Nivedha Ramalingam

🪔 About

Nivedha Ramalingam is a Canadian Bharathanatyam performing artist, choreographer, and educator. She began her dance journey at the age of five, formally commencing lessons at seven, and completed her Arangetram in 2003. Her training includes a Diploma in Bharathanatyam and a "Natiyakalaimani" (Bachelor in Bharathanatyam) from Annamalai University. While she has participated in learning intensives with leading artists in India, she is primarily self-taught and self-trained, with her mother serving as her first teacher. Ramalingam is a principal dancer for the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company and has performed in numerous international dance festivals, presenting her work in cities such as Vancouver, San Antonio, Chicago, and New York. She founded Bharathalaya Dance Academy in 2006, where she instructs students in Bharathanatyam. Additionally, she holds the distinction of being the University of Toronto's (Scarborough campus) first Bharathanatya Dance teacher. In 2013, Nivedha was the Grand Prize Winner of the Cleveland Thyagarajah Dance Competition, triumphing over Bharathanatyam dancers from India. She is also the recipient of the 'Vazhavoor Ramaiya Pillai' Endowment Award from the Cleveland Thyagarajah Aradhana and the 'Guru Subbaraya Pillai Endowment Award from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai. Beyond her dance career, she balances her profession as a kinesiologist in cardiac rehabilitation. Awards & Honours: Grand Prize Winner of the Cleveland Thyagarajah Dance Competition (2013), Vazhavoor Ramaiya Pillai' Endowment Award, Guru Subbaraya Pillai Endowment Award.