Ramaa Bharadvaj is a special dance commentator for Narthaki-On-Line (an award winning web-magazine), SRUTI, (India’s premier dance/music magazine) and the National Sunday edition of Indian Express in India.

Her writings have been published by: Dance Critics Association, Congress on Research in Dance, India Currents Magazine, India Journal, Society of Dance History Scholars, New York Foundation for the Arts, Dance Insider magazine and Folkworks magazine and PULSE, the only south Asian Dance magazine in U.K.  She was one of 15 artists invited to write on the history and development of Kuchipudi dance for a special book on Indian arts released in Philadelphia, in which her article appears along with the writings of such artists as Pandit Ravi Shankar. 

This page will be updated periodically.

 Interview - 2008) Dancer Mallika Jayanti of Australia interviews Ramaa for Carnaticdarbar.com 

An Experience That Never Was - (2008) - A commentary on the International Kuchipudi Convention held in Cupertino, CA.  Special assignment to Narthaki.com

Ahhh ... Mi Amor! - (2006) - Raising a question about the "accepted" Bharatanatyam repertoire.  Published by National Sunday edition of INDIAN EXPRESS, India and Narthaki.com. 

Click here for a response from Lewis Segal, senior dance critic, Los Angeles Times, CA. 

Click here  to read posts on rasikas.org about the article. 

Past Your Prime - Ageism in Dance - (2003) - A witty commentary on the subject of "Ageism" in dance.  Republished by Congress on Research in Dance, New York Foundation for the Arts & as a cover feature by India Currents Magazine, California.  

About Ramaa's article "Ahhh ... Mi Amor" - 2006:

"Thanks for the well thought out and argued article - and I agree with you." - Chitra Sundaram, Dancer/Choreographer & Editor of the South Asian magazine "PULSE", UK.

"I wanted to request permission to re-print this in our newsletter. It was very interesting and thought-provoking, and it sparked some wonderful conversation amongst our senior-level dancers." - Anandini Chandrasekhar, Dancer/teacher, Detroit, MI. 

Thank you so much for this article.  It is a courageous and important contribution ... And the question you raise are very probing. - Dr. Nancy Ruyter, Professor of Dance, U C Irvine, CA 

Bravo to you for getting people to think about the content of the art they're watching, not just the quality of the performance. - Lewis Segal, Senior Dance Critic, Los Angeles Times, CA 

I really liked your piece a great deal--you write with such forthright clarity and passion. -  Ketu Katrak, Fulbright scholar and Professor of Asian American Studies, U C Irvine, CA  

I really really appreciate your article - you've no idea how much. - Shoba Sharma, Bharatanatyam dancer, Philadelphia, PA  

About Ramaa's article on Ageism in Dance:

You write so well - eloquent and passionate, and the subject needs it." - Deborah Greenfield, Flamenco dancer/choreographer, CA

... an inspiring piece, which everyone in the dance world should be made aware of. - Katherine Thomas, Editor- Congress on Research in Dance newsletter 

Your article is very interesting and I am forwarding it to our newsletter editor. - Karyn Collins, Chairman, Dance Critics Association

It's so much not only about dance, but about a completely universal issue: - Jordi Ortega, Telemundo reporter

Brilliant article rejoinder for ageism - congrats-  - Dr. Sunil Kothari, Dance scholar and critic, India

Thoughtful, articulate, heartfelt article!  I would like to both thank and congratulate you as well as ask permission to reprint it for my dance history classes - Paula Naggi, Dance professor, Mt. San Jacinto College, CA

Filled with facts, and peppered with humor and sarcasm, your voice is loud and clear - very very clear! – Anuradha Chellappa, dancer, St. Louis

Your writing is as humorous as it is compelling. – Jonathan Hollander, Battery Dance Company, New York

Wonderful piece -- funny and just right. - Sasha Anawalt (Director, Getty Journalism Program, USC)

I am honored to be your friend.   A well written article and very apropos.  Don Bondi, Ex-chair, Los Angeles county High School for the Arts

Other:

You exude a realism and a candid energy ...  It's honest and refreshing.  And your writing style is so warm which makes it all the more endearing and communicative.  Aasish Cherukupalli - Dance student, New York - 2006.

Not only will your answers be of value to our publication, but I feel personally enriched for having read them. I look forward to weaving your words into our publication! – Laura Marcus, Immigrant/Refugee Arts Consultant & Researcher, Fund for Folk Culture - 2006

at LAST ..someone writing about Theyyam who "gets" it...its really good, and sensitively done ... thank you sooo much! - Pepita Seth (photographer and "Theyyam" scholar) - 2004

Superb, my dear Ramaa, what shall we do without your wonderful wordsmith qualities in addition to your abundant gifts  as a dancer, choreographer and guru? - "Padmasri" Dr. Sunil Kothari (dance scholar and critic from India)

A million thanks for your brilliant comments and really witty sentences. I guess language must be your forte apart from the dance you dance! - Lada G. Singh, (Dancer and journalism student, India)

Your descriptions make all come so alive for me. - Uttara Asha Coorlawala, Dance scholar, New York

Very delighted to read your writing. - N. Ravikiran, musician & composer, India

Ramaa Bharadvaj's recollections of Venkatakrishnan were deeply touching. - Sarasi Raj, Quebec, Canada

Ramaa Bharadvaj's reminiscences were soul stirring. - E. N. Purushothaman, Hyderabad, India

Wow Ramaa! Thank you for enriching the end of my evening with your tantalizing words.  – Shana Menaker, dance faculty member, Orange Coast College, CA

We can just smell the smells, see the colors, feel the energy, and hear the beautiful music and mingling of voices – all through your writing!  What a treat! - Valerie Zavalla, yoga instructor, CA

I just inserted your wonderful first two paragraphs into my introductory chapter on dance in immigrant communities where I discuss how dance image often create stereotypes and your quotation was a perfect and extremely witty example. Many thanks - Dr. Anthony Shay, scholar/dance historian, CA

Thank you for keeping me posted on your wonderful adventures through your writings.  I enjoy both. - Mark Kittlaus, Maryland.

I really enjoyed your YOGINI article. It is always fun to read dancers with a sense of humor, specially from our country. - Anita Ratnam, dancer, cultural activist, India

Thanks for your wonderful writing. You're doing great work in informing a larger public about the new Americans in their midst. - Dr. David Roche, Executive Director, Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago

Kudos for your refreshing honesty and nonchalance about the politics of the dance world.  No wonder you seem to have a lot of fun! - Lata Pada, Director, Sampradaya Academy, Ontario, Canada

You are the best!  SO alive.  -  Judy Scalin, Dance Chair, Loyola Marymount University, CA

Thank you for being such a wonderful human being that shows the true "Dharma" in life through your expression of dance.   Your compassion will inspire all who cross your path.  Thank you for your inspiration. - Georgina Coleman – Dance Instructor, San Jose, CA

The energies you exude through your words and self-expression were simultaneously so lovely, eloquent and strong that we were impressed with both your many accomplishments in dance as well as your beautiful philosophies.  – Prof. Sasi Velupillai, Director, Academy of Empowerment, CA

What beautiful and powerful sentiments you express!  As someone who appreciates the creative arts, I was extremely moved by many of your statements. - Alexandra Juliani, Director, Reiki Academy, CA