Arpana Dance Company, Orange County-Curve Asia - South Asian Arts & Entertainment

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The Indian dance, which is formed by a blending of smooth tunes, literature, stage acts, pace and bright colors, marked by expressive hand and eye movements, is none other than the Bharata Natyam. In order for its culture and tradition to carry on, endless hours of dedication mentally as well as physically is required.

The sophistication, beauty and flexibility of this classical dance are brought together by Ramya Harishankar, a professional Bharata Natyam dancer and stage artiste with links to the Vazhavoor School. She opened her own institution of Indian classical dancing called Arpana Dance Company in California nearly 25 years ago.

The 20th anniversary of Harishankar’s school was celebrated in the year 2002. The Sanskrit meaning of Arpana is offering. In 1982 when she had just begun training, she managed to train more than 250 children, of which way above 60 students graduated from the academy by giving an individual dance performance.

Ramya presented as well as financed three productions in the previous year, “Samarpan” being the first, followed by the “Woman Divine.” She called her third production, “Maya Manusha” which means a misleader.

With the help of her school and teachings, she has managed to keep the cultural traditions as well as sensitivity of the art alive. She has been able to teach her students the art of being mentally and physically disciplined, which in turn helps them in their careers.

Most of her students have dedicated their lives towards this art and have been performing with her company since 1985, when it was just formed.

The California Arts Council realized her commitment under the (2001-2002) program,which was a Master-Apprenticeship program and donated funds towards the betterment of her school. She has also managed to send across ideas of this art to all the people of Orange County as a result she won an award for Excellence by the United India Association in the year 1996.

The Arpana Dance Company won the National Endowment award for Creativity. This was given due to her superb work which was “Life as a River”. This told us via soft tunes and poetic literature about the Holy River Ganga.

The president of the National Endowment Arts body also gave her the Choreographer's Fellowship award in 1997. As a choreographer as well as a producer, in over two decades she has managed to create more than 15 productions, which include cross-cultural themes as well and have international artists and musicians in them. Most of the funds raised from these productions were donated to charity homes showing her humble and peace loving nature.

The presentation of the 25th anniversary of her company was held at, “The Barclay”, where not a single spare ticket was left to be sold. The Arpana Dance Company was also given a second name by the supervisors of the County Board of LA, known as, LA Milestone Company.

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