Ramya Harishankar is the artistic director of the Arpana Dance Company (ADC) and School, a premier school of Bharatanatyam in California and the United States, established 40 years ago. In 2022, Harishankar was named ‘Distinguished Citizen’ by the City of Irvine and added to the Wall of Recognition for her contribution to the cultural landscape. She also received a Lifetime Achievement award from LA-based Soorya Foundation. She was given the Kala Seva Bharathi award by Bharat Kalachar, India in 2012 for contributing to Indian arts abroad. She is also a two-time National Endowment of the Arts’ Choreographic Fellow (1994-97).
The program, Symphony of Emotions, will consist of two short films based on dance in combination with a live dance performance by the artist. The short films are an exploration of the relationship between teachers and students in the diaspora and adapting traditional repertoire to modern sensibilities, whereas the other part of the evening will be an illustrated performance on abhinaya for an intimate audience.