Neeraja Ramani

🪔 About

Neeraja Ramani is an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and teacher specializing in Bharatanatyam, with a career spanning over three decades across India, Singapore, and Canada. Her early training in Bharatanatyam began at a young age under Mrs. Jayashree Narayanan in Pondicherry, where she studied for nine years. She further honed her skills at the prestigious Kalakshetra Foundation, graduating in 1992. Following her graduation, Ramani served as a lecturer for five years at Bharathiyar Palkalai Koodam, a university-affiliated institute in Pondicherry, which provided her with numerous performance opportunities across India. She also explored and innovated within the classical dance system during her time at Bhavan's Gandhi Vidyashram in Kodaikanal. Her international career includes five years as a teacher and performing artist at Basker's Arts Academy in Singapore. Since 1994, Neeraja Ramani has been creating dance works that incorporate traditional Tamil Bharatanatyam songs, modern Tamil poetry, and ancient Tamil texts, often focusing on women's and social issues. Her creative choreographies and performances have been well-received by both the press and the public. Currently based in Toronto, Canada, she continues to perform and runs her own art school, Kalavriksha Dance Centre, where she imparts knowledge of Bharatanatyam, including Nritta, Nritya, Abhinaya, Nattuvangam, and theory. Her recent works delve into contemporary movements based on her training, with feminism being a core material of her research and creations, questioning societal views on women's bodies.