RITIKA RAMASWAMY
Ritika joined the Lingalayam Dance Academy in 1994 at the age of nine. Her Arangetram in 2008 marked a key milestone in her commitment to dance, creating the perfect platform in enabling her with a vehicle of expression to showcase her vibrant personality. Ritika has a great aptitude in imbibing and delivering character roles with conviction, be it the “Little Sita” in the company’s production of Earth and Fire in 2003 or the lead role of an aristocratic young girl in Kutrala Kuravanji in 2011. Sharing the stage in The Blue Divine in 2011, with renowned Indian musicians Anil Srinivasan (on piano) and Sikkil Gurucharan (carnatic vocalist), was a performative highlight. Ritika is one of the main dancers of the Lingalayam/TaikOz collaboration Chi Udaka, having been involved in the work since its initial creative development period. In Chi Udaka’s premiere season at the 2014 Sydney Festival; Ritika was privileged to perform a duet with fellow dancer Nivedha to haunting shakuhachi of Riley Lee. 2015 highlights include performing an excerpt of Chi Udaka together with Taikoz, for the opening of the Sydney TEDx at the Opera House and Dances of Divinity, the collaboration with Apsaras Arts Singapore. A talented graphic designer, Ritika has designed several of Lingalayam’s performance brochures and publicity material, including the design, creation and delivery of the current website.