MISSION

Ragamala Dance Company is the vision of mother-daughter, South Indian American artists Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy. By creating multi-disciplinary dance works for the stage, engaging the community, and educating the next generation, Ragamala epitomizes intercultural and immigrant narratives that evoke a shared sense of humanity.

VISION

Ragamala's work in the performing arts field is expansive. We set our gaze far beyond the stage to realize the kindred relationship between ancient and contemporary that is urgently needed in today’s world. Ragamala engages in a collaborative practice with myriad artists, aesthetics, and communities, and is rooted in the idea of Bharatanatyam as a dynamic living tradition.

Led by the artistic matriarchy of Ranee Ramaswamy (Founder and Artistic Director), Aparna Ramaswamy (Executive Artistic Director), and Ashwini Ramaswamy (Choreographic Associate), Ragamala Dance Company is a pioneering, intergenerational, family-run organization committed to the idea that while history is time bound, the stories we share are timeless. Ranee and Aparna’s training under legendary artist Alarmél Valli is the bedrock of a creative ethos that springs from beauty, truth, and spirit.

VALUES

Excellence: We believe in the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of Ragamala’s work, nurturing virtuosity within each practitioner, each collaborator, and each student.

Partnership: We believe in advancing the vision of our intergenerational partnership and fostering dialogue about how communities are built upon the generational transmission of culture.

Community: We believe in being an active and present partner in our civic-minded community, realizing change through a culture of cooperation, dialogue, and participation.

Equity: We believe that artists weave the intersectional and multicultural narratives of our histories into our homes, revealing our shared humanity and making our world richer through diversity and empathy.