Priyanka Ratnarajah

Priyanka's dancing passion lays is the interpretation of Bharatanatyam, the oldest of all classical dances forms of India and based on the Theories of the books:” Natyasasthram” and “Abhhinaya Darpanam”. Since the age of seven, Priyanka studied the Bharatanatyam and by age 14 graduated as a professional dancer and teacher. This acknowledgment came on July 5th, 2008, at Concordia University in the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall in Montreal, Quebec. Then, Priyanka came home and opened her own dance school “Cornwall Tamil Dance School".

For seven years, her Dad drove her to Montreal every weekend and as a result had very little sleep, almost none on weekends. Priyanka does not believe she would be who she has become without the help of her Mon, Dad and brother Roshan who constantly encouraged her. Priyanka believes education is the necessary tool in helping children stay off the street.

Priyanka is eager to learn something new each day from adults’ experience and wisdom.
Lately, she volunteers to work with elders at Stanfield Place, on Cumberland Street, Cornwall, helping retired residents accomplish tasks they are no longer able to perform on their own. Priyanka is a ray of sunshine; she brings them vital energy and a smile each time she visits them. These residents are very grateful for her enthusiasm and respect of her beliefs and traditions.

Because of her positive attitude, strong will to succeed and the promised she made to herself to make a difference in our community, Priyanka has this incredible ability to multitask. She is extremely disciplined, making time for school, her volunteer work, and teaching her students her passion for Bharatanatyam dancing. The least we can say is that she is competent, gracious, intelligent, inspiring, determined, focused, supportive, dependable and independent which are all the leadership qualities .

Priyanka always gave more than a 100% and is always wiling to help. To this very day, no matter how challenging the task may be, Priyanka never gives up; she knows she has the power to make a difference.

Priyanka seldom gets recognition for what she does but keeps doing more and more; it seems her kindness has not limits. Priyanka is grateful to her mother Kamini, her father Rathna and brother Roshan for everything they sacrificed for her success. Her parents came to this country to offer their children a better future. Every day, through her acts of kindness, she thanks the Cornwall Community for this opportunity. She is an inspiration to her own generation. Priyanka is trustworthy and extremely reliable; it seems these qualities have disappeared in many of our young adults.