Ramaa is a discovery for me.  Her choreography involving the traditional and innovative was brilliant. " - Pandit Ravi Shankar

“Through her choreography, even the old and much used vocabulary of movement and rhythm acquire a fresh and original feel.”    - Indian Dance Critic Leela Venkatraman, The Hindu, New Delhi, India

Events 

Events - 2008 (For full details click on the links) 

Sat, Feb 9, 2008, 6.30pm

 

 

Indian Fine Arts

HELM FINE ARTS CENTER

St. Stephens's School,

2900 Bunny Run

Austin, TX
 

512 / 918-1351

(click for pdf 265 kb)...  "JWALA- Flame"

Beautifully choreographed dance sequences and storytelling combine as Ramaa & Swetha Bharadvaj along with four dancers from the Angahara Dance Ensemble color the stage with stories & images highlighting the significance of “Light” in the Indian culture. 

The program includes Ramaa & Swetha’s critically acclaimed “JWALA- Flame” which was telecast nationally by PBS in December 2007
Sun, Feb 10, 2008, 3.30pm

Hindu Temple of San Antonio

18518, Bandera Road

Helotes, TX

 

210 / 695-9500

"JWALA- Flame"

Stories and images from myths and rituals highlight the significance of Light in the Indian culture.  Program concludes with Ramaa & Swetha's "JWALA- Flame" which was telecast nationally on PBS in Dec 2007. 

Thurs, Feb 14, 2008, 10.30am

Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles.  

Toddler Time - storytelling and dance workshop 

Mon, Apr 28, 2008, 1.15pm

Newport Beach Film Festival

Edwards 2 Island Cinemas

(inside the Fashion Island mall)
999 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, 92660

Screening of ...

 link to ... Rhythms of Peace

This documentary by Sonya Bangston takes an intimate look into the making of a dance that was premiered at the Saito Homa Ceremony for Global Peace held at the Shinnyo-en Buddhist Temple in Yorba Linda, California, on April 21, 2007.  Under the direction of choreographer Marie de la Palme, Ramaa Bharadvaj was one of twelve dancers representing twelve nations, twelve cultures, and twelve dance styles that came together to adapt, to learn from each other and to create a message of Unity through music and dance.  Accompanied by a 50 piece symphony orchestra and 20 Taiko drums they performed on stage at the conclusion of an elaborate fire ceremony which attracted over 3000 people from all over the world.  Through interviews and behind the scene footage, this documentary captures the intense as well as joyous process of artistic creation.     
Thurs, June 19, 2008, 9pm

The Hilton Los Angeles Airport 

5711 West Century Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA

AMMA's Los Angeles Retreat

Ramaa Bharadvaj performs Sakthi Koothu - a powerful invocation of the dynamic Creative Force worshipped as Sakthi in Indian culture.  

Sat, June 21, 2008

Flint Center for the Performing Arts

21250, Stevens Creek Blvd

Cupertino, CA 95014

International Kuchipudi Dance Convention

Panel session with dance scholar Dr. Sunil Kothari.  Ramaa's innovative use of Kuchipudi in her "Panchatantra - Animal Fables of India"  is presented through video and paper presentation.  

Sun, Jun 22, 2008, 10am

Hilltop Center for Spiritual Living

331, East Elder St,

Fallbrook, CA

760 / 723 - 8291

Ramaa Bharadvaj will present

Peace Invocation Performance as part of the service

 followed by

Global Altar" workshop, a fully participatory workshop using body, breath, sound, meditative movement and creative ritual to create a universal prayer for peace & prosperity.  The ceremony will center around a specially designed Flower Mandala / Global Altar.  

Saturday June 28, 2008

5.30pm to 6.45pm - dinner

7pm - curtain

 

Tickets (Includes Dinner/Parking) $50/$35 (Preferred Seating),

$25 (General Admission)

 

For tickets and info call:

Uma Gulani: 949-552-0907

Neela Karnik: 909-394-0449,

Vidya Sapre: 562-690-6355,

 

HERITAGE FORUM THEATER

201 E. Broadway Ave.

Anaheim, CA 92805

 

Ekal Vidyalaya (One Teacher School), a project addressing the dire need for non-formal primary education in the remote villages of India. Ekal’s mission is to setup one-teacher schools in 100,000 tribal villages. More than 24,000 schools are in operation today

Fundraiser for "Ekal Vidyalaya" rural educational project

presents

 (click title for pdf) PANCHATANTRA - Animal Fables of India

A magical Indian Dance Theater Experience

Featuring

Ramaa Bharadvaj & Angahara Dance Ensemble

With Gary Jones (Blackstreet USA Puppet Theater)

and his loud-mouthed “Yuppets” as the storytellers.

 

Frolicking monkeys, elegant doves, crocodiles and dancing puppets fill the stage with vibrant rhythms, fun and craziness as the Angahara Dance Ensemble brings to life two stories on Friendship and Trust from India's 2500 year old Panchatantra fables.  This internationally acclaimed dance-theater production uses unusual movement vocabulary based on the Bharatanatyam dance technique, hilarious storytelling in English, commissioned lyrics in 2 Indian languages and delightful original music to take you into a riotous world of make-believe.  

