatanatyam as well as Kathakali and Mohiniattam, the classical dances of Kerala.[5]
Career
She did her MA in theatre and television from the University of New Orleans, and spent the next ten years as a television producer/commentator in the United States with productions including a weekly series on art, travel and culture in India. She set up Arangham Trust, in 1992 in Chennai, followed by Arangham Dance Theatre, a performance company in 1993.[6][7]
She has also appeared in some Tamil movies over the years, such as Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) and Boys (2003).
Choreographies
- A Map to the Next World (1997), With Native American poet Joy Harjo
- Inner World (1998); with Pangea World Theatre in Minneapolis
- Daughters of the Ocean (1999); with writer Shobita Punja
- Dust (2002), with Mark Taylor of Dance Alloy, Pittsburgh, USA.[8]
- Hyphenated (2002), for Toronto's Lata Pada.
- Seven Graces (2005), with Canada-based Hari Krishnan
- Vortext (2006), with Canadian dance artist Peter Chin
- MA3KA (2009).[9][10]
Awards
Anita Ratnam has received several awards and recognition for her work in the performing arts in India and abroad. Some of them are:
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2016) by Sangeet Natak Akademi for contemporary dance[11]
