Meet Ranjana Warier | Indian Classical Dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ranjana Warier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ranjana, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
At Rhythm School of Dance, we teach Bharathanatyam which is an ancient Indian Classical Dance. We use Bharathanatyam dance as a canvas to tell stories. While entertaining the audience through the dance performances we strive to engage and educate them about the culture and traditions of India. Storytelling has been a long-standing tradition in India. Legends, local history, and cultural legacy are passed on by way of dance. Our approach is to break down the otherwise hard to understand topics in a very relatable manner for young people living in a different world at a different time.
The culture, traditions and art forms of India have intrigued millions of people around the globe. What we have in India is the result of co-mingling of several traditions and cultures over the past five millennia, truly representing the world today.
Over the years, I transformed from an avid student to a dancer and then to a teacher with a mission to preserve and pass on the art of Bharathanatyam in its entire glory to the next generation growing up in a new world. Through the exploration of innovative ways to present Bharatanatyam, we have been able to stay connected to our heritage and yet reach a wider audience.
We enjoy promoting cross-cultural understanding and collaboration in the community by showcasing Indian Classical dances through unique themes such as bringing ancient mathematics textbook to life through dance, visualization of Afro-Caribbean poetry and telling Western fairy tales through Bharathanatyam. Our work has received recognition from local cultural organizations leading to several opportunities for reaching out to the public such as performing our dances in a production of Florida Grand Opera. We were also fortunate to receive Knight Foundation Ars Challenge Awards multiple times leading to dance productions.
Through performances and through training at Rhythms School of Dance, we have had a unique opportunity to educate the public in Indian traditions, mythology, and contemporary themes.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We focus on, BHARATHANATYAM, a form of Indian Classical dance. Bharathanatyam marks its evolution thousands of years back. It takes its roots from Southern India, which is said to be the abode of magnificent temples and magnanimous kings who held major roles in providing luster and prominence to the art form. The performances remained exclusively inside the walls of Hindu temples through the 19th century. Bharathanatyam started appearing on the stages outside the temples only in the 20th century. It has traveled far and wide to where it stands in the world arena today as one of the most enticing forms of art. The expressive quality, or Bhava, of a performer can render countless meanings and stories to the audience. The tune set and rhythmic pattern of a performance can also be used to exhibit different moods.
Many young people find learning traditional dance such as Bharatanatyam to be rigid and tedious. In today’s world of instant gratification, it is a struggle to keep the young generation interested in traditional art forms. The perceived complexity of classical dance and the abstract nature of techniques coupled with traditional story lines hinders the enjoyment for most, especially for children. Though many youngsters learn it, very few pursue it seriously. The techniques and rigor are often lost with attempts to modernize this art form. The challenge is to maintain the traditional art form while making it relatable to the young generation growing up in a different world.
It has been a long, and patient journey to build a new generation of passionate dancers. The efforts are slowly paying off. My primary goal today is to inspire and empower younger dancers to practice and preserve Indian classical dances passionately. I feel the only way to keep them engaged is through systematic training to develop the knowledge; allowing them to explore ways to better connect with the art and the audience; and providing unique opportunities to learn and collaborate with the best in the industry.
We are very proud of several of our full-length productions that engaged the community and provided dance students with the opportunity to collaborate with diverse master artists.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
South Florida is the ideal place to be at for the sun and fun. Some of the interesting places to visit are: – My cousin Usha Verma’s home  There is never any shortage of food and laughter there.
– A show at Broward Performing arts center or Adriene Arsht center.
– Kayaking through mangroves
– Beach side drive along the A1A road
– Trip to Fort Lauderdale Beach to watch the sunrise and a walk.
– Wynwood for the art and yummy bites

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My first Bharatanatyam Guru was Mrs. Kalamandalam Devaki. Her guidance allowed me to develop a passion for this art form and made the learning process more enjoyable. She patiently answered every question and allowed me to explore. She was a pioneer in innovation and was not afraid to take risks with her choreography. Her approach impacted me so deeply that I strive to be a better teacher every day.

I am also grateful to Knight foundations Arts challenge grant program, Broward County Cultural Division’s various programs (especially Adriane Clarke), Historymiami museum’s continued support to arts and culture (especially Vanessa Navarro), Miami Book Fair’s innovative events and Florida Grand Opera’s productions for helping us shape our trajectory.

Website: http://www.eRhythms.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhythmsfl/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RhythmsFL

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOVCl7szCbIuf_GX9-FyF7g

Image Credits
HistoryMiami Museum Soul Creative Labs, Miami Vishwah Rajkumar Rod Millington, Florida Grand Opera