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Concluded events 2015  November 22, 2015 The annual all night performance KAISIKA NATAKAM took place at Thirukurungudi Nambi temple from 6pm. It is the 17th year of revival. Anita Ratnam, through her cultural foundation Arangham Trust, has taken the responsibility of reviving this 13th century ritual performance, unique to this temple. Before the Kaisiki Natakam, there was a Bharatanatyam performance by Parasah (Roja Kannan, Priya Murle, Srikanth and Aswathy)  Play reading. In support of FTII students. September 30, 2015, 3 pm Anita Ratnam gave Lecture on "Inscribing the Body in Performance" as part of the Lecture Series on "Path Makers: Women Innovators in the Public Sphere." At: The Conference Hall of the Department of Management Studies, University of Madras, Chepauk campus, Chennai September 3, 2015 Anita Ratnam presented NEELAM - drowning in bliss at NCPA EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE, Mumbai, 7pm  Inspired by the silent corridors of Vishnu temples in South India, NEELAM illuminates the many shades of devotion and worship to the Lord. From the voice of 7th century poet saint Andal, through the passionate tones of Saint Annamayya in the 16th century, NEELAM finally rests upon the undiluted adoration of Muthuswami Dikshitar in the 18th century. The dance presentation explores the concept of "prapatti" or total surrender which is unique to Sri Vaishnavism. The choreography draws from the ritual movements of the 'Arayer' chanting priests and the iconography of Vishnu's various avatars.. The costume highlights the concepts of "jeevatma" and "paramatma"- the male-female duality that upholds Vishnu as the only masculine presence or "Purusha" and all humanity as the feminine principle. The recorded score and sound design resonate this quiet devotion with the Carnatic music structures of Kritis, ragam. tanam and pallavi. NEELAM has been performed to wide acclaim in India and the USA. Credits: Introduction by Arundhathi Subramaniam Concept, Choreography and Performance: Anita Ratnam Direction and Choreography Mentor: Hari Krishnan Flute: G Raghuraman Lighting: Deepa Dharmadhikari Costumes: Ideated and designed by REX and realised by Sandhya Raman and Prabha Narasimhan Music : Ritual sources Vocals: Sikkil Gurucharan, Subhiksha Rangarajan, Sharanya Krishnan, Vedanth Bharadwaj Percussion: KSR Aniruddha Piano: Anil Srinivasan Sound Design: Anita Ratnam and Vedanth Bharadwaj Link August 29, 2015, 2pm-5pm  Writing to promote, present and market the arts - Lecture by Anita Ratnam. At: Apparao Galeeries, Chennai View invite August 23, 2015 A ROOM OF ONE's OWN, the search for a woman's identity and well being - Anita Ratnam spoke for The Inner Wheel Clubs At: Coimbatore August 21, 2015 Anita Ratnam - the featured Chennai celebrity for FICCI to promote Chennai as a cultural and business destination in advance for the TAMILNADU GLOBAL BUSINESS MEET on Sep 20th event at Chennai Trade Centre. August 16, 2015  SWARNA UTSAV - the golden jubilee year celebration of Bharatanatyam Guru Rajee Narayan's Nritya Geethanjali. Her students from India and abroad came together to celebrate with music and dance. Anita Ratnam performed for a song written and composed by her guru in praise of Goddess Vaishno Devi. At: Shanmukhananda Chandarsekhara Saraswati Auditorium, 292 Com. Harbanslal Mrg, Sion East, Mumbai 400022, 9.30am Info: 9702256608 / shyamsundarnarayan7@gmail.com    
  
The Amazing Rajee Narayan. My first dance guru. At 85 her eyes still sparkle with curiosity. She taught me that dance could be joyous and expressive. I was 9 when she conducted my Arangetram and left Madras for Bombay. Now her students gather from around the globe to mark her 50 years of dedicated service to dance and her 85th birthday this August. I am learning one of her original compositions on the Goddess Vaishnodevi for the occasion. Thank you Rajee aunty for the memories and the joy of DANCE. - Anita Ratnam July 9, 2015 Collage presented Anita Ratnam in A MILLION SITAS (excerpts) The evening showcased a curation of movement expression & fashion, interpreted through Tarun Tahiliani. A sneak preview of Varun Bahl's fresh-off-the-ramp styles.  