Who We Are
The Team
Neila Sathyalingam
(Founder & Artistic Director)
Neila is the Artistic Director of Apsaras Arts and Singapore's Cultural Medallion Recipient in 1989. She established Apsaras Arts in Singapore in 1977 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. In the past 25 years, she has achieved significant awards and accolades that are testimony to her outstanding contribution to the arts scene in Singapore and the Region. She has been bestowed the prestigious title of Viswa Kala Bharathi for her outstanding contribution to Indian arts internationally. She is well known for the fresh and innovative creativity in her artistic direction.
S. Sathyalingam
(Founder & Music Director)
S. Sathyalingam is a Sangitha Sironmani (Degree in Music) from the University of Madras and also holds a Diploma in Music from Kalakshetra. Since 1955, he has performed classical music and conducted Bharathanatyam recitals in India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. He has been teaching Classical Indian Music and has been the Music Director for Apsaras Arts since 1977. In recognition of his contribution to Indian arts in foreign countries, he was bestowed the accolade of ìViswakalaa Bharathiî by Bharath Kalachar in Chennai in 1995. He is also a member of Singaporeís National Arts Councilís Music Advisory Panel.
Aravinth Kumarasamy
(Managing & Creative Director)
Aravinth is a versatile artiste who is a veena musician, a music composer, a Nattuvaangam artiste and an Indian classical dancer. In 1999, he received the Young Artiste Award for Musicî awarded by the National Arts Council of Singapore. Aravinth has been instrumental in many creative productions of Apsaras Arts and has composed original music scores for its productions in Singapore and overseas. Aravinth's compositions are also presented regularly by international arts companies based in Australia, India and United Kingdom. He is a member of the Singapore National Arts Council's advisory panel for music. Aravinth is trained in the Vazhoovur style of Bharathanatyam and is the proud recipient of the title Nirtya Vaarithiî by Padmashri Vazhoovur Ramiah Pillai. For his achievements and contributions to Music, he was honored with the title of Vaineeka Visharadhaî by Bharatha Natya Guru Prof. C.V. Chandrashekar presented by Apsaras Arts.
The Apsaras Team
Over the past 30 years, Apsaras Arts has trained many dancers, with more than 50 dancers having presented their Arangetrams and graduating after completing the Bharathanatyam course. Many are full-time dance teachers, choreographers and dancers. Several of them have full-time professional careers such as doctors, engineers, civil service professionals, teachers and entrepreneurs, but still dedicate their time as company dancers driven by their passion to dance. Apsaras Arts is proud that the entire team of its company dancers are Singapore citizens.
Neila Sathyalingam
(Founder & Artistic Director)
Neila is the Artistic Director of Apsaras Arts and Singapore's Cultural Medallion Recipient in 1989. She established Apsaras Arts in Singapore in 1977 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. In the past 25 years, she has achieved significant awards and accolades that are testimony to her outstanding contribution to the arts scene in Singapore and the Region. She has been bestowed the prestigious title of Viswa Kala Bharathi for her outstanding contribution to Indian arts internationally. She is well known for the fresh and innovative creativity in her artistic direction.
S. Sathyalingam
(Founder & Music Director)
S. Sathyalingam is a Sangitha Sironmani (Degree in Music) from the University of Madras and also holds a Diploma in Music from Kalakshetra. Since 1955, he has performed classical music and conducted Bharathanatyam recitals in India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. He has been teaching Classical Indian Music and has been the Music Director for Apsaras Arts since 1977. In recognition of his contribution to Indian arts in foreign countries, he was bestowed the accolade of ìViswakalaa Bharathiî by Bharath Kalachar in Chennai in 1995. He is also a member of Singaporeís National Arts Councilís Music Advisory Panel.
Aravinth Kumarasamy
(Managing & Creative Director)
Aravinth is a versatile artiste who is a veena musician, a music composer, a Nattuvaangam artiste and an Indian classical dancer. In 1999, he received the Young Artiste Award for Musicî awarded by the National Arts Council of Singapore. Aravinth has been instrumental in many creative productions of Apsaras Arts and has composed original music scores for its productions in Singapore and overseas. Aravinth's compositions are also presented regularly by international arts companies based in Australia, India and United Kingdom. He is a member of the Singapore National Arts Council's advisory panel for music. Aravinth is trained in the Vazhoovur style of Bharathanatyam and is the proud recipient of the title Nirtya Vaarithiî by Padmashri Vazhoovur Ramiah Pillai. For his achievements and contributions to Music, he was honored with the title of Vaineeka Visharadhaî by Bharatha Natya Guru Prof. C.V. Chandrashekar presented by Apsaras Arts.
The Apsaras Team
Over the past 30 years, Apsaras Arts has trained many dancers, with more than 50 dancers having presented their Arangetrams and graduating after completing the Bharathanatyam course. Many are full-time dance teachers, choreographers and dancers. Several of them have full-time professional careers such as doctors, engineers, civil service professionals, teachers and entrepreneurs, but still dedicate their time as company dancers driven by their passion to dance. Apsaras Arts is proud that the entire team of its company dancers are Singapore citizens.
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