U.S based dancer Jayanthi Raman will be honoured with the prestigious US National Award for Dance.

Jayanthi Raman, resident of Portland, Oregon is the first Bharatanatyam dancer/choreographer to receive this National Dance Project award. The award is given to the top dance companies and choreographers in the U.S and will support the creation and touring of a new production in the US, by Jayanthi Raman this year.

The production is 'Gajamukha', based on lord Ganesha. (More details at www.gajamukha.com) The world premier of this production will be presented at The Music Academy, Chennai on 28 August, 2004 before its US tour. The national tour sponsor of the production is Rasika.

Jayanthi Raman trained under renowned Gurus - Late J. Venkatachalapathy and Guru Adyar Lakshman. She has performed widely in the U.S. She has choreographed nine full-length dance ballets collaborating with leading dancers and musicians from India and US over the past ten years.

Jayanthi Raman is the founder and artistic Director of the Natya Dance Academy, founded in 1993, based in Portland, Oregon. She recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of her dance school.

Contact: E-mail: info@rasika.org Website: www.rasika.org