Rama Suresh

🪔 About

Rama Suresh is a leading exponent of Bharatanatyam and a pioneer in nurturing and promoting Indian classical dance in the United States. Born and raised in Chennai, India, she began her formal training at the age of five in the Tanjore school of Bharatanatyam under the esteemed gurus Kalaimamani Sri. Thanjai M Arunachalam Pillai and Thanjai M Vasudevan Pillai. She performed her arangetram at age nine. Rama Suresh moved to the United States in 1986 and later to Peoria, Illinois, in 1989. She founded the Mythili Dance Academy (MDA) in 1988, one of the oldest and premier Bharatanatyam institutions in Texas and Illinois. Through MDA, she has dedicated over 35 years to performing and teaching, training over 1500 students, many of whom have completed their arangetram and become teachers themselves. She currently resides and teaches in Frisco, Texas, overseeing her senior students who continue to teach in Peoria, Illinois. Beyond her dance career, Rama Suresh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Journalism from Chennai, India, a second Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from the University of Illinois Springfield, and a Master's degree in Leadership in Human Services from Bradley University in Illinois. She also had a decades-long career as a Senior Human Resources Director while simultaneously teaching dance full-time. A versatile artist, Guru Rama Suresh is known for her technique, eloquent and emotive expression, and innovative dance productions. She has choreographed and directed numerous Broadway-style shows, collaborating with diverse dance institutions and raising over $708,428 for various charitable organizations. She is an empanelled Master Artist with the Illinois Arts Council and a Grade “A” artist with Indian National Television - Doordarshan. She has also received government grants from the Sangeet Natak Academy in India, which facilitated a tour of her dance drama "Shakunthalam" across 30 cities in India. She established the "Mythili & Rajappan New Choreography Endowment" in honor of her parents to support innovative dance works. Awards & Honours: Natya Mani (2005), Natya Kala Jothi (2019), Empanelled Master Artist with the Illinois Arts Council, Grade “A” artist with the Indian National Television - Doordarshan, Government grants from the Sangeet Natak Academy (India), Illinois Arts Council grants.