Kirupanithy Ratneswaran

🪔 About

Kirupanithy Ratneswaran is a prominent Bharatanatyam guru, performer, choreographer, and the artistic director of Laya Bhava Dance Academy. She began her Bharatanatyam training at a young age in Sri Lanka, studying for four years under Mrs. Kala Ratnasothy and completing her professional training over six years with Mrs. Suseela Korairo. During her early training, she performed extensively, passed examinations, and won several regional competitions in Sri Lanka. After completing her high school diploma, Ratneswaran began teaching dance at her high school. In 1983, she moved to India to pursue advanced professional training in dance and nattuvangam at the Bharatha Choodamani Academy of Fine Arts under the esteemed Guru Adyar K. Lakshman. In 1985, she relocated to Germany, where she toured as a professional dance artist. Recognizing a lack of Bharatanatyam teachers in Germany, she established her own school of professional Bharatanatyam training on January 22, 1986. In 1993, Ratneswaran published her first book, “Bharatha Muthirai,” a dance theory book covering grades one to seven. The same year, she moved to Canada and opened the Canadian branch of her school, Laya Bhava Dance Academy, in locations including Markham, Scarborough, and Toronto. She continued her literary contributions by publishing her second book, “Bharatha Natyam,” in 1997, which details adavus with illustrations. By 1999, she was actively choreographing numerous productions, including dance dramas, and her group toured in Europe and the USA. She also co-founded the Sahana Dance Company in 2011, aiming to support Tamil Bharatanatyam artists in pursuing dance careers. Ratneswaran is recognized as one of Toronto's leading dance gurus, known for her high standards in training students for arangetrams and her distinctive choreography. She has continuously pursued her own learning, studying abhinaya from Bragha Bessell and Indira Kadampi, and also training at the Kuchipudi Art Academy. Her academy, Laya Bhava Dance Academy, follows the Kalakshetra style and has received national and international recognition. She has also partnered with schools like YRDSB to conduct dance workshops and community productions. Awards & Honours: Dance Professional Grant (2012), Ontario Arts Council dance training grant (2013), Ontario Arts Council dance training grant (2014), Ontario Arts Council dance training grant (2015), Ontario Arts Council dance training grant (2018), Community Engaged Arts Grant (2024), Athitha Narthaki, Niruthya Kalaamani.