A SOUTH Asian dance and music choreographer has been awarded an MBE.
Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan was bestowed the honour in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to the promotion of South Indian classical music and dance.
Dr Chithra is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a specialist mental health champion.
The Solihull mum of two said: “I am genuinely humbled by this prestigious honour. I attribute this award to my late parents, my family and well-wishers, at home and abroad, who have believed in me, supported me and have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with me on my journey thus far.
“I happen to share the same birthday as Her Majesty The Queen and to be recognised by her means the world to me.
“It has energised and empowered me even more.
“I now hope to pass this on to others through dance and music.”
She is also the Founder and Artistic Director of ShruthiUK, a South Asian Arts organisation, which was set up in 2005 in Leeds, and of the British Carnatic Choir, established in June 2015 in Birmingham.