Wed, July 30, 2008, 12.15pm

Harvard Westlake School,

3700, Coldwater Canyon,

N. Hollywood, CA 

Summer dance intensive workshop

Thu, July 31, 10.30am

Cambodian Family Literacy program

1761 Walnut Ave,

Long Beach, CA 90813

Ford Theater Foundation presents

Ramaa Bharadvaj in a workshop on Indian dance and storytelling. (Accompanied by Gary Jones and his "yuppets"). (sponsored by Cambodian Association of America)

Sat, Aug 2, 2008, 10am

John Anson Ford Amphitheater

Hollywood, CA

PANCHATANTRA - Animal Fables of India

with Angahara Dance Ensemble & Gary Jones

presented by Ford Theater's "Big World! Fun! Family Series" in collaboration with the L.A. Zoo

click ... link to PANCHATANTRA at Ford Theater

Sat Sep 6, 2008, 5pm

Performing Arts Theater

Lutheran High School of Orange County

2222 North Santiago Blvd.

Orange, CA

(Admission by invitation)

ARANGETRAM - Bharata Natyam dance debut

of

Anuja Shah & Diya Varma

(students of Ramaa Bharadvaj)

Accompanied by live orchestra from India

Sat, Sep 13, 2008, 7pm

Columbus, OHIO

 venue to be decided

Bharata Natyam

by Ramaa & Swetha Bharadvaj

(presented by Chinmaya Mission)

Sep 20 to 28, 2008

Kala Bharati

Montreal, CANADA

Les Journees de la Culture

Ramaa conducts workshops and lecture based on her work on animal movements in dance.  Co-presented with Mamata Niyogi Nakra, the founder of the "child-friendly Bharata Natyam" movement.  The workshop is part of the vast programming for "Les Journees de la Culture", a  province-wide celebration of all things cultural.  -  Presented by Kala Bharati.    .

Fri, Nov 14, 2008, 7pm

Norton Simon Museum Theater

411 W. Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91105

 

Ramaa Bharadvaj’s

“Story of Light”

featuring

Angahara Dance Ensemble

 In the beginning there was only infinite darkness.

But God said “Let there be Light”, and there was Light!

And then what? What if Light was not so en-lightened after all?

Story of Light” is an original story-dance-theater that integrates captivating storytelling in English with beautifully choreographed dance vignettes to take the new-born “Light” on an adventurous and en“light”ening journey towards Self-discovery.  Presented in a style that Ramaa has named “Katha-Dance”, it combines spoken voice, live chants, music, myths and humor with visually dramatic choreography to highlight the symbolism of “Light” in the Indian culture.   “Story of Light” includes Ramaa & Swetha Bharadvaj’s critically acclaimed “JWALA-Flame” telecast nationally by PBS in December 2007. 

  (Presented by the Museum in celebration of

Deepavali - the Indian Festival of Lights)

Fri, Nov 21, 2008, 9.15am

Loyola Marymount University

Inglewood, CA 

"To Dance is Human" - Lecture workshop

(presented by the LMU Dance Department)

Sun Dec 7, 2008, 5pm

Duarte Performing Arts Center

Duarte, CA

ARANGETRAM - Bharata Natyam Dance debut

of

Shivani & Ishani Patel

(students of Ramaa Bharadvaj)

Admission by invitation
Dec 24 - 30, 2008

Chinmaya Vibhooti

Pune, India

"Navdha Bhakti" 

Performance by Ramaa Bharadvaj

for the Chinmaya International Conference 

Teaching - 2008 

 

Jan 2008 to May 2008: Dance of India Spring semester sessions at:

        Dance department Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA

        Dance Department, Pomona College, CA 

        Dance Department, U. C. Irvine, CA

 

Aug 2008 to Dec 2008:  Dance of India Fall semester sessions at:

        Dance department, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA

        Dance Department, Loyola Marymount University, Inglewood, CA

 

For tickets or info about the above events Contact Us

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Past Events

 

Recent Performance Highlights

 

2007

  • Jan - Panchatantra - Animal Fables of India - Carpenter Center for Performing Arts, Long Beach, CA.

  • Mar - Asian Pacific Celebrations, Carson Community Center, Carson, CA.

  • Apr - Purification Peace Ceremony, (multicultural collaboration featuring 8 world dance styles in a specially choreographed presentation)- Shinnyo-en Buddhist Temple, Yorba Linda, CA

  • Apr - Spring Dance Concert - Robert B. Moore Theater, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA.

  • May - Panel performance and discussion for the USC Getty Journalism Fellows Program based on Delsarte's theory of Aesthetics (with John Pennington, & Tom Leabhart), Colburn School for Performing Arts, Los Angeles.

  • May & June (20 performances over 9 weekends) - TAILS FROM INDIA - A a humorous story/dance adventure for the whole family. Commissioned by the Skirball Cultural Center to celebrate the opening of their 8,000 sq foot Noah Ark Children’s gallery.) Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA

  • July - Opening night performance for YOGINI CONFERENCE. Ramaa premieres her new work on Sufi mystic poetry accompanied by live drum/poetry by John de Kadt. - Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Lennox, MASS.