View invite At: 153, Greans Road, Chennai - 6 July 4, 2015, 6pm  'Float & Padme' was performed as part of the Yagnaraman July Festival 2015. Initiated 2 years ago as an evening of contemporary music and dance, this final edition of the PADME PROJECT featured an exciting combination of Anil Srinivasan on the piano accompanied by Injikudi Subramaniam on the ritual Nagaswaram. The seven dancers involved in PADME are an exciting new group from Bangalore who bring their youth and energy to this international production. Venue: Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, 'Dr. Nalli Gana Vihar, 20, Maharajapuram Santhanam Road, T. Nagar, Chennai 600017 padme.arangham@gmail.com View Invite ; Photos July 1 -3, 2015 Retreat and showings of PADME At ADISHAKTI and Aurodhan Gardens, Auroville  View Invite June 30, 2015, 6.30 pm PADME - a curated evening of contemporary art and dance inspired by the lotus - opening reception of the art exhibition open from June 30 till July 31 (10.30am to 6.30pm). At: Forum Art Gallery, 57 Padmanabha Nagar, 5th St, Adyar, Chennai 600020 Info: 42115596 / forumartgallerychennai@gmail.com View invite June 27 & 28, 2015 Organized by ABHAI Chennai, Dr. Anita Ratnam presented a unique Abhivriddhishala on THE ARTICULATE BODY - Trust, imagination, movement invention. View invite ; Photos May 3, 2015, 3pm  A MILLION SITAS - Anita Ratnam illustrated the many facets of womanhood from the Hindu epic The Ramayana as part of the long-running, professional Storytelling Series, sponsored by the Educational Theater Program at the NYU Steinhardt School, Provincetown Playhouse at 133 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/.... April 18, 2015 New Delhi  Sandhya Raman (Desmania Foundation) presented Anita Ratnam in A MILLION SITAS, an evening of dance theatre depicting the five female characters of Ramayana. At: Atelier, F 213C, Lado Sarai, New Delhi, 4pm Photos  April 3 - 5, 2015 Penang, Malaysia April 10 - 12, 2015 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Anita Ratnam presented A MILLION SITAS at Masakini Theatre Company's NAGA WOMEN 2015 At Penang Performing Arts Centre Straits Quay Marina Mall, Lot 3H-4-1, Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, Pulau Pinang, 10470 Tanjong Bungah, Malaysia April 3 & 4 at 8.30pm. April 5 at 3pm Info: 04 – 8991722 At Damansara Performing Arts Centre H-01, Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU 8/8, Damansara Perdana, 47820 Petaling Jaya, 47820 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia April 10 & 11 at 8.30pm. April 12 at 3pm Info: 04-40650001 Program in both venues: Day 1: A Million Sitas and Puteri Saadong Day 2: Eleni of Sparta and A Million Sitas Day 3: Puteri Saadong and Eleni of Sparta For enquiries: 03-26190119 / masakini7890@gmail.com March 18, 2015 Kolkata  Anita Ratnam presentedA MILLION SITAS on the closing of the three day Women's theatre festival PRATIBIMBH curated and produced by actor Shahana Chatterjee At: GD Birla Sabhagar, Kolkata, 7pm Feb 7, 2015, 6 pm  Produced by Anita Ratnam and choreographed by Kalpana Raghuraman, contemporary production PADME was performed for the NERALU FESTIVAL by a team of 7 classically trained dancers. At: NGMA auditorium, Bangalore Info: neralufestival@gmail.com / ashwini.arpan@gmail.com Lotus Leaves, Water Words: A Reading Performance The Hindu Lit for Life January 18, 2015 Chennai  THE HINDU LIT FOR LIFE in Chennai will see discussions, seminars, workshops and performances all with one common overarching theme: books and words. The Hindu Lit for Life 2015 takes place on January 16, 17 & 18, in Chennai. The fest ends with: Title: Lotus Leaves, Water Words: A Reading Performance Director: Prasanna Ramaswamy Text Sources: Muranchiyur Mudinaganar (Purananuru), Philastratus, Cheran, Kashinath Singh, Diane Ackerman, Rainer Maria Rilke, P Sainath, Clay Moldenhauer, Prasanna Ramaswamy Community Texts: Rig Veda, Algonquin Song of the Stars. Series Nature: 2 Participants: P C Ramakrishna, Anita Ratnam, R Rohini, Nellai Manikandan, Niran Vicktor Benjamin, Sushila Ravindranath, Anandh Kumar, Revathy Kumar Director's note Date: Sunday, January 18, 2015 Time: 6.20pm - 7.10pm Venue: Sir Mutha Venkatasubbarao Concert Hall, Harrington Road, Chennai Info: Link Press comments  |
