Anita Ratnam Biography 
Anita Ratnam is an accomplished Indian classical and contemporary dancer and choreographer who is an exponent of Bharat Natyam, Kathakali, Mohiniattam, T'ai chi and Kalarippayattu. She is also known as a scholar and cultural activist. She created a unique dance style which she has coined "Neo Bharat Natyam" and has been in this field for past four decades. Till now, she has performed in more than 15 countries worldwide. She is the founder-director of Arangham Trust, set up in 1992 in Chennai and one year later founded Arangham Dance Theatre, a performance company.
She was born in Madurai on May 21, 1954. She learnt Bharatanatyam from guru, Adyar K. Lakshmanand later took advanced training from Rukmini Devi Arundale's 'Kalakshetra' where she completed Post graduate diploma in Dance. She did post-graduation in Theatre and Television from the University of New Orleans. After studies, she became Television Producer/commentator in the United States for nearly 10 years. She produced several cultural programs about India during the period. Later she returned to India and started Arangham Trust in 1992 and Arangham Dance Theatre in 1993. Anita is an emerging icon of modernist thought rooted in her Indian aesthetic values. She started a website www.narthaki.com which arranges India’s annual contemporary dance festival. It was one of the first Indian stage performances of this kind.
She received Kalaimamani in the year 1998 for Dance Research by Govt. of Tamil Nadu. Mahatma Gandhi Award for Cultural Harmony (1986) by United States, Lalithakalaratna (2003) by Sri Lalithakala Academy Foundation Trust Mysore, Nritya Choodamani (1996) by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai and Media Achievement award (1991) by National Organisation of women in New York are the major honours received by Anita.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 23, 2014
