RANEE RAMASWAMY NOMINAED FOR NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ARTS

President Obama has appointed another Indian American to a key administration post - Ranee Ramaswamy - as member of the prestigious National Council on the Arts.

President Obama said, "These dedicated and accomplished individuals will be valued additions to my Administration as we tackle the important challenges facing America. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."

Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Ragamala Dance Company, Ramaswamy has been a master choreographer, performer, and teacher of Bharatanatyam dance since 1978.  Her work has been commissioned by the Walker Art Center, American Composers Forum, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and has been supported by the National Dance Project and the Joyce Foundation. Among her numerous grants and awards are 14 McKnight Fellowships, a Bush Foundation Choreography Fellowship, and an Artist Exploration Fund grant from Arts International.

Ramaswamy said, "I am very honored to be nominated by President Obama. As an artist of East Indian descent, I have worked in Minnesota for over 30 years, creating an awareness of Bharatanatyam dance and Indian culture. Living in the United States, I am inspired by so many diverse cultures and art forms to think creatively and find new and exciting ways to capture and move the audience while staying true to tradition and personal aesthetic."