Ramya Ramnarayan

🪔 About

Ramya Ramnarayan is a highly acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and educator, recognized as a leading exponent and torchbearer of the art form. Born in Chennai, India, she began her formal dance training at the age of four. Ramnarayan is a protégé of two eminent gurus: Kalaimamani S.K. Rajarathnam Pillai and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan, from whom she internalized and innovated her dance style. With over 40 years as a practicing artist and 32 years as an educator, Ramya Ramnarayan has significantly contributed to the preservation and evolution of Bharatanatyam. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance, a 501c3 arts organization headquartered in Edison, New Jersey. Through her institute, she promotes and propagates Bharatanatyam, offering educational showcases and full-length performances to diverse audiences. She has also served as a visiting faculty member in the Dance Department at Mason Gross School of Arts, affiliated with Rutgers University, and at Sarah Lawrence College. As a performer, Ramnarayan has graced prestigious stages globally, including the Madras Music Academy, International Fringe Festival, Asia Society, Lincoln Center, and Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana. She is one of the few U.S.-based Bharatanatyam artists annually invited to headline the esteemed December Season in Chennai, India. Her performances have been lauded by critics from The New York Times and The Hindu for her chiselled grace, expressive abhinaya, and powerful nritta. Beyond her artistic endeavors, Ramya Ramnarayan has also engaged in philanthropic efforts, raising over $200,000 for various charities. Awards & Honours: Artist Fellowship Award for Choreography (2008), Artist Fellowship Award for Choreography (2023), Master Teaching Artist, Nadanamamani, Nrithya Seva Mani, Kalaimamani, "A" grade artist, New Jersey State Heritage Fellowship (2025), Dance New Jersey Impact Award for Artistic Excellence (2024), Dodge for Dance grant, Arts for Learning grant, Joint Resolution, NJ Governor appointee, Board of Trustees, ICCR Empanelled artist, Arts Professional Learning Institute selection (2022).