SOWMYA KUMARAN is a multifaceted artist, seamlessly blending roles as a dancer, choreographer, singer and teacher. She is the founder and artistic director of Nrithya Sangeeth, a school for the South Indian performing arts.
Immersed in the classical arts from a young age, Sowmya honed her skills under the tutelage of distinguished mentors such as Jayalakshmi Arunachalam, the Late Dr. Saraswathi (Vipanchee), and with a particular focus on abhinaya, under Nritya Kalanidhi Bragha Bessell.
Sowmya holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Bharatanatyam. As an educator she stresses both the practical and theoretical aspects of dance. Her students will attest that she is a demanding teacher who expects their absolute dedication to this art form. Her students have placed in competitions both in the US and in Chennai, India. Sowmya’s choreographic prowess is celebrated for its complexity, seamlessly intertwining swift-paced nritta with nuanced and emotionally resonant abhinaya.She has staged a number of dance productions in which she has performed with her students.
Sowmya was recognized with the Late Dr. Saraswathi award by Vipanchee Natyalaya for her many contributions to the Indian performing arts. She is well versed in Thirupugazh and has been teaching and singing along with her sister as part of the Chicago Thirupugazh Anbargal.
Born into a lineage steeped in the performing arts, Sowmya is the daughter of the renowned Tamil stage artiste Kalaimamani Kathadi S. Ramamurthy, embodying a legacy that continues to enrich and inspire the cultural landscape.