Rathimalar Govindarajoo

Rathimalar Govindarajoo, Malaysia’s leading dancer, specialises in Odissi, Bharata Natyam and contemporary dance. Rathi, a principal dancer with Sutra Dance Theatre partnered Ramli Ibrahim (AD of SDT) in numerous productions. She has performed in SJD’s earlier works from 2002 to 2006 – Phantasmaton & [h]Interland (2002/3), Transtep (2004), Flicker & Transtep 2 (2005) and Exit No Exit (2006) – and has toured extensively throughout Britain and Europe, performing these works, returning to SJD in 2011 for Configurations.

Rathi has received Marie Claire’s Women of Style & Substance Award (2011) and she was named Watson’s Extraordinary Woman in 2013. She is also an established choreographer; she was nominated for best choreography at the 2009 BOH Cameronian Arts Award, and her work Panjara (2012) has also received wide praise. She now works on a freelance basis, while also choreographing, teaching and conducting rehearsals at Sutra Foundation Malaysia.