Ramya Ramnarayan - Performer, Choreographer, Educator

Counted among the leading exponents of Bharatanatyam today, Ramya Ramnarayan combines legacy, expertise and experience. A protégé of two exponents of the dance form, Kalaimamani, SK Rajarathnam Pillai and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan, Ramya is recognized as a capable performer, choreographer, educator and a torch bearer of this art, who blends tradition with innovation.

Ramya Ramnarayan is a “Kalaimamani” awardee (Tamil Nadu State award, India) among other awards.  Ms. Ramnarayan recently received the prestigious A - graded artist, Doordarshan, Government of India.

Through the Production Company and school – Nrithyanjali, Ms. Ramnarayan’s work is created to retain roots in the collective history of philosophy, spirituality, mysticism, and myth of South Indian heritage while bringing the eloquence of Bharatanatyam to universal themes.

Ms. Ramnarayan has extended the outreach of Bharathanatyam by presenting educational and enriching dance showcases & full-length performances at various universities, colleges, museums, libraries and under the auspicious of the Young Audiences NJ/PA reaching out to over 10,000 audience members per year.  She was a visiting faculty appointment in the Dance Department at Mason Gross School of Arts, affiliated to Rutgers University. Ramya Ramnarayan will be a faculty at Sarah Lawrence College New York starting 2018 fall. Ms. Ramnarayan is a gallery artist with Pentacle, roster artist with Young Audiences of NJ and Eastern PA, and empanelled artists with Indian Council for Cultural Relations.  

Ramya Ramnarayan released a Bharatanatyam DVD at the 38th Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival. DVD Title- Guruvin Kural Amudam- A tribute to Ramya’s Guru the legendary Natyacharya S K Rajarathnam Pillai. Ms. Ramnarayan is featured in the Madras Music Academy, New York Fringe Festival, NJPAC, Jacobs Pillow, Museum of art and design, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Asia Society NYC, Kinkini Arts Foundation, Bangalore, Indian Habitat Center, New Delhi, South Indian Cultural Association, Hyderabad, Chembur Fine Arts, Mumbai and in several Universities across United States to mention a few.