Anita Ratnam

🪔 About

Anita Raajyalaxmi Ratnam, born on May 21, 1954, in Chennai, India, is a highly acclaimed Indian classical and contemporary dancer and choreographer. Her extensive training began at age three under Rajee Narayan, where she learned Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Manipuri, and the plate dance. She further honed her Bharatanatyam skills under the renowned Guru Adyar K. Lakshman and obtained a postgraduate diploma in dance from Kalakshetra between 1974 and 1976. Ratnam also received formal training in other Indian classical forms, including Kathakali under Balasubramanian of Kerala Kalamandalam and Mohiniattam under Thottassery Chinnammu Amma, alongside studies in Tai Chi and Kalarippayattu. In the mid-1970s, Ratnam moved to the United States, where she pursued a Master's degree in Theatre and Television from the University of New Orleans (1977-1979). She worked as a television producer and commentator from 1976 to 1990, notably producing and presenting the weekly program "Cinema Cinema" for Channel 47, covering Indian arts and culture. Upon her return to India, Ratnam established the Arangham Trust in 1992 and the Arangham Dance Theatre in 1993, both based in Chennai, to promote contemporary Indian dance. She is widely recognized for developing "Neo Bharatam," a unique contemporary movement vocabulary that integrates elements from various Indian classical dance forms and other movement traditions. In 2000, she founded Narthaki.com, a pioneering online portal dedicated to chronicling and critiquing Indian classical and folk arts globally. Ratnam has performed in over 27 countries and holds a Ph.D. in Women's Studies. She has mentored numerous emerging artists, with approximately 40 to 50 dancers training at Arangham Dance Theatre between 1993 and 2003. Awards & Honours: Mahatma Gandhi Award for Cultural Harmony (1986), Media Achievement Award (1991), Nritya Choodamani (1996), Kalaimamani (1998), Lalithakalaratna (2003), Natya Ratna (2003), Vishwa Kala Bharathi (2013), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Contemporary Dance (2016), Vishwa Kala Ratna (2017).