Minnesota's Legacy

Ashwini Ramaswami is the Choreographic Associate and Communications Director for the Ragamala Dance Company. The organization was founded by her mother, Rama Ramaswami, is an ode to the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam. Ragamala Dance Company keeps this form of dance alive by bringing performances to Minnesotans and beyond.

Creators and Guests

BA
Producer
Britt Aamodt
MG
Producer
Matt Gundrum

What is Minnesota's Legacy?

Minnesota's Legacy showcases the organizations and the people who have benefited from Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment in sound-rich 90-second segments.

Intro: This is Minnesota's Legacy: A look at the organizations and peoples who have benefitted from Minnesota's unique Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment

Britt Aamodt: Ashwini Ramaswamy was born and raised in Minneapolis, but as a kid, she returned to India every year with her parents. And that's where she began her study of South Indian classical dance.

Sitar music

Ashwini Ramaswamy: I am Choreographic Associate and Communications Director for Ragamala Dance Company.

Aamodt: The Minneapolis dance company was founded in 1992 by her mother Ranee Ramaswamy, the center's artistic director.

Ramaswamy: Basically, her goal was to introduce to larger audiences outside of the Indian community the expansive nature and the very nuanced version of bharatanatyam that we learn, practice and teach.

Aamodt: They get operational and program-specific support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to bring dance into schools and to create new works. Ragamala has toured performances around the world but Minnesota remains the dance company's home.

Sitar and percussive music

Ramaswamy: We are so grateful to live in Minnesota, where the arts are a very prioritized part of the values of the communities here.

Aamodt: Find out more at ragamaladance.org

Outro: Minnesota's Legacy is a production of AMPERS, with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, more at ampers dot org.