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About Us
Apsaras Arts was established in 1977 by Mr & Mrs Sathyalingam under the banner of Kamala Club, an Indian Ladies organization to promote Indian dance forms and music. They subsequently moved the dance group’s activities to Tanglin Community Centre and then to the Cairnhill Community Centre. Apsaras Arts’ driving objective was to harness and integrate the young talents from the greater majority of Singaporeans who live in the heartlands. With initial student strength of 20 pupils, the company has expanded in size and significance within the community. Despite its relatively short history in the local arts scene, the company has a noteworthy profile of artistic productions acclaimed both locally and internationally. True to its initial aims of propagating Bharatha Natyam in its traditional form, Apsaras Arts as a dance institution has conducted numerous Arangetrams (dance debuts) and dance productions. Constantly the company aspires to reach out to wider audiences, in their dance forms and music. ==========================================================
Contact our Advisory Board Ramesh Appoo 182 Cecil Street TAPAC,#01-04, Singapore (069547) Tel:(65) 62271726 Fax:(65) 62830341 |
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Apsaras
Arts is the creation of Singapore Cultural Medallion Recipient Mrs
Neila Sathylingam. Born in Sri Lanka in 1938, Neila’s dance journey
began at the tender age of five, at Ceylon Dance Schools led by Mrs
Shanti Kumar. In 1954, she had the privilege to perform a solo item
in honour of the visit to Ceylon of Her Royal Highness, Her Majesty,
Queen Elizabeth II of Britain. June 1954 marked the first turning
point in Neila’s life , when she was enrolled at the Kalakshetra
College of Fine Arts in Madras, India, under the esteemed direction
of Srimati Rukmini Devi Arundale. In 1977, Neila established Apsaras
Arts in Singapore and has since been promoting the traditional art
form in multiracial Singapore through community clubs. She has also
actively collaborated with other ethnic dance, music and dance ensembles
and government bodies to promote Indian dance forms in Singapore.
She is the Artistic Director of Apsaras Arts. In the past 25 years,
she has achieved significant awards and accolades that are testimony
to her outstanding contribution to the are scene in Singapore and
the Region.
Mr
Sathyalingam is a Sangitha Sironmani (Degree in Music) from the University
of Madras and also holds a Diploma in Music from Kalakshetra. Since
qualifying in 1955, he has performed classical music and conducted
Bharatha Natyam recitals in India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia,
Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. Since 1975, he has been teaching
Classical Indian Music and has been the Music Director for Apsaras
Arts founded by both him and his wife Mrs Neila Sathyalingam. He is
also a member of Singapore’s National Arts Council’s Music
advisory Panel.
Aravinth
Kumaraswamy by profession is an Information Technologist and holds
the position of Senior Vice President, heading the Technology Research
and Development Division of System Access. He is a versatile artiste
who is a veena musician, a music composer, a nattuwangam artiste and
an Indian classical dancer. He started his training in the arts under
the tutilege of Shrikantham Sisters of Sri Lanka in Bahratha Natyam
in the Vazhuvoor School of Bharatha Natyam and Srimathi Brindha Jegannathan
on the Veena. He furthered his training under Srimathi Kalpagam Swaminathan
on the veena in Chennai, South India. In 1984, he performed his arangetram
in bharatha natyam and was awarded titles of “Nritiya Vaarithi”
by Padmashri Vazhuvoor Ramaiya Pillai, “Vaineeka Visharadha”
by the Apsaras Arts of Singapore in 1999, received “Young Artiste
Award for Music” awarded by the National Arts Council of Singapore.
Organized Singapore's first and only Indian Youth Orchestra formed
by the Kolam Ayer Community Club and is their conductor and composer.