Choreographer
Trained
in India in classical Orissi/Odissi dance, both the women’s (mahari) and
the men’s (gotipua) traditions, Ratna is one of the few remaining dancers who practice
the women’s dances in Orissi style, including the Panchakanya (Five Virtuous Women).
She studied under Late Padmashri Guru Pankaj Charan Das, the guru of gurus, son of a
Mahari (temple dancer) at the Jagannatha Temple in Puri. Ratna has received the National
Endowment for the Arts Choreography Award for her dance and has performed and
conducted workshops internationally as well as provided many local lecture/demonstrations
for the Washington State Humanities Commission.
