Amar Ramasar
Encyclopedia
Amar Ramasar is a principal dancer of the New York City Ballet
. In 2010, Dance Magazine
reported that Ramasar was one of the few Asian American
professional ballet dancers. He took his first dance lessons at the Henry Street Settlement
House, to which commuted by subway from his home in the South Bronx
to the Lower East Side
almost daily.
House's Abrons Arts Center in 1993. He commuted by subway from his home in the South Bronx
to the Lower East Side
almost daily to go to dance lessons, starting at age 10. As a "low-income youth," this one of the few opportuntities he had "to achieve [his] artistic dreams...."
He studied at the School of American Ballet (SAB), "the official school of New York City Ballet," starting in 1993. He also studied at the American Ballet Theatre Summer Program and The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet.
as an apprentice in 2000, and joined the corps de ballet
in 2001. He became a soloist
in March 2006, and was promoted to a principal in October 2009. Ramasar's promotion was noted by a critic as good thing, because "change at NYCB is itself a gift, for as younger dancers take over cherished roles, these wonderful ballets can look new all over again."
Ramasar is one of the few Asian American
professional ballet dancers nowadays. As of 2010, he is the only person of color
who is a principal in that prestigious company. He was quoted as saying:
He has danced many prominent roles in the NYC Ballet company.
He was featured in a social studies
trade textbook, Meet the Dancers, by Amy Nathan.
Ramasar appeared in NY Export: Opus Jazz
, a 2010 film about that ballet.
ging fans and the professional media
.
His first featured review in the New York Times was in 2003:
In 2005, the New York Times gave a rave review for Ramasar in a feature article:
In 2006, the Times called him one of the "Young dancers who are rising stars in the New York City Ballet." The same year, the Village Voice pointed out his strengths and weaknesses:
In 2007, Dance Spirit wrote that "Amar Ramasar looked too nice to be a villain" in Romeo and Juliet.
Ballet.co.uk, a British online magazine, raved in 2008 about Ramasar, even while trashing a new dance in which he performed.
During the 2010 season so far, Ramasar has gotten rave reviews. The Saratogian called Ramasar "hard-working" for his roles in Fancy Free and Who Cares?
at the New York City Ballet summer season at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center
. Their critic had "the pleasure of watching Joaquín De Luz, Tyler Angle, and Amar Ramasar dance together, truly convincing as three good sailor buddies." Ramasar's performance in Fancy Free was "enthralling its audience with Red Angels," an Albany Times Union blogger noted; "The intense color proved a dramatic backdrop to the power and strength of its four dancers: Maria Kowroski, Teresa Reichlen, Tyler Angle and Amar Ramasar." The official review from the Times Union wrote that Fancy Free, "Played with ample swagger by Tyler Angle, Joaquín De Luz and Amar Ramasar ... set the bravura tone for the entire night." In May 2010, TheArtsDesk.com noted that "the spectacularly bare-chested Amar Ramasar" had sex appeal.
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
. In 2010, Dance Magazine
Dance Magazine
Dance Magazine is an "influential" American trade publication for dance, currently published by the Macfadden Communications Group. It was first published in June 1927 as The American Dancer. William Como was its editor-in-chief from 1970 to his death in 1989. Wendy Perron became its editor-in...
reported that Ramasar was one of the few Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
professional ballet dancers. He took his first dance lessons at the Henry Street Settlement
Henry Street Settlement
The Henry Street Settlement is a not-for-profit social service agency in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City that provides social services, arts programs and health care services to New Yorkers of all ages. It was founded in 1893 by Progressive reformer Lillian Wald.The...
House, to which commuted by subway from his home in the South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
to the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
almost daily.
Education and early career
Ramasar took his first dance lesson at the Henry Street SettlementHenry Street Settlement
The Henry Street Settlement is a not-for-profit social service agency in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City that provides social services, arts programs and health care services to New Yorkers of all ages. It was founded in 1893 by Progressive reformer Lillian Wald.The...
