Ananya Dance Theatre is a company of cultural activists and BIPOC women-and-femme artists who believe in the transformative power of dance where the lives and dreams of women of color occupy the center. The company creates original dance theater, drawing on social justice themes inspired by the stories of women around the globe. At home in Minnesota and on tour, it connects with transnational communities to interweave dance with stories of justice. Its artistic work unfolds through Yorchha™, a unique movement aesthetic of contemporary dance that draws on Classical Odissi, the martial art Chhau, and Vinyasa Yoga, to explore feminine energy and celebrate a feminist aesthetic. Ananya Dance Theatre premieres one original work with commissioned score annually. Since 2013, its performance home has been The O'Shaughnessy Women of Substance series at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. It has performed and conducted residencies on tour in nine states and the District of Columbia. Internationally, it has visited the Harare International Arts Festival, Zimbabwe; National Academy for Performing Arts, Trinidad; Bethlehem International Performing Arts Festival, Palestinian Territories; Aavejak Aavaaz Festival, Pragiyoti International Dance Festival, and Natya Ballet Dance Festival, all in India; Ocean Dance Festival, Bangladesh; and the Crossing Boundaries Festival, Ethiopia, supported by the U.S. State Department. In June 2018, Ananya Dance Theatre acquired its first facility, located on University Avenue in St. Paul, at the confluence of the Rondo, Little Mekong, and Little Africa neighborhoods. It named its facility the Shawngram Institute for Performance & Social Justice. From there, it rehearses, conducts classes and workshops for the public, and hosts a variety of community activities.

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.  Where life was continuing in a state of normalcy and the world continued to be a safe and happy place, wide spread news of the pandemic left all of us in a state of turmoil , distress, confusion and fear.

All of us are still reeling from the shock of the accelerating spread of the disease, struggling to adapt to the new normal which has resulted in panic among the society and leading to lots problems .

When the danger is invisible and all around what can one do to protect and nurture their family and loved ones?

All of us know there is always a light at the end of the tunnel .

Nritya Kalakshetra Academy of performing arts is proud to present to u Nava Kirana the new beginning.

Conceived and choreographed by Guru Sivanuja Balaji.

Samyabadi - Of Equality Of Equality I sing Where all barriers and differences Among people are vanished, Where Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians Have mingled together. it’s about you and me Being Equal It’s fair, it’s right and it’s just Title: Shiva Stuti He whose expressive body is the entire world, Whose speech is the universal sound,Whose ornaments are stars and the moon,To that pure Shiva we bow’ Title: Sufiana - Mein Hosh Mein Huun To Teera Huun In my senses, I belong to You. In my craziness, to You I belong.If a mystery, I belong to You. If a saga revealed, to You I belong.

Our world today is filled with challenges and many unpredictable situations. During times like these, it is important to be at peace and stay calm. What we present to you is a prayer to heal the world in the form of a dance “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu”. This means: may all the people in the world be happy, free, and live in peace. We hope to spread positivity and universal peace through our dance.

Founded in the Twin Cities in 1992, Ragamala Dance Company preserves and promotes the rich heritage and artistic traditions of India through Bharatanatyam. Ragamala’s Directors, Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy are senior disciples of legendary dancer and choreographer Padma Bhushan Smt. Alarmél Valli, one of India’s greatest living masters.    Ragamala presents excerpts of our evening-length program, Body, the Shrine, which celebrates India’s Bhakti poets.   We open with an excerpt of Ishvara, choreographed and performed by Aparna Ramaswamy. Weaving together selections from the Vishnusahasranamam, the Sangam era poet Nallanduvanar, and the saint poetess Andal, we traverse the landscape between the sacred and the personal to express deep longing, ecstasy, and the desire to merge the soul with the Paramatman (Supreme Consciousness) which, in this case, is Mahavishnu.    We continue with an excerpt of Manamayakkum, in praise of the otherworldly grace of Sri Krishna and the ultimate duality of Krishna as both the Supreme One, god of gods, while remaining the most human—and therefore most attainable—of the Hindu deities. Choreographed by Ranee, Aparna, and Ashwini Ramaswamy, and performed by Ashwini, this piece is set to a composition by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi.   We conclude with an excerpt of Paga Ghunguru, choreographed by Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy, and set to the music of Mirabai, whose soulful poetry transcends regional, lingual, and historical barriers.