Kiruthika Rathanaswami

🪔 About

Kiruthika Rathanaswami is a distinguished Indian classical dancer and instructor specializing in the Bharatanatyam style, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Born in Pondicherry, India, she has dedicated over three decades to the art form under the profound guidance and mentorship of Jai Govinda, the founder and former Artistic Director of Mandala Arts & Culture Society in Vancouver. Rathanaswami completed her Bharatanatyam arangetram (graduation) at the Jai Govinda Dance Academy in 2004. Her career has seen her evolve from a prominent soloist and ensemble member in numerous professional productions by Mandala Arts & Culture Society to becoming its new Artistic Director in March 2025, continuing Govinda's legacy. Beyond Mandala, she was a Company Dancer (2019-2022) and Associate Artist (2022-2024) for Toronto-based Nova Dance. As a soloist, Rathanaswami has performed extensively across Canada and the United States, gracing stages at notable festivals such as the Canada Dance Festival, Gait to the Spirit Festival, and Expanse Festival. Her commitment to artistic development led her to receive an Arts Fellowship from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute in 2010, enabling her to train with Gurus B. Bhanumati and Sheela Chandrashekar of Nrityakalamandiram in Bangalore, India. Rathanaswami was the lead dancer in the 2011 documentary film "The Great Night of Shiva," broadcast nationally in Canada. She has premiered several new Bharatanatyam margams choreographed by Jai Govinda and Bragha Bessell and has been featured in works like Nova Dance's "Svāhā!" and Sujit Vaidya's "Breath in the Fragrance." As a choreographer, she co-led Nova Dance's "Svāhā Body Choir" in Vancouver (2023) and created "Linked Expressions" for Nextfest (2020) with Dance Xtreme Students. She recently co-conceived and performed "Shiva (He) - Shakti (Her)" with Malavika Santhosh. Recognized for her contributions, Rathanaswami received the 2012 City of Vancouver "The Mayor's Arts Award" for emerging artist in Dance and the 2016 Dancing Damsel Women Achiever Award for the Performing Arts. She also shares her knowledge as an instructor, teaching group classes at Mandala Arts and conducting workshops at various institutions. Awards & Honours: Arts Fellowship from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (2010), City of Vancouver "The Mayor's Arts Award" for emerging artist in Dance (2012), Dancing Damsel Women Achiever Award for the Performing Arts (2016).