Divya Ravi (U.K.)
Divya Ravi is a Bharatanatyam practitioner, performing artiste, choreographer and educator. Holding a degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering and MBA in Marketing, Divya navigated a career in Branding and Communications, while evolving as a sensitive, thinking artiste. Today, she is recognized among the most prominent young soloists in the South Asian Dance arena, and her sensitive and immersive performances are marked by conviction and ownership of the movement vocabulary, choreography that pushes the boundaries of the form, finesse and fluidity in expressions, innate musicality, and a commanding stage presence.
Divya's keen interest in translating the lyrical, the poetic and the abstract, into gestures, emotions and stories has led her to choreograph critically acclaimed solo thematic works - MANJARI, SARVASYA, POEMS OF LOVE, SAARINI, NARMADA, KANHOPATRA and shorter pieces for the digital medium – ‘The 12 names of Lord Ganesha’, ‘Navadurga #NotJustAnIdol’, ‘Taaye Taalelo’, ‘Lal Vakh’, and ‘Tiranga’. These have been lauded for their thought-provoking premise and path-breaking choreography.
A graded artiste of Doordarshan and empaneled with the Ministry of Culture for Festivals of India Abroad, Divya is a recipient of the "Gutty Vasu Memorial Prize" from Music Academy Madras, "Natyasree" title from SABHA at Kuwait, "Lopamudra" title from Bhavam Nrityalaya, Bangalore, "Nalanda Nritya Nipuna" from Nalanda Dance Research Centre Mumbai, "Nritya Varshadeep" and "Swaranand Kala Puraskar" awards, and has extensively performed at coveted dance festivals in India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Hong Kong, UK and China. In a short span of 2 years after shifting base to the UK, Divya has worked with Srishti – Nina Rajarani Dance Creations, Akram Khan Company, Akademi, CAT Yuva Gati, among others, while continuing to expand her practice and body of solo work. Through her practice, she strives to create and sustain a lucid dialogue between indic ideas and a modern audience.
Divya's sound technique stems from rigorous formative training under the guidance of Sri. Kiran Subramanyam & Smt. Sandhya Kiran, Dr. Soundarya Srivathsa, and mentoring in Abhinaya under Smt. Bragha Bessel. She is also intensively trained in the Navarasa Sadhana actor training module under Sri G Venu, and continues to explore her artistic pursuits in the UK, training with Sri. Mavin Khoo.