TRADITIONAL TO THE CONTEMPORARY
Raman is the only artist in her genre in the Northwest who has received local, regional, state and national awards for performing, teaching and choreography; and is the first artist of her genre nationally to receive many of these awards including recently as ‘Nattuvanar‘ Master Artist for conducting the orchestra. *Listed below.
She was the first recipient in her genre to receive the National Dance Project NDP-NEFA grant for production and touring as well as from Regional Arts and Culture Council, Collins Foundation, Miller Foundation, Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregon Community Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, etc. Her other awards and recognitions include the Arts Leadership Award from Beaverton Arts Commission in recognition of her work in promoting the culture, heritage and the performing arts of India. She was Nominated for the NEA National Heritage Fellowship and the US Artists Fellowship Award.
She is the only artist who has received the ‘Master Artist Award’, seven times from the States of Washington and Oregon. The Washington State Arts Commission awarded her four years – a rare honor for an out of state artist, and University of Oregon Folklife Program, three years, recognizing her as a distinguished master artist in the Northwest.
Her tours have been supported by grants from National Endowment for the Arts, Westaf-Tourwest, lectures received grants from Oregon Council for Humanities, American Library Association, Washington County Coalition grants etc.
Select Awards:
BMK Trust, Chennai, India Award for Arts Advocate 2019
Nominated for the US Artists Fellowship Award 2019
Nominated for the NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award 2017
Oregon Arts Commission: Individual Artist Fellowship Award 2015
University of Oregon Folklife Program: Master Artist Award for Teaching artist of Excellence: 2019, 2015, 1996
Washington State Arts Commission: Master Artist Award for Teaching artist of Excellence – rare honor as as an out of state artist, and awarded for four years: 2010, 2009, 2005, and 2003
Arts Leadership Award by Beaverton Arts Commission 2012
Excellence in Performance and Choreography by Rialto Atlanta & Gandhi Foundation, Atlanta GA 2004
Excellence in Performance and Choreography by Hindu Society of North East Florida 2004
Performing Artist Award, Vipanchee Festival, presented by Dr. M Balamurali Krishna 1999
Dance Choreography Mahakavi Bharathiyar Award, IIT Chennai 1987
Choreography and Teaching – Community Appreciation Awards from GPTM (Tamil), Telugu Sangam, India Cultural Association, Gujarati Samaj 1999-2018.
Select Grants:
Oregon Community Foundation – Community Grant Award (Touring) 2017-18
Oregon Community Foundation – Creative Heights Grant Award 2016
Regional Arts and Culture Council: Individual artist: Project Grants for twenty years between 1995-2018
Oregon Arts Commission: Career Opportunity Grant 2019, 2015, 2014, 2009
National Dance Project – NDP-NEFA: Production & Touring Grant 2004
Regional Arts and Culture Council: Professional Development Grant 2010, 2002, 2000
Collins Foundation: Project Grant 2018, 2015, 2010
James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation 2017
Oregon Cultural Trust 2017, 2015
Beaverton Arts Commission: Community Grant Award 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 & 2014
Cultural Coalition of Washington County: Project Grant 2018, 2009
National Endowment for the Arts: Presentation Grant 2010, 2006, 2004
American Library Association: Education and Outreach Grant 2002
Hillsboro Arts and Culture Council: administered through Rasika 2016, 2015
Oregon Council for Humanities: Public Program Grants 2004
Oregon Public Broadcasting: Media Support 2006, 2010
Forest Grove Arts Commission: Project Grant 2014
 Recognition as arts advocate and for arts leadership by BMK Trust, Chennai, India July 2019 |
 Master Artist Award 2019, 2015, 1996 |
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 Dance Choreography Award from Rialto Atlanta and Gandhi Foundation |
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 Receiving the UO Folklife Master Artist TAAP Award 2016 |
 Master Artist Award 1996 |
 With Governor of Oregon receiving the Master Artist TAAP Award 1996 |
 With Brian Rogers, Executive Director, Oregon Arts Commission |
 With Brian Wagner and Julie, Oregon Arts Commission |
 With Rikki Saltzman, Director, UO Folklife Program |
 With Eliza Canty Jones from Oregon Historical Society |