House's Abrons Arts Center in 1993. He commuted by subway from his home in the South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
to the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
almost daily to go to dance lessons, starting at age 10. As a "low-income youth," this one of the few opportuntities he had "to achieve [his] artistic dreams...."
He studied at the School of American Ballet (SAB), "the official school of New York City Ballet," starting in 1993. He also studied at the American Ballet Theatre Summer Program and The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet.
NYC Ballet
Ramasar joined the New York City BalletNew York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
as an apprentice in 2000, and joined the corps de ballet
Corps de ballet
In ballet, the corps de ballet is the group of dancers who are not soloists. They are a permanent part of the ballet company and often work as a backdrop for the principal dancers. A corps de ballet works as one, with synchronized movements and corresponding positioning on the stage...
in 2001. He became a soloist
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
in March 2006, and was promoted to a principal in October 2009. Ramasar's promotion was noted by a critic as good thing, because "change at NYCB is itself a gift, for as younger dancers take over cherished roles, these wonderful ballets can look new all over again."
Ramasar is one of the few Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
professional ballet dancers nowadays. As of 2010, he is the only person of color
Person of color
Person of color is a term used, primarily in the United States, to describe all people who are not white. The term is meant to be inclusive among non-white groups, emphasizing common experiences of racism...
who is a principal in that prestigious company. He was quoted as saying:
He has danced many prominent roles in the NYC Ballet company.
Other work
In 2000, Ramasar received the Mae L. Wien Award.He was featured in a social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
trade textbook, Meet the Dancers, by Amy Nathan.
Ramasar appeared in NY Export: Opus Jazz
NY Export: Opus Jazz
NY Export: Opus Jazz is a ballet made by Jerome Robbins, subsequently balletmaster of New York City Ballet, to music of the same title by Robert Prince. The premiere took place June 8, 1958 at the Festival of Two Worlds, Spoleto, performed by Ballets: USA and subsequently on Broadway...
, a 2010 film about that ballet.
Critical response
Since 2003, Ramasar has been getting favorable reviews from both blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ging fans and the professional media
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
.
His first featured review in the New York Times was in 2003:
In 2005, the New York Times gave a rave review for Ramasar in a feature article:
In 2006, the Times called him one of the "Young dancers who are rising stars in the New York City Ballet." The same year, the Village Voice pointed out his strengths and weaknesses:
In 2007, Dance Spirit wrote that "Amar Ramasar looked too nice to be a villain" in Romeo and Juliet.
Ballet.co.uk, a British online magazine, raved in 2008 about Ramasar, even while trashing a new dance in which he performed.
During the 2010 season so far, Ramasar has gotten rave reviews. The Saratogian called Ramasar "hard-working" for his roles in Fancy Free and Who Cares?
Who Cares? (ballet)
Who Cares? is a ballet made by New York City Ballet's co-founder and founding choreographer George Balanchine to the songs of George Gershwin in an orchestration by Hershy Kay...
at the New York City Ballet summer season at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is an amphitheater in Saratoga Springs, New York, which presents summer festivals of all kinds of music , dance, and opera, as well as a Wine & Food Festival...
. Their critic had "the pleasure of watching Joaquín De Luz, Tyler Angle, and Amar Ramasar dance together, truly convincing as three good sailor buddies." Ramasar's performance in Fancy Free was "enthralling its audience with Red Angels," an Albany Times Union blogger noted; "The intense color proved a dramatic backdrop to the power and strength of its four dancers: Maria Kowroski, Teresa Reichlen, Tyler Angle and Amar Ramasar." The official review from the Times Union wrote that Fancy Free, "Played with ample swagger by Tyler Angle, Joaquín De Luz and Amar Ramasar ... set the bravura tone for the entire night." In May 2010, TheArtsDesk.com noted that "the spectacularly bare-chested Amar Ramasar" had sex appeal.
External links
- Fan Club at FaceBook
- Dance Listings at the New York Times
- Movie & TV Listings at the New York Times
- Photographs of Ramasar at Getty Images
- "Photo: Children explore the world of ballet", July 8, 2010, at Saratogian website