Join us for performances by the piano, Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam, and contemporary dance students at the Accora Centre featuring choreographies and arrangements by Radhika Pillai and Ryan Tonelli.
Ryan Tonelli is a classically trained vocalist with a degree in Opera and Music History. He has been playing piano for over 20 years and has a background in hip-hop and contemporary dance. Ryan is actively involved in the Ottawa arts scene. He is a prolific songwriter and has independently recorded multiple albums. He also serves on the board of directors with the Ewashko Singers and has performed locally in venues such as the National Arts Centre as well as abroad.
Ryan would describe music as a time capsule that reflects the values, challenges, and viewpoints of the time. His passion for music history comes from a deep interest in the role recorded music plays in preserving and showcasing our shared cultural heritage.
Radhika Pillai is a Bharatanatyam dancer, singer and choreographer based in Ottawa. She is trained in traditional Kalamandalam style since 1996 under the dancer duo Shri Kalamandalam Venkit and Smt. Preetha Venkit and has received her diploma in Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music.
Radhika is also a Carnatic vocalist and she teaches Indian classical music in Ottawa. She commits herself to make learning Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music an interesting and divine process and tries her best to adapt naturally to her roles of a dedicated teacher, choreographer and an energetic performer. Radhika and her students have participated in various festivals such as The Great Indian Festival, Montreal Natyanjali, ISKCON chariot festival, World Multi-cultural Festival, Aroha Festival and the NexGen MultiArts Festival in Montreal. She was also one of the main dancers in the grand musical dance ballet Sri Ramanuja Vaibhavam which was organized by the Ministry of Culture of India and has had the opportunity across major cities in India.
