Productions

Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai was a unique teacher. He trained his students with dedication and instilled into them the need to give of their best to Bharatanatyam. Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai was born into a Isai Vellalar family, the traditional breeding ground of dancers and musicians. Ramiah Pillai was a dance master cast in the traditional mould. He was born in the village Vazhuvoor, a few miles from Mayapuram.

The temple at Vazhuvoor village is dedicated to Lord Siva, under the name of Gyannasabeshan, and to this day, the students of Vazhuvoor school, pay obeisance to the deity Gyannasabeshan in the form of Thodayamangalam at the beginning of each dance recital. Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai trained numerous dance teachers, and numerous outstanding dancers of today.

He also composed a number of Kuravanjis, and was the first one to use snake dance, which was very much popularised by Smt. Kamala Lakshmanan. He used mainly Tamil compositions, and Varnams by Sri. Papanasam Sivan and Swathi Tirunal. He himself composed many Shabdam, Keerthanams, Padams, and Thillanas.

"The Nrtta aspect of Bharatanatyam shone in vibrant vitality throughout Ramiah Pillai's teaching career. He gave equal importance to Abinaya; but his style demanded a certain lilt which was at once dynamic and graceful. He was the first one to introduce striking poses in Bharatanatyam. "This sculpturesque quality became his hallmark and to this he added facile movements to make his dancers look like elegant ballerinas," - Lakshmi Viswanathan.

It is this unique portrayal that lends charm to the Bharatanatyam presented by Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai's school and makes Vazhuvoor tradition a unique one. Generally there is a popular belief that there are four different styles in Bharatanatyam. Among them, the Vazhuvoor style gained worldwide recognition.

He became an outstanding choreographer and dance director. He founded Vazhuvoorar Classical Bharatha Natya Art Centre at Mylapore, and organised Vazhuvoorar Art Festival in Chennai during the December season. In the closing years of his life he wrote a book 'Theiveka Aadal Kalai' on dance.

- Subashini Pathmanathan (a student of late Padmashree Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai)