Ramli Ibrahim

🪔 About

Datuk Ramli bin Ibrahim, born on May 20, 1953, in Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia, is a globally acclaimed Malaysian choreographer and classical Odissi dancer. He is recognized as a cultural icon and a dynamic force in the arts, instrumental in establishing Odissi as a widely appreciated dance form in Malaysia, often with a distinct Malaysian interpretation. Ibrahim's rigorous training encompasses ballet, modern dance, and Indian classical dance. He initially pursued mechanical engineering at the University of Western Australia, where he also studied at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne. His journey into Indian classical dance began with Bharatanatyam under Padmashri Adyar K. Lakshman in Chennai, followed by Odissi training directly under the late Guru Debaprasad Das in New Delhi, focusing on the rare Debaprasad Odissi style. Returning to Malaysia in 1983, he founded the Sutra Dance Theatre in Kuala Lumpur, an institution dedicated to promoting Malaysian art nationally and internationally, with a primary focus on Odissi. In 2007, he established the Sutra Foundation (Yayasan Sutra) to further encourage traditional dances and develop Malaysian performing and visual arts. As artistic director of Sutra Dance Theatre, Ibrahim has choreographed over 40 original dance repertoires, blending traditional and contemporary idioms and incorporating Malaysian folk elements like Makyong and Silat. He has performed internationally for over four decades, captivating audiences in renowned centers from Konarak and Khajuraho to Paris and New York. His teaching legacy, rooted in the guru-shishya parampara, has nurtured numerous talented dancers who have achieved international acclaim. Awards & Honours: Fulbright Distinguished Artist Award (1999), Lifetime Achievement (BOH Cameronian) Award (2003), ANGARAG Lifetime Achievement Award (2006), Purush Award (2009), Distinguished International Artist Award (University of Western Australia) (2011), Ram Gopal Best Male Dancer Award (2011), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2011), Best Foreign Odissi Institution (International Odissi Festival), UNESCO Living Treasure (2012), Living Heritage (Government of Malaysia) (2012), Datukship (Federal Government of Malaysia) (2013), Padma Shri (2018), Perdana Award (2019), Lifetime Arts Achievement Award (Sugam Culture and Heritage Foundation) (2019).