Ramya Kapadia

🪔 About

Ramya S. Kapadia is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, instructor, and Carnatic vocalist, recognized for her contributions to Indian classical dance in the United States. Born in Chennai, India, she moved back to India in 1986 after spending her early childhood in Muscat, Oman. Kapadia initially pursued a career in the sciences, earning a Biomedical Engineering degree in Mumbai, India, and Master's degrees in Medical Physics and Neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin Madison. However, she later transitioned to dedicate herself full-time to the arts. Her professional dance training began at the age of 23, with initial instruction in Bharatanatyam from Smt. Santha Gopinath of Kalakshetra for two years. She further honed her skills under Dr. Jayasree Rajagopalan at Nrityodaya Mumbai for a decade, focusing on aesthetics and choreography. Kripa Baskaran, Brookfield, WI, became a significant influence, and Kapadia completed her Bharatanatyam training under Baskaran in 2008. In 2003, Kapadia co-founded the Natyarpana Dance Company with Kripa Baskaran, providing her with opportunities to perform across the United States. She joined the teaching faculty of Natyarpana Dance Company in 2007 and, in 2008, established the Natyarpana School of Dance & Music in Durham, North Carolina. Through her school, she shares the rich traditions of Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam. Kapadia is also a prolific choreographer and composer, creating music for dance productions and touring internationally. She served as the Associate Artistic and Outreach Director of Maryland-based Prakriti Dance from 2014 to 2021. Beyond performance and teaching, Kapadia is a Teaching Artist with various arts councils and pursues research to integrate the principles of Bharatanatyam with the STEAM curriculum, emphasizing accessibility for children with special needs. She believes in using art to tell stories that foster empathy and create a better world. Awards & Honours: Ella Pratt Emerging Artist Award (2010), Choreography Fellowship (2016), Artist Support Grant (2020), Public Space Project award (2019).