Ragamala Music and Dance Theater presents dance, music and poetry, blending the East and West in unique and innovative programs that reflect the multicultural world in which we live. Old forms are used in new ways, retaining much of the past to enhance our experience in the present. Ragamala's work provides a bridge between cultures both ancient and modern exploring living poetry for the stage.
			A photo collage used to promote Ragamala, shows some of the hand gestures which are an integral part of Bharatanatyam				What is Bharatanatyam? This is a highly stylized dance form originating from South India, more specifically from the state of Tamil Nadu. It is a dance of mind & spirit. It is traditionally a solo dance, born in the temple, and devotional in spirit. It is known for its grace, purity, and statuesque poses. The dance style is very precise and makes use of a myriad of hand movements that are used for expression. Educational Residencies by Ragamala Ranee Ramaswamy has been involved in educational programming since 1981.Her residency programs currently reach approximately 40 schools a year. In 1997, '98 and '99, Ragamala was chosen by the Minnesota State Arts Board to be part of the Arts Across Minnesota program to tour and perform residencies in rural Minnesota. In Ramaswamy's own word, her residencies develop an "appreciation for cultures other than one's own, expand knowledge and respect for different people. In my residancy, I help children experience the arts of a civilization that has survived thousands of years from the dawn of history to the present. I want them to learn that it feels wonderful to be different". Residency Objectives: • To understand and respect that people around the world live differently and it's okay to be different. • To create a curiousity about other cultures. • To reinforce curriculum areas of social studies, music, dance and art. • To celebrate differences while emphasizing our common needs throught the use of the arts. Activities: A series of activities are integrated to introduce the student to the social, cultural , historic and geographic background of India. Each classroom session is about 50 minutes and, depending upon the length of the residency, the following topics are covered. Who am I? Introduction to India, the country, people and their languages. Movement and rhythm: Students learn to use feet and body positions in a rhythmic dance done to music. Gestures in Indian dance: Emotional energy directed through the body postures, gestures and movement is taught. The students participate in a short dance with music. Knowing who you are through art and culture: These classes weave culture into individuality , community, and personality of the students and the artist. This format clearly show how important qualities such as respect can be very different in various cultures. Emotions in Indian dance: Exercises in groups, of nine emotions used in Indian dance and how daily emotions are incorporated into dance. Festivals of India and how they are celebrated: Students participate in a folk dance of South India and learn a song about Brother's Day. Synthesis through the arts: In ancient India, music, Indian miniature paintings, and poetry have often complimented each other, with artists painting a melody, poets writing about the painting and so on. The synthesis is demonstrated with the students being asked to write about any one of the nine emotions and then to illustrate another student's writing. The idea of personification in the arts is taught. Slides of daily life in India: A question and answer session. If you are interested in more information, please contact Ranee Ramaswamy at (612) 823-1872, email: raneer@uswest.com
		Ragamala An Innovative Minnesota-Based Music And Dance Theater Blends Indian Artforms With Those of Africa, Japan and Others. Ragamala Music and Dance Theater is an innovative, risk-taking dance company co-founded in 1992 by dancer/choreographer Ranee Ramaswamy and composer/Sitarist David Whetstone. Ranee, a native of India and 20 year resident of Minnesota is the artistic director. Under her leadership and vision, Ragamala has grown into one of the leading music and dance companies in Minnesota. Ranee has established a track record of artistic innovation and ground breaking collaborations with other national and international artists. Ramaswamy's choreography is based on the exquisite Pandannallur style of Bharatanatyam, the ancient classical dance of South India. Working with ancient gestures, movements and stories Bharatanatyam is traditionally a solo dance form. While retaining the grace and verve of the original style, Ramaswamy has adapted the dance to new contexts and themes, adding a new movement to the vocabulary frequently with group choreography. ________________________________ "Chaturam", a cross cultural performance which connects four cultures through her Bharatanatyam choreography set to ancient and rich musical traditions. ________________________________ An example of Ranee Ramaswamy's creative vision is highlighted in "Chaturam", a cross cultural performance which connects four cultures through her Bharatanatyam choreography set to ancient and rich musical traditions. The program is comprised of "El Misteris (The Mystery) with music composed by Armando Guiterez and Gustavo Lira of Nahui Ehecatl, meaning Four Winds. Using close to 50 instruments of indigenous origin, Nahui Ehecatl presents a culturally rich performance of pre-Colombian inspired music. Next is "Thillana", a complex, energetic and rhythmic composition by Nirmala Rajashekar (vocal) accompanied by Nancy Lesh on the cello and Mahesh Chidambaram on the Mridangam (south Indian drum). The third is "Four from One Hundred. This is comprised of four Chinese poems set to music composed by Gao Hong on the Pipa. The poems are all narrated in English. And the final segment is "Flying Horses". Pulsating rhythms on Taiko drums composed by Rick Shiomi and performed by the drummers of Mu Daiko end off the evening as the thrilling beat of traditional Japanese drumming meshes with Bharatanatyam dance. The program cover for Ragamala's road tour through the state of Ohio. Program cover for "Samarpanam - Works by Aparna Ramaswamy". Upcoming projects for Ragamala include "The Transposed Heads". In this performance, Ragamala collaborates with Susani di Palma's highly acclaimed Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theater to interpret The Transposed Heads, an Indian folk tale as interpreted by Thomas Mann. The Transposed Heads deals with the dilemma of a girl who falls in love with two men, one for his physical attractiveness and the other for his intellectual prowess. Artistic Directors Ranee Ramaswamy and Susan di Palma will choreograph and star in this innovative program, each dancing in her own distinctive style: Bharatanatyam and Flamenco. Carnatic (South Indian) vocalist Nirmala Rajashekar and Carnatic guitarist Prasanna Ramaswamy will be joined by Zorongo's highly acclaimed musicians to provide accompaniment for the program. Twin Cities actor/director/playwright Zaraawar Mistry will write and direct. Another project brings together, for the second time, the critically-acclaimed cross cultural collaboration between Ragamala and Milwaukee's Ko-thi Dance Company. "Wordance" is an exuberant celebration of Indian and African dance and music and highlights the way in which both African and Indian cultures use vocalized rhythnic patterns in complex counterpoint to illustrate the synergy between music and dance. Both cultures speak through rhythm, inspiring the title of this work, Wordance. You can contact Ragamala Music and Dance Theater through Ranee Ramaswamy, the Artistic Director at (612) 823-1872, email: raneer@uswest.com or visit www.khazana.com/ragamala This website: Copyright © 2000 Studio Q Int'l Inc / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in Urban Mozaik Magazine are not necessarily those of Urban Mozaik Magazine and the publisher cannot be held responsible for them. This website/publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.