Bharatantayam workshop for Kids: Joy of Rhythm
A unique opportunity! Learn the Joy of Rhythm through Dance Experience of learning concentration of the mind, expressions of rhythm through feet and dancing bells! A fun way to learn and appreciate the beauty of RHYTHM thru Indian classical dance. A special June holidays course for young dancers (8-12years) at Apsaras Arts. There will be a certificate provided upon the successful completion of the two day workshop. Venue: Blk D #01-24, Goodman Arts Centre, 90 Goodman Road, Singapore 439053. Course Fee: Member – $125 / Non Member – $150 Date & Time: 02nd & 03rd June 2018 / 10.30am – 12pm Course Fee: Member: S$125 Non Member: S$150 Limited spaces available Register Here
Melbourne Trinity Festival
Featuring Mohanapriyan Thavarajah Mohanapriyan Thavarajah of Apsaras Arts will be performing for Aadum Arul Jothi – The Dances of Divinity at the Trinity Festival, Melbourne, Australia on 20th May, and at the Trinity Festival, Melbourne, Australia on the 19th May 2018. Please see link for more details http://sydhwaney.com/trinity-and-nandikeswar-festival-in-melb/
Aadum Arul Jothi – Dances of Divinity
By Mohanapriyan Thavarajah At Melbourne Trinity Festival Mohanapriyan Thavarajah of Apsaras Arts will be performing for Aadum Arul Jothi – The Dances of Divinity at the Nandikeshwara Festival, Melbourne, Australia on 20th May, and at the Trinity Festival, Melbourne, Australia on the 19th May 2018. Please see link for more details http://sydhwaney.com/trinity-and-nandikeswar-festival-in-melb/
Techniques and Expressions
Make your March school holidays useful attending this workshop.This workshop each day we will have 3 hours of productive sessions and as part of the course, one new traditional and rare repertoire item covering technique and abhinaya will be taught. The basic requirements to enrol are as follows: Bharatantayam students with 3-5 years or more of experience in learning and participants should have 15years of age or more. The music of the repertoire will be provided at the end of the workshopand also there will be a certificate provided upon the successful completion of the three day workshop. Venue: Blk D #01-24, Goodman Arts Centre, 90 Goodman Road,Singapore 439053.Course Fee: $125 16th Friday – 3pm – 6pm 17th Saturday – 9am – 12am 18th Sunday – 9am – 12amTo sign up for the course please write to apsaras.arts@gmail.com.
Apsaras Arts at Bhaskareeyam 2018
Kathak faculty artistes from Bhaskar’s Arts Academy (Pallavi Sharma), Apsaras Arts (Avinav Mukharji), and Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (yotica Joshi and Nivedita Shailesh Khot) are coming together in a show of unity! They will present a Kathak production Abhivyakti as part of Bhaskareeyam 2018 on 29 Jun 2018 (Fri), 7.00pm at Goodman Arts Centre Black Box, Singapore.
Kathak Workshop
Gauri Diwakar is a highly acclaimed Kathak artiste and a shining example of India’s next generation of brilliant artistic talent. Gauri’s elegant, graceful moves, striking facial expressions, along with her powerful presence on the stage, leaves her audiences spellbound. Gauri has conducted workshops in Singapore as the Kathak Faculty at Dance India Asia Pacific presented by Apsaras Arts in 2012. Her upcoming workshop is suitable for Kathak students who are above the age of 15years and have 5 years or more of formal training in Kathak. Please register by 20th June 2018 at apsaras.arts@gmail.com
Agathi: The Plight of Refugee – UK Premier
Agathi – The Plight of Refugee a dance theatre production by Apsaras Arts Dance company will be presented in the UK this week by Milapfest. Please see following links details of the shows in London, Manchester and Liverpool. London 10th June (EVENT LINK) Manchester 12th June (EVENT LINK) Liverpool 17th June (EVENT LINK)
Agathi – The Plight of Refugee
By Apsaras Arts Dance Company Apsaras Arts’s one of highly acclaimed dance theatre production is returning home (Singapore) once again after the successful UK premier. Catch the performances of Agathi and join us on the journey to give a voice to the refugees all around the world who are trying to find their safe home, peaceful life and their own identity. Venue : Siglap South CC, 6 palm road, Singapore 456441 Date : 28th & 29th July 2018 Time : 7pm Tickets : S$20 / For Tickets call – 62411925 / 96284066 This is a signature event of the Siglap South CC Arts & Culture Node as part of the series of Arts by the Sea.
