Rasika is the only organization of our genre to have a specific affiliated Music School serving local children, and youth in the community. Children, youth and adults of all socio-economic and diverse strata are encouraged to be part of Rasika’s outreach and arts events.

In our 25th performing art season, Rasika plans to present an exceptional series of dance and music concerts as well as expand our outreach and impact, by reopening our School and in person classes by resident scholars/teachers.

Rasika is responding to the recent community feedback on the request to reopen our Rasika School of Music and Arts for in person classes after the pandemic, and the need for professional full time resident master artist-teachers. This summer we have hired two full time faculty to teach Music and Dance, thanks to seed funding from the Collins and Seigel Foundations.  Our RASIKA School of Music and Arts had offered classes to over 120 local immigrants, and was closed to in person lessons at multiple centers during the pandemic. Although the program was moved to virtual classes, the student numbers declined and most stopped with zoom fatigue. The teachers also returned to India. Now the community and students have requested reopening our School of Music and Arts for in person classes. Responding to this need, Rasika has identified and hired a multi-faceted professional scholar-teacher capable of teaching music, both vocal and instrumental, and an exceptional performer. We are also hiring a Gold medal awarded dance teacher in response to community feedback. The faculty will be starting orientation this summer with open house events, presenting local concerts/events to network and connect with the community.

Rasika is in a unique position of being a presenter of concerts by legendary artists from India, along with affiliated Music and Arts School. These visiting scholars support curriculum development, creative expression, and growth of school students. Further, these visiting scholars provide master classes and lectures specifically for our students and many students continue advanced training with these scholars after graduation.

We will initially start classes at Beaverton and Hillsboro studios with plans to start classes in Corvallis (Benton County) as we stabilize in the two branches in Washington County. Our school will play a critical role in creative expression, also promoting equity and access to performing arts education, and promoting diversity and inclusion within the communities we serve.

The performing wing of Rasika RIME: Rasika India Music Ensemble – was started in response to children-youth voicing the need for performing avenues and opportunities. With the formation of RIME, Rasika provides access to arts learning for our local talented youth and children in the Indian immigrant community. These budding artists will be performing at local cultural and community events and this will help support growth of artistic talent, creative self-expression, and cultural diversity in the local community. Rasika is fostering creativity and artistic expression, leading to personal growth and a greater appreciation for the arts for these young artists. Our hope is to increase access to arts education for children, youth in the community, regardless of their cultural background or socio-economic status and increased cultural awareness within the community through exposure to diverse genres and traditions encouraging young talents in response to their input. These young artists in turn will mentor others in the community.

The arts educational efforts have been critical for young children to pursue learning music and dance, introducing the newer generation to this culture and heritage. Rasika Music School students from local community have performed numerous free outreach events at local community centers, libraries and festivals like the Beaverton International Festival, HACC Arts and Cultural Summit, NoFest, Washington County Museum, Hillsboro and Beaverton Libraries as well as more distant areas like Corvallis. These educational/outreach efforts have been critical to introduce the local community to Indian performing arts.

Our Rasika Music Studio in Hillsboro, OR is a multi use space that serves as a classroom for music and arts teaching, office space for meetings and storage of our documents, as well as presenting lectures and master classes seating about 60-70 people.

The humanities component of our programming won us the ‘Arts in the Community’ award from the City of Beaverton, ‘Kennedy Award’ from local violin makers, nomination for NEA ‘Coming up Taller’ award.

Rasika’s education and community outreach programs are founded on the belief that arts education is an essential component for all Oregonians. We have presented outreach events in diverse settings such as churches, libraries, Reed College, PSU Music Department, Marylhurst University, Mount Hood Community College, Intel, Portland Performing art center etc. The events have built awareness of the role and value of arts, heritage, and humanities and increased the understanding and appreciation of diversity. It also increases public participation and cultural learning by allowing them to interact with these artists. Rasika’s educational events over the past twenty four seasons have been free and open to the public, raising awareness of the Indian culture and heritage in the community.

Rasika has received support for our educational and outreach efforts from the American Library Association, Oregon Council for Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, Oregon Arts Commission, Hillsboro Arts and Culture Council and Westaf-Tourwest. Rasika has been fortunate to have outreach events made significant difference in awareness and appreciation of Indian classical music in the region.

 

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