Ragamala Dance Company

Following their Hop debut in 2018, Ragamala Dance Company's three-year residency culminates this fall with the performance of their new interdisciplinary dance work.

Fires of Varanasi is inspired by migration and keeping one's culture alive in an adopted homeland and is rooted in Bharatanatyam—a major form of classical Indian dance.

Ragamala Dance Company (RDC) was founded in 1992 by Ranee Ramaswamy, and is under the leadership of Artistic Directors Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy, and Choreographic Associate Ashwini Ramaswamy (mother and daughters). Driven by the artistic vision of Ranee and Aparna, Ragamala Dance Company is the embodiment of an immigrant story. The company's work—on stage, in the community, and educating the next generation—exemplifies the intercultural narratives of countless global citizens and evokes a shared sense of humanity. Through the South Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam, Ragamala's work explores the myth and spirituality of their Indian heritage in order to engage with what they see as the dynamic tension between the historical, the ancestral, and the personal.

Learn more about Ragamala Dance Company >

Updates

Big Move Talk: Ritual, Gender and the Dance of Shiva

Sep 13, 2021

A virtual conversation between the artistic directors of the Ragamala Dance Company and Sara Swenson of the Dartmouth Religion Department.

Ragamala at the Hop

As part of the creation of this new piece, Ragamala has been in residence this year collaborating with students, faculty and community members to explore the themes of the work and develop an art installation to accompany the performance.

Pico Iyer in Conversation

May 21, 2020

A conversation with renowned essayist, TED talk favorite and Montgomery Fellow Pico Iyer, an eloquent observer of global art and culture; and Ragamala Dance Company Co-Artistic Directors and Guggenheim Fellows, Bharatanatayam artists Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy.

Dartmouth Community Helps with Art Installation

‘Through this installation, we are creating a metaphorical, meditative pilgrimage using folk artistic traditions’ -Ranee Ramaswamy

In the News

Pinch pots, rice painting and reincarnation: Ragamala Dance Company visits the Hop

The Ragamala Dance Company was founded in 1992 by Ranee Ramaswamy and is currently in its 26 th season of touring. The company is headquartered in Minneapolis and run by mother (Ranee Ramaswamy) and...

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