Performances
Ranee Ramaswamy practices for her upcoming performance of “Fires of Varanasi”
at the Center for Performing Arts in Minneapolis, Minn on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2022. Jerry Holt, Star Tribune
Photograph: Arun Kumar
Collaboration Highlights
Click on each project to learn more
2020-22: Fires of Varanasi, co-choreographed with Aparna Ramaswamy
September 2021: Kennedy Center, Washington DC
September 2021: Joyce Theater, New York, NY
Lead commissioner: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Co-commissioned by the Harris Theater for Music and Dance;
Co-commissioned by and developed in part at the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth College and The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, Cal State Northridge and Northrop, University of Minnesota; With additional commissioning support from: Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University; Meany Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Washington; the American Dance Festival; and The Joyce Theater Foundation's Stephen and Cathy Weinroth Fund for New Work.
1980 to Present: please see Resume or Ragamala dance company website.
2010: Dhvee, co-choreographed with Aparna Ramaswamy; collaboration with Çudamani (Bali, Indonesia)
Commissioned by Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
*Read more from the Walker magazine here
2005: Devi (Goddess)
Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN
Sethu
Photo by David McKay
2004: Sethu (Bridge), with Balinese Kecak Master I Dewa Putu Berata
Walker Art Center, MN; Wharton Center; EastLansing, MI
*Read about the inspiration for Sethu here
*Read the press release here
2004: Kathambam with Danny Buraczeski, Lise Houlton, Wynn Fricke, Susana di Palma, and Joe Chvala
O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, St. Paul, MN
2003: Body & Soul: A Tribute to Billie Holiday
Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN
2003: Aavya (Meeting) with Speaking in Tongues
Ted Mann Concert Hall, Minneapolis, MN
2002: Kolam
Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN
2001: The Transposed Heads with Deaf actor Nic Zapko, Playwright/Dir. Zaraawar Mistry
Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN
Conceived and choreographed by Ranee Ramaswamy and created and performed in collaboration Deaf actress Nic Zapko, The Transposed Heads is based on the ancient Indian tale that inspired Thomas Mann's novella of the same name. Adapted for the stage and directed by Zaraawar Mistry, The Transposed Heads tells the story of a woman torn between her love for two men—one for his physical beauty and one for his intellect. United by the silent language of gesture in Bharatanatyam and American Sign Language, Ranee and Nic become the many characters in this compelling drama, alternately narrating the story and becoming its three central characters. An evocative original score is performed live by Carnatic (South Indian classical) composer/vocalist Nirmala Rajasekar and Chinese pipa virtuoso Gao Hong.
Premiere: The Southern Theater, Minneapolis, October, 2001
2001: Ze-Natyam (commissioned for Zenon Dance Co.)
Janet Wallace Auditorium, St. Paul, MN
2000: Pudisu
Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN
1999: Wordance with Ko-Thi Dance Company Pabst Theater
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1999: From Temple to Theater with Shubhendra Rao "Dance!" Series
O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, St. Paul, MN
Where the Hands Go (composite) photo by Marc Norberg
1998: Where the Hands Go the Eyes Follow
with photographer Marc Norberg, composer/musician Howard Levy, and six poets
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1998: Chaturam with composers from four cultures "Dance!" Series
O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, St. Paul, MN
1998: Tree Tales with African choreographer Morris Johnson
Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN
1997: Return of the Rainseed dance/theater work
Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN (toured U.S.)
1997: Way of Heaven with composer Scott Robinson
Ted Mann Concert Hall, Minneapolis, MN
1997: The Wedding of Valli
Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN
1996: Duluth Choreographer's Conference
Duluth Performing Arts Center, Duluth, MN
1996: Goddess Songs with Opera Millenium
Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN
1996: Asoka, a dance opera "Dance!" Series
O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, St. Paul, MN
1995: Wonderwall with Flying Words Project
Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN
1994: Canticle of Mary
Southern Theater & O’Shaughnessy Auditorium, MN
1993: World of Glass, dance-theater work
Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN
1993: Ten Incarnations, multimedia work
Studio 6A, Minneapolis, MN
1992: Ragamala: A Painting in Motion
Southern Theater, Minneapolis MN; Danspace/St. Mark's Church(NYC)
1992: Puppet Master
Commissioned by Minneapolis Institute of Arts, MN
1991: Mirabai Versions, with poet Robert Bly
Studio 6A, Minneapolis, MN (toured in ME and MN)