Expressions through soaring kites

NITA Ratnam whose connection to dance stems from her mother's unfulfilled dream to dance, believes that dance "called" her, an art form that she feels both personal and deeply rooted in her family history.

- AASHNA REDDY

"I think dance calls me rather than I went to dance and I was led to dance because my mother was not allowed to dance. So perhaps that was the door that opened because she wanted me to have the opportunity to dance," she shares. Anita's career as a first-generation professional dancer has been one of passion, persistence, and a deep commitment to the arts. As a choreographer, writer, speaker, and festival curator, she has not only shaped her own artistic journey but has also championed younger talent, presenting over 250 artists throughout her 32-year-long career. This December, she brings to Chennai the exciting Kattam Katti, a performance by the UK-based Pagrav Dance Company that blends the traditional Indian Kathak dance form with contemporary elements.