The Dancer

Born and raised in Singapore, Shantha Ratii is one of the leading Kuchipudi dancers today. Her ‘Pas De Deux’ with dance has taken her to all the major venues and festivals around the world.

Trained by a galaxy of eminent Gurus, in three distinct Indian classical dance styles of Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Bharatanatyam and Kalaripayettu – the martial art,  Shantha Ratii has been working towards creating a ‘new’ audience for the arts through the Antara Foundation that she instituted in 2000. Having lived and worked in the West as well as the East, she brings an eclecticism to her work, evident both in her traditional and innovative works extending to calligraphy, ikebana, martial arts, sculpture and architecture.

Shantha Ratii has been carving new paths in the Kuchipudi dance form and her vision is to explore the unchartered, while retaining the essence and technique of this form. Currently, she has been veering towards ideological and concept based expression of Kuchipudi. Shantha is also exploring non-linear abstract presentation; deconstructing and re-arranging movement vocabulary of Indian classical dance.

As a film-maker Shantha has to her credit, documentaries on miniature painting, photography, dance and social issues. She has scripted, directed and produced “And Miles to Flow”, a documentary film in 35 mm, celebrating the kinship in spirit shared by Kathakali of India with Noh and Kabuki of Japan and Chinese Opera. “And Miles to Flow” was selected for the International Documentary Festival.

Shantha Ratii has been felicitated as well as awarded the gold medal for her contribution to the field of dance. She has also been accorded the title “Kalashiromani”.

Critics have described Shantha,  variously,  as “a finished dancer…  sculpture come alive…  visual poetry…  a lovely venus among the stars…  a dancer who brings to her dance, a sure sense of aesthetics, bolstered by an acute intelligence…”.  Acclaimed for her unique combination of “a vibrant face and sensuous allure with natural rhythmic grace and intensity… and the effortless beauty of her dance”, Shantha Ratii continues to enthral her audiences the world over.