Nivedha Ramalingam (she/her)

Performing Artist, choreographer, and Director of Bharathalaya Dance Academy, Nivedha began her journey 16 years ago under her mother's guidance and completed her Arangetram in 2003. She has her Diploma in Bharathanatyam, “Natiyakalaimani” (Bachelor in Bharathanatyam) and since has participated in many learning intensives under leading artists in India though she remains primarily self-taught and self-trained. Nivedha founded Bharathalaya Dance Academy in 2006 where she instructs Bharathanatyam to students. Nivedha is the University of Toronto's (Scarborough campus) first Bharathanatya Dance teacher. In 2013, Nivedha was chosen Grand Prize Winner of the Cleveland Thayagarajah Dance Competition winning over Bharathanatyam dancers from India; she is the recipient of the ‘Vazhavoor Ramaiya Pillai’ Endowment Award from the Cleveland Thyagarajah Aradhana and the ‘Guru Subbaraya Pillai Endowment Award from Sri Kirshna Gana Sabha in Chennai. She is a principalt dancer for the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company and has performed in many international dance festivals and, under invitation, has presented her work in Vancouver, San Antonio, Chicago and New York. Nivedha continues to learn and discover the intricacies of Bharathanatyam and strives to adhere to its aesthetic beauty and balances her career as a kinesiologist in cardiac rehabilitation.

Birthplace: Pickering, Ontario

Training: Toronto and India

Companies: Menaka Thakkar Dance Company, Nova Dance, Sampradaya Dance Creations

Why Nova Dance? Creative, Care, Inclusive

My most cherished moment as a dancer was when I danced for the Chidambaram Dance Festival in India on Shivaratri.

I love dance because it signifies my existence on this earth.

For Nova Dance: M3, Broken Lines, Svāhā, Creation Lab (Facilitator)