Sweta Ravisankar

🪔 About

A Beaverton woman recently returned from a two-month trip to India where she not only was able to attend two classical Indian dance conferences in Mumbai and Chennai but also performed herself. Sweta Ravisankar also was able to collaborate with Indian musicians where they recorded several tracks of music she will use in an upcoming classic Indian dance program. Ravisankar was in India to further her knowledge of the Bharatanatyam style of dance, a classical dance that dates back centuries and is believed to have originated in India’s southernmost state of Tamil Nadu. A 30-year practitioner of Bharatanatyam, five years ago Ravisankar started teaching classes at her own studio, Sarada Kala Nilayam, which is near Reedville Elementary School in Beaverton. Ravisankar, who performs as well as teaches, comes from a family that has deep roots in Indian arts and culture. She first started performing Bharatanatyam as a teenager, saying she enjoyed the rhythmic aspect of the dance form. Ravisankar’s most recent trip to India was aided in part by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission. She was among 24 Oregon recipients receiving awards totaling $44,202 from the commission. She said it made a big difference traveling to India and attending those workshops in person. While there, she collaborated with a professional Indian vocalist, along with musicians who played drums, the violin and symbols, to record several tracks of music. Those recordings will be used in future Bharatanatyam dance productions. She has lived in Beaverton for the last eight years. On March 1, Ravisankar will perform her show, “In Love With,” at the Walters Cultural Arts Center, 527 E. Main St. in Hillsboro. Her performance begins at 7:30 p.m.