TRADITIONAL TO THE CONTEMPORARY
Raman was teaching in India for several years since the age of 12. Initially, she was teaching under the auspices of her Guru Sri Adyar K. Lakshman in India. During 1980’s she had her own dance school in India, prior to moving to Portland, OR. She is the founder and artistic director of the NATYA dance academy, based in Portland, offering classes in Bharatha Natyam classical dance and theory in its pure, authentic and traditional form as taught to her by eminent gurus. Her students have become well-known performers and teachers.
As a renowned master artist, scholar and teacher, recognized in the community, she was nominated for the NEA Heritage Fellowship award. She is seven time recipient of the Traditional Master Artist award of excellence recognizing her one of the foremost teachers and scholars of this art form in Northwest. She received the awards four years from Washington State Arts Commission – honored as an out of state artist and three years from the Oregon Folklife program. She pursued academic position as Assistant Professor teaching Indian dance at Portland State University, the first faculty position of her genre in the Northwest.
