Oregon Culture Nights: Nattuvangam in Classical South Indian Dance with Sweta Ravisankar
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OREGON CULTURE NIGHTS
Culture is Medicine: Finding Connection, Hope, and Healing
Hosted with the Oregon Folklife Network.
Join us for live demonstrations of Oregon's living traditions Thursday nights in July. Culture bearers from a wide variety of backgrounds will provide insider knowledge about their traditional artforms and reflect on this year’s theme: Culture is Medicine: Finding Connection, Hope, and Healing. Grab a friend and enjoy a night of performance in the museum and the museum courtyard. All ages welcome!
Thursday, July 17
6:00 – 7:30pm
Featuring Nattuvangam in Classical South Indian Dance with Sweta Ravisankar and apprentice Arshia Rajeshnarayanan (MNCH Lawn)
Ravisankar is a Bharatanatyam (South Indian Classical Dance) performing artist, teacher, and choreographer. She has been dancing for three decades and is the artistic director of Sarada Kala Nilayam (SKN), where she teaches Bharathanatyam and Nattuvangam (rhythmic structures of Bharatanatyam).
Rajeshnarayanan is an Indian-American born and raised in Portland by hardworking immigrant parents. Rajeshnarayanan’s parents allowed her the freedom to explore her cultural heritage on her own terms. This gave her the opportunity to blend her Indian roots with her American upbringing in a way that feels meaningful and authentic to her.
Both Ravisankar and Rajeshnarayanan are part of Oregon Folklife Networks’ 2025 Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.
Activities are included with regular admission; free for MNCH members and UO ID cardholders. Show your Oregon Trail or other EBT card for an admission discount.
This season's outdoor events are subject to change based on the weather. Please visit mnch.uoregon.edu for the most current information.
Culture is Medicine: Finding Connection, Hope, and Healing
Hosted with the Oregon Folklife Network.
Join us for live demonstrations of Oregon's living traditions Thursday nights in July. Culture bearers from a wide variety of backgrounds will provide insider knowledge about their traditional artforms and reflect on this year’s theme: Culture is Medicine: Finding Connection, Hope, and Healing. Grab a friend and enjoy a night of performance in the museum and the museum courtyard. All ages welcome!
Thursday, July 17
6:00 – 7:30pm
Featuring Nattuvangam in Classical South Indian Dance with Sweta Ravisankar and apprentice Arshia Rajeshnarayanan (MNCH Lawn)
Ravisankar is a Bharatanatyam (South Indian Classical Dance) performing artist, teacher, and choreographer. She has been dancing for three decades and is the artistic director of Sarada Kala Nilayam (SKN), where she teaches Bharathanatyam and Nattuvangam (rhythmic structures of Bharatanatyam).
Rajeshnarayanan is an Indian-American born and raised in Portland by hardworking immigrant parents. Rajeshnarayanan’s parents allowed her the freedom to explore her cultural heritage on her own terms. This gave her the opportunity to blend her Indian roots with her American upbringing in a way that feels meaningful and authentic to her.
Both Ravisankar and Rajeshnarayanan are part of Oregon Folklife Networks’ 2025 Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.
Activities are included with regular admission; free for MNCH members and UO ID cardholders. Show your Oregon Trail or other EBT card for an admission discount.
This season's outdoor events are subject to change based on the weather. Please visit mnch.uoregon.edu for the most current information.
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