Ramli Ibrahim

Ramli Ibrahim is a Malaysian dancer, choreographer, teacher and arts institution-builder born in Kajang, Selangor, on 20 May 1953. His earliest dance experiences included traditional Malay dance in school performances. While studying mechanical engineering at the University of Western Australia as a Colombo Plan Scholar, he began rigorous training in jazz, classical ballet and modern dance, performed with the West Australian Ballet, and subsequently completed a two-year diploma course at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne.

After his ballet and modern-dance formation, Ramli Ibrahim worked with the Sydney Dance Company from 1977 to 1982. His engagement with Indian classical dance developed through Bharatanatyam training with Adyar K. Lakshman and Odissi training with Debaprasad Das. These studies established the two Indian classical traditions central to his performing and choreographic life, particularly the Debaprasad Das stream of Odissi.

In 1983, Ramli Ibrahim returned to Malaysia and founded Sutra Dance Theatre in Kuala Lumpur. As its artistic director and principal choreographer, he developed a substantial body of Odissi, Bharatanatyam and contemporary work, while training successive generations of Malaysian dancers. His work is widely credited with making Odissi a recognised and appreciated dance form in Malaysia and with developing a Malaysian artistic context for its presentation.

Ramli Ibrahim later established Sutra Foundation in 2007 to consolidate Sutra's performance, education and cultural work. His career has included international touring, choreography, workshops, festivals and arts advocacy. He remains active as Sutra Foundation's founder and as artistic director of Sutra Dance Theatre; in May 2026, he participated in the presentation of Sutra Foundation's "Radhe! Radhe! 2.0" in Klang, Selangor.