The Dancer’s Gentle Translation
Inspired by the Rajah Ravi Varma’s paintings By Mohanapriyan Thavarajah Chithra Bharatham was a three day festival, inspired by the paintings of various artistes and curated by Natyarangam, Chennai. Rajah Ravi Varma was one of such featured Artiste and his paintings were interpreted through dance by Danseuse Lavanya Anand. It was an indeed a memorable evening to cherish. Ravi Varma is an inspirational artiste who inspired Lavanya to become a gentle translation of his beautiful paintings through her beautiful choices of compositions, apt choreography and stellar execution of dance. Excerpts of verses from Soundarya Lahiri written by Adishangaracharya, Dancer Lavanya gently rises on the stage from the darkness as an emerging spark portraying Devi who illuminates the and saves the world out of compassion Karunya. This set the beautiful mood on the stage for her audience in the opening number. As she moved on to deliver a master piece Varnam she portrayed the abandonment of Sita and who subsequently unites with Mother Earth. She set the crescendo on this Varnam developing the persona of Sita with such as patience, tolerance and loyalty to her beloved Rama. The Varnam reached the climax in the enactment of the famous Ravi Varma’s painting where Boomi Devi extends her arms to Sita in an attempt to stop her worldly desires and tolerance. Lavanya made her audience sit still with excitement while a few behind me spoke aloud in sheer astonishment, “Oh my God!” After the roller coaster of the emotions in the varnam Lavanya took her audience on a journey to experience the Vathsalyam of Yasodha. Excerpts of verses from Periyazhvar pasuram and set to the music by ambujam Krishna, she brought the vivid colours of the rich Tamil poetry and the subtle Motherly affection for the adorable mischievous, Krishna through her Abhinaya. The highlight of the repertoire of that evening was the exaggeration of the painting of heroine Shankunthala from a well known story of Nala Dhamayanthi. Lavanya chose the song of “Priyathamaa” from Shakundala a Malayalam Movie and literally brought Dhamayathi come alive on stage with her love for Dhushyanta. She marked the end of her repertoire with a thillana set to raga Behac combined with the verses from Geetha Govindam to describe the Leelas of Krishna. That evening was completely for Lavanya as she had driven her self deeper to analyse and understand the aura of the great artiste Rajah Ravi Varma. She also attempted to bring out the key ideas of the painting through her custom made jewelleries and costumes inspired by the illustration of the paintings. The overall performance was incredibly successful with the team work of resource persons, musicians and technicians who held her hand providing valuable support towards this production. Dance is never completed with out Music. The vocals with so much emotions rendered by the amazing Hari Prasad, the sensible rhythms on the drums by Vetha Krishnan, the excited yet excellent Jeyshree on Nattuvangam, Shasidar on the melodies flute blended seamlessly to create an absolute beautiful atmosphere for the Dancer and the dancings souls among the audiences. Lavanya Anand is a brilliant and sensible artiste in today’s INDIAN Classical dance arena, who carries the artistry of her distinct Valluvur style of Bharatanatam which is much known for its grace and fluidity. She has travelled wider for her performances locally in India and globally. She will be performing her thematic solo “SANNIDHI” – The Communion with Divine with her team of talented Musicians from Chennai at the Esplanade Theater Studio on the 31st August, Friday as a curtain raiser for the much awaited Dance India Asia Pacific Festival presented by Apsaras Arts Singapore.
NEELA- An Explorative Bharatanatyam Solo
By Apsaras Arts Dance Company Featuring Nikita Menon About Neela Blue – colour of the universe, the sky, the ocean, the world from outer space, the colour of the divine, his peacock feather, his eyes …. We are surrounded by this colour with its varied shades and hues. Blue is one of the three primary colours of pigments in painting and traditional colour theory and is a cool colour that shows creativity and intelligence. It is a colour that symbolizes loyalty, strength, wisdom and trust, and is also known to have a calming effect on the psyche. “Neela” is a thematic solo Bharatanatyam presentation by Nikita Menon for Darshana – Dance Series by Apsaras Arts, exploring the myriad hues of this colour Blue through a variety of compositions. Nikita dedicates this performance of “Neela” in the memory of Smt. Neila Sathyalingam, doyen of Indian classical dance. About the Featured Artiste Nikita Menon Lured to the art of Bharatnatyam at a young age, Nikita started formal dance training at the age of 3 with Guru Maalika Girish Panickker and began her journey as a soloist at the age of 8. Her immense passion drove her to obtain a diploma in Bharatnatyam at the age of 13 from SIFAS along with the ‘Best Student Award’ and the title of “Natya Visharad” a high standard of performance in the Diploma examination. She then went on to train under the eminent guru, Smt. Nagamani Srinivasa Rao, sister of late Sri. Adyar Lakshmanan, in Bangalore. Currently, as a company dancer of Apsaras Arts, Nikita has been part of the company’s repertoire productions such as “Agathi- The Plight of the Refugee”, “Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana”, “SITA – As Painted by Raja Ravi Varma” and “Alapadma – The Lotus Unfolds” which has toured all over Asia and Europe. She is also trained in Mohiniattam under Kalamandalam Vimala Menon, RAD Ballet and gymnastics. Alongside her professional career in dance, she has modelled for local brands and magazines and debuted in a film. Nikita is currently pursuing a degree in Fashion in LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore, and is working on establishing her own fashion label. Venue : Black Box theatre, Goodman Arts Center, 90 Goodman Rd, SG 439053 Date : 11th Aug 2018/ Time : 8pm / Tickets : S$20