Awardee Events

Sacred Earth

January 27, 2026

Carleton College
Weitz Center for Creativity
Northfield, MN

Ragamala’s stunning Bharatanatyam dancers create a sacred space to honor the divinity in the natural world and the sustenance we derive from it. Inspired by the ephemeral arts of kolam rice flour ritual, indigenous Warli painting, and the Tamil Sangam literature of India, Sacred Earth is Artistic Co-Directors Aparna Ramaswamy and Ranee Ramaswamy’s singular vision of the beautiful, fragile relationship between nature and man.

Aparna Ramaswamy

The Liminal Museum

Photo by Alex Zoltai. Aparna Ramaswamy is the Executive Artistic Director of Ragamala Dance Company.

Photo by Alex Zoltai.

Ashwini Ramaswamy

The Liminal Museum

Photo by Laura Bianchi. As the 3rd/youngest Bharatanatyam practitioner/innovator in the Ramaswamy family, my work is acknowledged for “creating space, not just for more generations but more ways of thinking” – The NY Times

Photo by Laura Bianchi.

Ranee Ramaswamy

The Liminal Museum

Photo by Ed Bock. Ranee Ramaswamy is the Founding Artistic Director, Choreographer, and Principal Dancer of Ragamala Dance Company.

Photo by Ed Bock.