Ramya Raman
Bharatha Natyam
Performer, Choreographer and Teacher
My journey as an artist.....
Dancer, Teacher, Researcher, & Choreographer
I watched her gnarly arms move in the air covered with wrinkles of experience and wisdom. Ninety nine, I thought to myself. “One hundred!” my mom whispered, as if she read my mind. I leaned closer to my great grandmother - 'Peria Patti'- trying to comprehend her thin raspy voice, still watching her slender bony hands somehow familiar in its story telling. I loved visiting her. Peria Patti had seen three generations, and her eyes were still sharp, observing the world, adding comments that exemplified her great sense of humor.
I watched her again, now focusing on her slow, purposeful hand gestures which extended her conversations. The familiarity of her gestures was clearer now. I knew them; only more specialized, more codified, and more stylized. These were gestures my Bharatha Natyam dance teachers have taught me since my childhood. I have studied and used them to communicate mythological stories. I now realize that these were truly drawn from centuries of storytelling and aesthetically stylized.
The classical dance style Bharatha Natyam is an ancient dance form in India, which has evolved over thousands of years. Mime and storytelling are important parts of India’s dance traditions. Performers are often very animated and able to convey messages even in the absence of speech.
I am a third generation Bharatha Natyam dancer working toward degrees in science, world dance and health communication. I completed my training in classical Bharatha Natyam and presented my “arangetram”-solo graduation recital in India, in 2004. I continue to study and perform the art. I have always believed that art mirrored life and had developed from the facts and facets of life.
I continue my journey as a practitioner of the ancient legendary art form.......
(adapted from personal statement written for the Fulbright grant)
Upcoming Events
7:30pm Friday 9th March 2012
Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center
presents
Jayanthi Raman
Dance Company's
Sampradaya: Traditions from Temple to Theater.
Full length evening Bharatha Natyam classical dance performance by Dr.
Jayanthi Raman & Ramya Raman
Venue: Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center 527 East Main Street,
Hillsboro, OR 97123 Tickets open for sale now. For details:
here
May 2012
Good Samaritan Ministries
present a solo Bharatha Natyam dance by Ramya Raman
Fund raiser event for children's orphanage in Secunderabad, India.
*Tickets: Sold out.
