Indian dance is a specialty of this local doctor

‘I’m just dancing for myself,’ says dancer and choreographer Dr. Jayanthi Raman of the Beaverton-based Indian dance school NATYA

By Katie Litvin

The Times, May 29, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Akila Rao of Hillsboro and Ramya Raman of Bethany rehearse their dance routine at the home of Dr. Jayanthi Raman. Dr. Raman will perform along with other featured dancers from the area at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts Sunday, June 1.

Jaime Valdez / Times Newspapers

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Nothing can convince Dr. Jayanthi Raman to give up her dancing, not moving across the Pacific, having a full-time faculty position at Oregon Health & Science University or raising two children.

A dancer since her earliest years, Raman is showcasing the many different forms of dance from India in a performance called Natyanjali. Her love for dance continues to inspire her to teach and perform in the Beaverton area.

She started giving dancing lessons at age 12 in her home town in India. Only a few years later, Raman and her sister opened their own school.

“We both had been teaching for six or seven years, so we were confident we could pull it off,” Raman said.

The sisters began teaching children informally and eventually opened a school.

After moving to the United States, Raman kept dancing as she attended medical school. She took six years off upon receiving her license to practice and returned to performing. She danced her way across the nation in 2004, performing dance ballets in cities from coast to coast.

“I danced until my knees hurt,” Raman said with a smile.

She then returned to her faculty position at OHSU.

“Being a physician and dancer both keeps me grounded.”

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