Upcoming events
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Ignite Dance
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Treasures of the World
Sunday, February 1, 2026
3:00 PM 6:00 PM
3330 Civic Center DriveTorrance, CA, 90503
ramya harishankar
A performer, teacher, choreographer, presenter, philanthropist, and cultural ambassador, RAMYA HARISHANKAR brings to her practice of Bharata Natyam, the classical dance form of South India, rigorous training under legendary gurus – Sri Swamimalai K. Rajaratnam and Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan, along with decades in the US, merging the richness of her Indian heritage with contemporary sensibilities bringing a unique perspective and caliber to her art.
“There are evenings in dance when the stage feels less like a platform and more like a threshold…an opening into the quiet interior of human experience. Ramya Harishankar, Oguri, Jeff Slayton, and Donna Sternberg – each a contributor and a cornerstone of our dance community, came to the evening shaped by lifetimes of dedication and generosity. Harishankar brought a reverent stillness over the audience. In the chaos of today’s world, her performance felt like a restorative invocation, a reminder of what is essential and enduring. A perfect beginning to this celebration of maturity.”
Joanne DiVito for LA Dance Chronicle (Nov 2025)
Arpana’s Mission & Vision
Our mission is to educate future generations in the beautiful art of Bharata Natyam in all its nuance of movement and expression using the building blocks of dance movement, emotional expression, dance history and theoretical understanding of the Naatya Sastra. In keeping with the name Arpana which in Sanskrit means ‘offering’, dance is taught and performed in the spirit of respect and reverence.
Arpana Dance Company (ADC) envisions its dance practitioners to embody the grace and precision of the Vazvahoor style with the depth and nuances of the emotive language of Abhinaya. Through this unique language they will share both traditional and contemporary stories to audiences of all backgrounds, understandings, and experiences. ADC will groom lifelong enthusiasts and supporters of dance to advance its rich and nuanced lexicon, the glory of its culture and history and the universality of its reach.
Combining the best of both Eastern and Western teaching methods, I hope to instill in the students a love for dance. The students start in small groups learning the basics - posture, movements, rhythms, gestures from my able staff under my continuous supervision. As they mature in age and technique, I personally groom them in developing a deeper understanding of the dance form and enhancing their performance by working on - grace, endurance, sensitivity, and presentation. While audio or video tools may be supplementary, I believe in a one - on - one approach much like oral and visual learning that is the hallmark of my own training – Ramya
