Ramaa Ramesh

🪔 About

Ramaa Ramesh is a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer and the Director of Nardhana Academy of Dance, which she founded in 1992 in Malvern, Pennsylvania. She trained for over fifteen years under Padmashri Smt. Chitra Visweswaran, a globally recognized Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher. Her dance style is a blend of the Thanjavur, Vazhuvur, and Pandanallur schools of Bharatanatyam. Ramaa Ramesh has performed professionally in India for prestigious organizations in cities like Chennai and at the National Center for Performing Arts in Bombay. Her performances and lecture-demonstrations have also taken her to the USA, France, the Middle East, and Japan, earning her several awards and positive press reviews. Academically, Ramaa Ramesh holds a Master's Degree in Dance from Temple University, Philadelphia, and has pursued a doctoral degree in dance. She also teaches an introductory Bharatanatyam course at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania. Born into the family of Mahakavi Subramania Bharatiyar, she aims to continue her family's legacy in poetry, music, and dance. At Nardhana Academy of Dance, Ramaa Ramesh focuses on perfecting dance technique, flawless interpretation, and realistic expressions in both her performances and teaching. The academy specializes in training students in Nritta (pure dance technique), Abhinaya (emotive/reflective skill), and Nritya (combination of abstract movement with expressive mime). Additionally, the curriculum includes dance theory, Nattuvangam (conducting stage recitals with cymbals), stage decor, lighting, teaching methodology, and the philosophy of movement and music. She has choreographed and staged over fifty Arangetrams (debut full-length recitals) for her senior disciples, often accompanied by live orchestras from India and the USA. The academy is also known for its group productions, including thematic interpretations in a dance-drama format and group choreographies. Nardhana Academy has collaborated with notable artists like Kalaimamani, Guru Sri. Madurai R. Muralidaran, and has hosted workshops and master classes by eminent artists such as Rama Vaidyanathan, Priyadarshini Govind, and Malavika Sarukkai.