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Dr.Kapila Vatsyayan,
Director of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts said, "Anita
combines in herself the sensitivity of an artiste and the critical objectivity
of a scholar. She exhibits an incisive understanding of ancient Indian
theatre and brings in a modern sensibility. She analyzes with penetrating
insight and rare lucidity. Anita represents the new generation of dancers
and scholars who have emerged in modern India."
NARTHAKI.COM
Dancer, presenter, cultural entrepreneur and social activist, Chennai
based Dr. Anita Ratnam conceived, edited and published two best selling
editions of Narthaki (1992 & 1997) - the directory of classical
Indian dances.
When NARTHAKI was published in 1992, it received a rapturous response
and came to be called the ‘Bible’ of Indian dance. The second edition in
1997 was welcomed for the continuity it provided. When Narthaki went
online in April 2000, the enthusiastic response exceeded expectations.
At last, the leverage and consistency for the Indian dance fraternity
spread all over the globe.
Technology has truly become a friend of the Arts. The net is the perfect
medium to keep pace with quick and regular updates, instantly capable
of recording movement, growth, new dimension and offering the ideal
connection. It is only when we embrace technology with openness and
pragmatism that we can grow, and our art can nurture, survive and
thrive.
An essential networking tool for the dance community, Narthaki.com features:
- A comprehensive Address Bank of practitioners and teachers of Indian
classical dances worldwide, dance musicians, dance festivals, dance
spaces etc
- Performance listings
- Previews
- Reviews & reports
- Profiles of dance legends
- Interviews
- Flash news
- Dance snippets
- Articles
- Research papers
- Quotes
- Health column
- Obits
Special columns by eminent writers and scholars include:
- Taalam by Leela Venkataraman
- Footloose and Fancy Free by Dr. Sunil Kothari
- Eastern Eye by Dr. Utpal K Banerjee
- Soch by Dr. Arshiya Sethi
- Dance Matters by Ashish Mohan Khokar
- Choreographing Between Two Worlds by Janaki Patrik
The highlight of Narthaki is the carefully crafted monthly editorial by
Dr. Anita Ratnam and the newsletter that goes out on the first of every
month.
Narthaki has also made its presence felt on social media on Facebook and Instagram.
In May 2020, in response to the Covid-19 virus pandemic, Dr Ratnam
produced and presented 7 weeks of a digital dance series titled BOXED
which had dancers from around the world create 2 minute videos from
their locked down locations.
Recognition
In November 2015, Anitha Guha’s Bharatanjali Trust awarded narthaki.com for its path breaking work in the world of dance.
In October 2017, Milapfest Selection Committee chose NARTHAKI.COM and
Dr. Anita Ratnam as its Founder Director, for the first International
Arts Award VISHWA KALA RATNA. The award celebrates and acknowledges the
sterling contribution made by dynamic, well established individuals
/organizations towards promoting and strengthening Indian Arts globally.
NARTHAKI received the 1st CHINMAYA NAADA BINDU PURASKAR for dance,
instituted by the Chinmaya Naada Bindu Gurukula in February 2020. The
citation award recognizes organizations / individuals for their
enriching contributions and globally unifying initiatives in the field
of Indian dance and music. The citation reads: “NARTHAKI has been
chosen for being the first of its kind digital platform, creating a
unifying space for Indian dance practitioners, dance-educators, event
organizers, critics, scholars, and aspiring young students, from around
the globe, and for consistently providing a healthy forum for free and
bold debates and dialoguing, without fear of censorship, about issues
that concern dancers and the dance community. This Citation Award also
offers special recognition to Anita Ratnam as Narthaki’s founder and
managing editor both for creating and managing Narthaki, as well as for
her other vital contributions to the dance field…”
I have watched this little, small, madness of mine take wing and become
the daily habit of thousands of dance maniacs around the world. How
strange and wonderful that a bee-in-my bonnet that stung me in New York
twelve years ago could morph from one book, a second edition and finally
into its current avatar in cyberspace!
We have relished going techno-savvy, building bridges with new friends,
countries and proposals. The way this medium has taken a giant hold of
our lives is quite exciting and forced us to acknowledge that we are on a
common journey of creative enterprise - we can reach out and share as
fast as we can get or give, we cannot be left behind.
We are honored to be able to share this site with our dance network around the globe. We hope you feel this way too.
- Dr. Anita R Ratnam
Founder and Consulting Editor
Check out Narthaki Online
A journey of 30 years of making of 'Narthaki', India’s first dance resource portal
From a physical directory way back in 1992 to an online dance resource
NARTHAKI.com completed 30 glorious years, becoming the single largest
and most comprehensive source of all information about Indian dance and
dancers.
Thirty years of Narthaki!
From a phone book to a brand
Anita Ratnam celebrates World Dance Day with 30 years of NARTHAKI
- SNS
Contributing profoundly to her beloved domain of arts and performing
arts Dr. Anita Ratnam has always been on the forefront to propagate,
nurture and protect the art.
More to technology
- Pulse Autumn 2003
Appreciation
NEO NARTHAKI
N2, a smart, young and fresh offering from the NARTHAKI family.
Aimed at dancers and creative dreamers between ages of 16 to 40, this
digital baby emerged in August 2020. Our wish, at TEAM NARTHAKI is to
stimulate and encourage a new generation - to engage via social media
and all the gadgets now available. To speak, discuss, share, perform and
create a more equitable and open space where art and art making is the
central focus, with dance as the fulcrum. Let us bring politics,
economics, history, health, lifestyle and gender into the mix. Let us
look at the many roles that young dancers are playing - juggling their
lives all around the world while staying connected to the dance art.
- Dr. Anita R Ratnam
Founder, neonarthaki
 
Neo Narthaki for new age dancers
- The Hindu, Friday Review, 21 Aug 2020
Amping up the dance space
e-avatar - Neo Narthaki
- Deccan Chronicle, 16 August 2020
Did You Know?
Book published in Dec 2014. A collection from information featured in narthaki.com
Comments
The little booklet DID U KNOW is a very good read.
- Ashish Mohan Khokar
I'm amazed at the collection of your information on various arts,
artists. It is super. Congrats! I'm sure this will be a good reference
book for all genres of dancers. Thanks for giving me a copy, will share
it with my students also.
- P Praveen Kumar, Bangalore
Book release: Nirmalam -The genius of S Sarada
December 17, 2005 Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai
NIRMALAM: THE GENIUS OF S SARADA is an
offering of love to a great teacher. Published by Anita Ratnam
for Arangham Trust in celebration of
Kalakshetra guru S Sarada's 90th birthday, Nirmalam was released on Dec
17, 2005 after the lec-dem by Dr. Sunil
Kothari, at the 25th Natya Kala Conference.
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