“Ragamala shows a way into the twenty-first century for all classical forms.” – Mpls/St. Paul Magazine

“The performers are masters of their art…a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” — The Fringe Review (Edinburgh, U.K.)

“Aparna Ramaswamy infuses the formal rigor of Bharatanatyam with fluid spontaneity and rock star allure” — Dance Magazine

“[Ragamala] shows how Indian forms can provide some of the most transcendent experiences that dance has to offer.This is an excellent company.”
– The New York Times

“Our work re-frames the cultural specificity of Bharatanatyam, bringing the eloquence of the form to universal themes in order to move beyond the personal and spark a global conversation. In an era in which innovation is so often seen as a rejection of the past, we are committed to the philosophy that it is vital to retain roots in our collective history while reaching into the future.” — Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy, co-Artistic Directors

Artistic Directors Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy named 2011 Artists of the Year

Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy have been named 2011 Artists of the Year by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Other year-end mentions include MPR News and a Star Tribune online video preview of the finalists by the paper’s senior arts editor. This honor caps off the company’s most successful year to date, and with it we would like to announce that Ragamala has been invited to perform at the prestigious American Dance Festival this summer, July 10-12, 2012.

Aparna Ramaswamy performs at Parampara Festival, Kerala, India

On November 3rd, Ragamala Co-Artistic Director and Principal Dancer Aparna Ramaswamy presented an evening-length solo performance as part of the Soorya Parampara Festival in Trivandrum, India. The Soorya Parampara Festival features solo performances by protégés of illustrious gurus to showcase them as artists of the next generation.

Full crowds, great reviews for Sacred Earth

The Minneapolis Star Tribune writes, “While Sacred Earth showcases the troupe’s total commitment to the Indian dance form Bharatanatyam, it’s also a fine example of what magic can happen when movement, visual artistry and music exist in close harmony with one another on stage.” Please click here to read the full review. Sacred Earth also received positive press from the City Pages, Twin Cities Daily Planet, and Mnartists.org.

Ragamala will be touring Sacred Earth to 23 cities this season, with Indiana State University being the first venue on October 18th. Please check the tour schedule to see if the company is coming to a stage near you! An excerpt of Sacred Earth is available for viewing on the main page of this site.

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