IPAC

Indian Performing Arts Convention

The Indian Performing Arts Convention (IPAC) is presented annually by Apsaras Arts Dance Company since 2012, to inspire practicing artistes of Indian classical music and dance in Asia Pacific.

The convention includes masterclasses, workshops, lecture-demonstrations, performances, residencies, choreographer and composer labs, book launches, exhibitions, film screenings and symposiums, curated and convened by Aravinth Kumarasamy, award winning Artistic Director of Apsaras Arts Dance Company.

IPAC 2025

With exciting performances, engaging lecture-demonstrations, and in-depth masterclasses, we are pushing the boundaries of inspiration and learning in Bharatanatyam in this 14^th annual edition of IPAC!

IPAC 2025 Faculty

Shijith Nambiar & Parvathy Menon

Shijith Nambiar and Parvathy Menon are internationally renowned bharatanatyam artists and partners, both on and off stage, with over two decades of shared artistic journey. Shijith, known for his rhythmic brilliance and choreographic innovation, and Parvathy, celebrated for her aesthetic purity and evocative abhinaya in the Kalakshetra tradition, together embody the essence of Bharatanatyam.

Recipients of multiple accolades including the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar and recognition from The Madras Music Academy.

Indira Kadambi

Indira is an accomplished Bharatanatyam artist with over 25 years of performing experience, having graced prestigious festivals worldwide and shared the stage with legendary maestros. As a choreographer, she blends classical tradition with contemporary sensibilities, collaborating across disciplines to create works that are both rooted and innovative, ensuring the art form’s relevance for future generations. As Director of Performing Arts at Ambalam Arts & Culture, she trains dedicated students globally in Abhinaya and Nattuvangam, with her teaching and lecture-demonstrations celebrated internationally.

Roja Kannan

Roja Kannan is a celebrated Performer, Teacher, Choreographer and Arts Administrator.She has innumerable lecture demonstrations all over the world to her credit and performances in major dance festivals both in India & Abroad. She has been decorated with several Awards for her proficiency and contributions in Natyam including “Acharya Choodamani”, “Kala Acharya Sironmani”, Natya Ilavarasi, Kala Seva Bharathi, Woman of Excellence Award, Kartik Award of Excellence and Best Senior Dancer Awards from the Music Academy & Narada Gana Sabha.

Mohanapriyan Thavarajah

Mohanapriyan Thavarajah, a multifaceted and internationally acclaimed artist, has spent over two decades as a dancer and choreographer creating pathbreaking works that blend deep Bharatanatyam traditions with innovative expression. Renowned for revitalising the form with a style uniquely his own, he has earned worldwide praise as a refreshing soloist. Beyond the stage, he mentors students in Singapore and abroad, authors books on cross‑cultural dance topics, and serves as principal dancer and resident choreographer at Apsaras Arts Dance Company Singapore.

IPAC 2025 Showcase

Āranyani

19 Sep 2025, Fri, 8pm
1hr 30mins (No Intermission)
Esplanade Theatre Studio

“Dancer Parvathy as Āranyani — the ethereal goddess of the forest — beckons the protagonist (portrayed by Shijith) into a transformative exploration of self-discovery through man-beast conflicts and the greed for power. Malayalam poetry, Kabir’s couplets, Carnatic music and Rabindra sangeet along with sophisticated lighting design were used to embellish the theme.” – The Hindu, 1 Sep, 2023

Amara

20 Sep 2025, Sat, 8pm
1hr 10mins (No Intermission)
Esplanade Theatre Studio

Banteay Srei, a 10th‑century Angkorian temple crafted from pink‑hued red sandstone, is celebrated for its petite scale and remarkably intricate carvings that illustrate scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Once dedicated to Lord Shiva and later nicknamed the “Citadel of Women” for its abundance of female deities, it inspires a dance production where yoginis bring its sacred legends vividly to life.

Flow

21 Sep 2025, Sun, 7.30pm
1hr 30mins (No Intermission)
Esplanade Recital Studio

What is destiny? Is it shaped by what we do, the choices we make, or by chance – like the roll of a dice? Or is destiny simply who we become?

FLOW is a musical expression of this very dance between choice and chance. Lalit Kumar captures this narrative by masterfully blending the rich traditions of the tabla with his vision as a progressive world music producer and performer.

IPAC 2025 Masterclasses & Lecture-Demonstrations

Masterclasses

Masterclass	Date	Time	Faculty	Eligibility
Foundation	10 – 12 Sep	10am – 1pm	Parvathy Menon	Ages 11-15, 4-5 years of training
Intermediate	10 – 14 Sep	9am – 4pm (10 to 13 Sep) 9am – 1pm (14 Sep)	Indira Kadambi, Shijith Nambiar, Parvathy Menon, Mohanpriyan Thavarajah	Ages 15+, 6-8 years of training
Advanced	10 – 14 Sep	9am – 4pm (10 to 13 Sep) 9am – 1pm (14 Sep)	Indira Kadambi, Shijith Nambiar, Parvathy Menon, Mohanpriyan Thavarajah	Ages 18+, 8+ years of training
Abhinaya	10 – 14 Sep	2pm – 4pm (10 to 13 Sep) 11am – 1pm (14 Sep)	Indira Kadambi	Advanced-level training
Teachers’ Training	15 Sep	9am to 4pm	Shijith Nambiar, Indira Kadambi, Parvathy Menon, Roja Kannan	21+ with 10 years training & 3 years teaching

Note:

Lunch and tea breaks provided
Inauguration & orientation begins at 9am on 10 Sep

Lecture-Demonstrations

Lec-dem	Faculty
VIKASATHI Innovations within Tradition	By Shijith Nambiar & Parvathy Menon
Creative Compositions of Guru Adhyar K Lakshman	By Roja Kannan
Remembering Lakshmi Viswanathan - Exploring the Swarajathi	By Roja Kannan & disciples
Abhinaya for Varnams	By Indira Kadambi
Singapore's Pioneering Legacy Insights into the choreographic works of Santha Bhaskar and Neila Sathyalingam	By Meenakshy Bhaskar and Seema Hari Kumar