Dancing in Harmony

Ramya Ramnarayan combines legacy, expertise and experience of Bharatanatyam. A protégé of two exponents of the dance form, Kalaimamani, SK Rajarathnam Pillai and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan, Ramya is recognized as a capable performer, choreographer, educator and a torch bearer of this art, who blends tradition with innovation.

Through the Production Company and school – Nrithyanjali, Ms. Ramnarayan’s work is created to retain roots in the collective history of philosophy, spirituality, mysticism, and myth of South Indian heritage while bringing the eloquence of Bharatanatyam to universal themes.

Ms. Ramnarayan has extended the outreach of Bharathanatyam by presenting educational and enriching dance showcases & full-length performances at various universities, colleges, museums, libraries and under the auspicious of the Young Audiences NJ/PA reaching out to over 10,000 audience members per year.  She was a visiting faculty appointment in the Dance Department at Mason Gross School of Arts, affiliated to Rutgers University. Ramya Ramnarayan will be a faculty at Sarah Lawrence College New York starting 2018 fall. Ms. Ramnarayan is a gallery artist with Pentacle, roaster artist with Young Audiences of NJ and Eastern PA, and empanelled artists with Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Ramya Ramnarayan released a Bharatanatyam DVD at the 38th Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival. DVD Title- Guruvin Kural Amudam- A tribute to Ramya’s Guru the legendary Natyacharya S K Rajarathnam Pillai. Ms. Ramnarayan is featured in the Madras Music Academy, New York Fringe Festival, NJPAC, Jacobs Pillow, Museum of art and design, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Asia Society NYC, Kinkini Arts Foundation, Bangalore, Indian Habitat Center, New Delhi, South Indian Cultural Association, Hyderabad, Chembur Fine Arts, Mumbai and in several Universities across United States to mention a few. 

Ms. Ramnarayan has organized many benefit shows. Over the years she has raised over $200,000 for various charities such as Tamil Nadu State Tsunami relief fund, Haitian earthquake, Houston Food Bank, The American Red Cross, Wellness Community Center, Easton Hospital, Kids Peace America, Free the Children, North Brunswick Public Library, Sankara Eye Foundation, Houston Food Bank, Sri. Guruvayoor Appan Temple, and Ranganatha-Seva Samithi.

Akshay Padmanabhan has been learning music from the tender age of 5. He was trained by musicians like Suguna Purushottaman, S.Rajam and Shri AS Murali. Currently he is learning from Padma Bhushan Shri PS Narayanaswamy who belonged to the Semmangudi- Srinivasa-Iyer School. Since then he has won many prizes in Carnatic music competitions held by prestigious sabhas. Akshay has been performing Concerts for the past 15 years both in India and abroad. His awards include the D.K.Pattamaal Award of  excellence from Kartik Fine Arts, Best performer 2010 &2011 from Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha and Indian Fine Arts association, Finalist of Carnatic Idol Jaya TV 2012, TK Govindarao Award from Sri Krishna-Gaana Sabha, Maharajapuram Santhaanam Award from Naradha-Gaana Sabha and “The Most Promising Vocalist of the Year” from Brahma-Gaana Sabha.

Nagai Narayanan hails from a musical family, his mother Smt N S Rajam is a well-known mridangam artist and is the sister of Padmashree Flute N Ramani. Sri Nagai Narayanan had his initial training under his mother Rajam. He later learnt from Guru Srimushnam V Rajaa Rao and for the past 2 decades has been the disciple of Guru Karaikudi R Mani. He has accompanied many Carnatic musicians and instrumentalists. He has been playing mridangam for many leading Bharatanatyam artists of India for various organizations worldwide. 

Durai Srinivasan hails from a family of well-known musicians. Durai Srinivasan is a much sought after young violinist from Chennai. He began his musical journey under his father, (Late) – Durai Swaminathan. His violin journey then continued under various renowned artists including – K.V.Ramanujam and V.V.Srinivasa Rao (AIR artist). Currently, Durai Srinivasan is under the tutelage of Padmashree Kalaimamani Kumari A.Kanyaakumari. Having completed an Engineering Degree in the field of Electrical and Electronics, he also holds a Masters Degree (M.A Violin ) From the renowned Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University and is now a full time violin artist. Durai has accompanied various artists and stalwarts in the field of carnatic music. He has also performed as a freelance artist. Besides giving solo performances, he has toured several countries including Australia, South Africa, Singapore, Srilanka, Reunion Islands and Canada.