Sutra Dance Theatre

Sutra Dance Theatre based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is recognized as the leading creative performing arts institution in Malaysia. Artistic Director, Ramli Ibrahim and his Sutra Dancers have become a household name in raising the status of Dance in Malaysia. Sutra’s multi-racial dancers of Malay, Indian, Chinese and mixed races, speak well of Dance transcending racial and cultural barriers. Sutra has been recognized internationally for its excellent performances of Odissi associated with the repertoire of the late pioneer Odissi Guru, Deba Prasad Das. What is interesting is the flowering of Odissi in the last 26 years in Malaysia through the pioneering work of Ramli Ibrahim. This developed through the grooming of a generation of Malaysian trained Odissi dancers who brought life to new Odissi works commissioned by Sutra – a testimonial of multi-racial and global Malaysia at its best.

Ramli Ibrahim

Ramli Ibrahim, an acclaimed dancer, choreographer and artistic director of Sutra Dance Theatre, is also chairman of Sutra Foundation. Trained in classical ballet, modern dance and Indian classical dance, Ramli has performed extensively with the Sydney Dance Company (1977-1982). Upon returning to Malaysia, he established Sutra Dance Theatre (1983), which is now Malaysia’s premier dance company. A free spirit and dynamic force in Malaysian theatre, Ramli has been described as a mover and shaker, sweeping aside prevalent provincialism with his integrated vision of the arts. He has set the standard of excellence in Malaysian dance and has inspired and cultivated a whole generation of Malaysian dancers apart from collaborating with an impressive cross-section of theatre-makers. He has become a household name in raising the status of Indian classical dance in Malaysia to what it is today. As a teacher of Bharata Natyam and Odissi, he has groomed some of the finest dancers of Malaysia. He is intimately associated with Odissi, which he has successfully implanted in Malaysia.