Guru Ranidevi

• Artistic Director of Kalairani Natya Saalai since 1984
• single handedly Kalaaksharam 2009 – for the destitute unaffordable in Vittalapuram www.kalaaksharam.com 
• Choreographed /staged more than a 1000 dances – 84 grduates of which 21 have completed arangetrams; 150 full length concerts, productions, creative works, tours, arangetrams, etc. as of 2019, 434 students not including workshops – 56% got trained and left – 20% no contact but 20% with her for more than 10 years. 
• Professor, Indian Dance at the Dance Department, George Mason University, 2007
• Lifetime achievement:  two wonderful sons Swithin Ahilan www.improvvip.com Sumithrin Elango  www.sumitdavid.com   
• Lifetime dream:  Kalaaksharam – a Center for Arts for less fortunate in Vittalapuram  www.kalaaksharam.com 
• Passion for social work:  ADRA, Christian Children’s Fund, Balamandir Orphanages
• Commissioner to the Governor Martin O’Malley, 2012-2016
• Successful Trial:  Teaching Tamil to read, write and speak
• Other: 18 years in INTELSAT; 2 years temped at World Bank; 13 years with Seventh-day Adventist organization, including teaching in Pondicherry after finishing college at age 19
• Proudly belongs to The Thomas Family of 170 (143 immediate alive) members in USA and Canada, Australia

HIGHLIGHTS in 35 years:

to be constructed

My Gurus, Inspirers, Mentors:

My mother

Ansuya Kanchana & Guru Sharma

Mrs. Chengappa – Dr. M. E. Cherian

Guru Kumbokonam Shanmugam – Sasikala Mandram, Pondicherry

Guru Mythili Raghavan – Kalekshetra

Late Guru Venkatachalapathy

Kalapeetham Seetharama Sharma

Nattuvangam Guru Adyar Lakshman

Sanskrit: Smt Maragatham Sunderasan

Carnatic:  Shri Subash Vinjamuri

 KNS Creative Warehouse – Click on Posts

Old List

Rani’s list of dances choreographed/staged – as of April 2013

• • • Adavu charts: 5
    • Anjalis 30
    • Gouvtvms Jathiswarams 27
    • Nrittapadams on Shiva 19
    • Padhams on Krishna 9
    • Kurathi Kaavadi 11
    • Items to study Natyashastra 16
    • Abhinaya Padhams 34
    • Padhavarnam 21
    • Bharathiyaar and Thirukural 21
    • Tillanas 21
    • Christian themes 99
    • Patriotic themes 44
    • Special Compositions 22
    • Classical filmy 74
    • Folk filmy 87
    • Non-filmy 37
    • Drama and Productions 216

Total:  793

For a list of KNS performances, go to Past Events.