<p>US President Barack Obama has appointed another Indian American to a key administration post, by announcing his intent to nominate, Ranee Ramaswamy, as a member of the prestigious National Council on the Arts.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"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," Obama said in a statement as he announced the nomination of more than half a dozen key administration posts.<br /><br />Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Ragamala Dance Company, Ramaswamy has been a master choreographer, performer, and teacher of Bharatanatyam dance since 1978.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Ramaswamy's tours have been highlighted by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the American Dance Festival, and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, India.<br />Among her numerous grants and awards are 14 McKnight Fellowships, a Bush Foundation Choreography Fellowship, and an Artist Exploration Fund grant from Arts International.<br /><br />She is the recipient of the 2011 McKnight Distinguished Artist Award and was named "2011 Artist of the Year" (with co-director Aparna Ramaswamy) by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.<br />She earned a BA in Fine Arts from the University of Madras.</p>
<p>US President Barack Obama has appointed another Indian American to a key administration post, by announcing his intent to nominate, Ranee Ramaswamy, as a member of the prestigious National Council on the Arts.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"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," Obama said in a statement as he announced the nomination of more than half a dozen key administration posts.<br /><br />Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Ragamala Dance Company, Ramaswamy has been a master choreographer, performer, and teacher of Bharatanatyam dance since 1978.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Ramaswamy's tours have been highlighted by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the American Dance Festival, and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, India.<br />Among her numerous grants and awards are 14 McKnight Fellowships, a Bush Foundation Choreography Fellowship, and an Artist Exploration Fund grant from Arts International.<br /><br />She is the recipient of the 2011 McKnight Distinguished Artist Award and was named "2011 Artist of the Year" (with co-director Aparna Ramaswamy) by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.<br />She earned a BA in Fine Arts from the University of Madras.</p>