  • Aug - "Jwala-Flame" portrays the story of immigrant experience through transformational stages of adventure, adjustment, and equilibrium.  Dedicated to the Statue of Liberty. - 26th Annual Downtown dance Festival, Battery Park, New York.   

  • Oct - "Season of Arts" Tamil village songs by Ramaa Bharadvaj & folk dances by Angahara Dance Ensemble.  presented by Southern California Tamil Manram, Irvine Mandir, CA

  • Nov - "The Story of Light" - Stories and images from myths and  rituals from India to take highlight the significance of Light in the Indian culture.    Beautifully choreographed dance sequences by six dancers from the Angahara Dance Ensemble and humorous storytelling by master puppeteer Gary Jones & his Yuppet combine against a backdrop of projected multimedia images to create a seamless dance celebration.  Presented by the Carpenter Center for Performing Arts, Long Beach.

  • Dec - National PBS Telecast - The choreography “Jwala-Flame” created by Swetha and Ramaa reflecting the struggles and discoveries of the immigrant experience, is telecast nationally by PBS. 

2006

  • Jan - Nations of San Diego Dance Festival, The Birch North Park Theater, San Diego, CA

  • Mar - Asian Pacific Celebrations, Carson Community Center, Carson, CA

  • Mar - Fundraiser for Wattstar Theater & Education Center & post party following the world premiere of "ATL - A New American Story", Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood, CA 

  • Apr - Panel performance and discussion for the USC Getty Journalism Fellows Program (with John Pennington, Carole Vallesky & Tom Leabhart), Colburn School for Performing Arts, Los Angeles.

  • May - Gallimaufry Dance Day, Laguna Beach, CA

  • Jun - The 8th Annual Race Unity Award Celebration, Center at Sycamore Plaza, Lakewood, CA

  • Aug - Nataraja Mela - (Benefit for Trees for the Future) - A mela of yoga, classical dance, Kirtan, puja, workshops, film and ritual by World class artists, musicians, DJs and yoga teachers. Golden Bridge Yoga, Los Angeles. 

  • Aug - Arangetram of Nirali Shah, Sanatan Dharma Temple Auditorium, Artesia CA

  • Aug - Arangetram of Aarthi Ajit, Anisha Patel and Shiksha Patel, La Mirada Center for Performing Arts, CA

  • Nov - "JWALA-Flame" at Faculty Dance Concert, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA (JWALA-Flame portrays the story of immigrant experience through transformational stages of adventure, adjustment, and equilibrium.  The choreography juxtaposes Bharata Natyam with jazz influenced movement.)

  • Nov - "JWALA - Flame" at "Dancing in the Margins" Festival - This Festival presents world dance choreographers whose work addresses contemporary issues but is still grounded in a deeply-rooted tradition.  Deaf West Theater, N. Hollywood, CA

  • Dec -  "JWALA-Flame" at "Kinetic Conversations" , Landis Performing Arts Theater, Riverside Community College, Riverside, CA.

  • Dec - "JWALA-Flame" at 47th Annual Holiday Celebration , at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles.  This cultural landmark event is a Christmas Eve tradition in Southern California.  “Jwala-Flame” is the only Indian dance presentation selected. Simulcast by PBS/KCET Ch. 28

2005

  • LAHARI - Caltech Tsunami Relief Effort presentation - Beckman Auditorium, Pasadena, CA 

  • Raja Mandalam - a mythic dance-story inspired by Kerala's poet-king Swathi Tirunal - accompanied by an original musical score, - Aratani Japan America Theater, Los Angeles - CA.  

  • Panel performance and discussion for the USC Getty Journalism Fellows Program - Boston Court, Pasadena, CA

  • Xpressions - California Masters of Indian Dance' - Bellflower Civic Auditorium, Bellflower, CA

  • Los Angeles Sister City Festival - Page Museum Park, Los Angeles, CA. 

  • The 2005 National Critics Conference - presenting the most notable choreographers of California.  Grand Performances, Los Angeles.

  • "Panchatantra - Animal Fables of India" - National Asian Indian Dance Convention, Dallas, TX 

  • Yogini Conference - Performance and Workshop, Kripalu Foundation for Yoga and Health, Lenox, MASS

  • Mother's Day Celebrations - Duoc Su Buddhist Temple, Garden Grove, CA

  • Faculty Dance Concert - Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA

  • Sangama 2005 -  Seminar on the Art and Architecture of South India - Bing Theater, L.A.County Museum of Art, Los Angeles.

  • "JWALA (Flame)" -  Celebrating "Light" as a symbol of Hope, Faith and Liberty in the Hindu and Jewish traditions.  "Jwala" culminates in an exuberant duet about the immigrant experience in a finale danced on a blue glass floor - Commissioned by Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles.  

  • 46th Annual Holiday Celebration - Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles.  Simulcast by PBS.

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Photo credits: Swetha Bharadvaj

Copyright ©2003 Angahara Ensemble