Key Points
- Jayalakshmi Raman runs one of the longest-standing Indian classical dance schools in Western Australia.
- She has helped immigrant musicians and performers share their art for more than 40 years.
- Dance is a way to connect with cultural roots and social values, she says.
Indian classical dancer Jayalakshmi Raman never anticipated settling in Australia when she first came to Perth in the early 1980s.
It all began when a group of Indian migrants in Perth asked her to perform in Channel 7's Telethon and for the community while she was visiting her sister.
"These young Indian families were worried that their children were missing out on their rich culture so they asked me to perform," Jayalakshmi, now 78, recalled.
The performances were so well-received that she was invited to stay in Perth as a resident dance teacher.
Jayalakshmi Raman has shared her passion for dance across decades. Credit: Supplied
"There weren't many Indians, and Australians were only familiar with Bollywood dance, so it was challenging to educate them about our art and encourage them to learn it," she said.
Dancing in Australia
Jayalakshmi said there were also no forums for immigrant musicians or dancers back then in Perth, and she wondered if she had made the right choice to settle in Australia permanently.
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"I then began exploring my options, organising dance workshops and educating people about Indian classical dance and music ... Initially, I had to explain everything, from the Indian dance form of Bharatnatyam to my costume and my makeup," she said.
Gradually her music community network expanded and in 1980s she became one of the founding members of the North Perth Ethnic Music Centre.
This organisation played a vital role in promoting the music and dance of various communities living in Perth.
Jayalakshmi Raman performing at a concert. Credit: Supplied
When I established the Kaliavani Indian Dance School in Perth during the 1980s, it was the first of its kind in Western Australia. At that time, multiculturalism was not widespread, and there was a limited understanding of Indian culture.Jayalakshimi Raman
As she became more involved in the music community, her dance school began performing at events like Shell Folkloric and Telethon to raise funds for Perth’s Children's Hospital.
A few years ago, the school also organised a concert called 'Bhakti Margam: Path of Devotion' for orphaned children in Sri Lanka.
This year, her school celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking the occasion with students from all over the country.
Bharatanatyam, one of the oldest Indian dance forms
Bharatanatyam, one of the oldest classical dance forms from Tamil Nadu in southern India, is frequently performed solo by women.
The dance features intricate footwork, expressive gestures and rhythmic movements to convey a range of emotions and stories, often inspired by Hindu mythology.
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"Apart from other makeup like lipstick and eyeliner, to enhance facial expressions, dancers also use alta (a traditional red dye) to paint fingers and feet, for highlighting dance movements," she explained.
Jayalakshmi Raman with her dance students. Credit: Supplied
As an easy explanation, I would compare Bharatnatyam to ballet because it is a graceful art form.Jayalakshmi Raman
She takes pride in her art, performing regularly, organising meetups with other dancers in Perth and sharing her passion with her followers.
In 2015, Jayalakshmi also received a lifetime achievement award fromand was honoured by thefor her pioneering contributions to Indian classical dance in Western Australia.
A 40-year legacy
Jayalakshmi's work has been praised by her peers and the Indian diaspora in Western Australia.
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Linsey Pollak, a musician and founding member of the North Perth Ethnic Music Centre, praised Jayalakshmi's contributions to promoting and teaching Indian dance and music in the state, describing her impact as "enormously inspiring" and noting that "many students have benefited from her work".
"I established the Ethnic Music Centre of North Perth at the end of 1983, initially under the auspices of the Perth City Council, and later under the North Perth Migrant Resource Centre at the North Perth Town Hall," he said.
"Jayalakshmi has been involved with the centre from the very beginning."
Linsey Pollak, a musician and founding member of a music centre in Perth. Credit: Supplied
Veeranna Sataraddi, the former vice president of the Indian Society of Western Australia (ISWA), emphasised the important role Jayalakshmi's dance school plays in promoting unity and celebrating shared identity.
"Her school offers a range of classes for dancers of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced," Sataraddi said.
Veeranna Sataraddi, the former president of the Indian Society of Western Australia. Credit: Supplied
"Jayalakshmi’s efforts to enhance and enrich Indian culture and strengthen the community through her dance school deserve recognition and appreciation," Sataraddi added.
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