Sambashanam – A Mārgam in Conversation by Sathvikaa Shankar
A Conversation in Dance By Sathvikaa Shanka Sun 10th March 2019 Black Box, Stamford Arts Centre / 6pm / Duration 60min DARSHANA – Intimate Dance Series presents Bharatanatyam dance artiste Sathvikaa Shankar in “Sambashanam – Conversation in Dance”. In this thematic solo presentation, Sathvikaa will portray the conversations between different characters usually depicted in the story telling as part the narrative for dance. Listen to the devotee plead with the divine, the heroine sharing with her confidant, her intimate feelings of love towards her lord. These conversations enable the dancer to evoke the various shades of Rasas, which she shares with her audience, thus in turn seeking a conversation with her audience. Sathvikaa Shankar is one of the leading young artists of the classical art form of Bharatanatyam. She is the disciple of guru Smt. Anitha Guha, and has performed extensively in India and abroad. She is now a full time company dancer with Apsaras Arts , Singapore and has toured with the company for its overseas tours. A graded artiste of Doordarshan, Sathvikaa, is a recipient of the National Balshree Honour from the former President of India, His Excellency Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, and also been honoured with titles such as “Padma Bharathi”,“Nrithya Jyothi”, “Best Dancer” from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, and is an empanelled artiste with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Watch the Trailer Book the Show
Dance India Asia-Pacific Showcase
VIVARTANA BY RAMA VAIDYANATHAN AND ENSEMBLE Bharatanatyam 13 Jun 2019 / Esplanade Theatre Studio / 8pm “Dance transforms my pulse to pace with rhythm And I become one with rhythm Dance transforms the space around me And I become one with space Dance transforms my body from still to motion And I become one with movement Dance transforms my soul from singular to plural And I become one with the world” Dance is a latent gift within each human being and is undoubtedly a multi-layered power house of transformation. Not only does it transform us physically, emotionally, spiritually and culturally, it also has the capacity to touch the world and eventually to change or transform it. It alters the visual and physical space around the dancer, brings about a change in the relation between the dancer and the dance, and finally awards a life-changing experience to anyone and everyone who comes into contact with it. VIVARTANA is a commissioned work by the National Centre for Performing arts (NCPA, Mumbai, India) and has been presented there twice due to public demand. Apart from Mumbai, VIVARTANA has been presented in Bangalore, Delhi, Trishur and in Chennai. In USA it has been presented in 12 cities and is scheduled to tour. Buy Tickets SHARANAGATI BY ARUNA MOHANTY & GAURI DIWAKAR Odissi – Kathak 14 Jun 2019 / Esplanade Theatre Studio / 8pm This presentation features two dance productions— Hari Ho Gati Meri and Krishna Saranam choreographed in two different styles of Indian classical dance—kathak and odissi. Both these choreographies are inspired by a common theme “In Love of Krishna, the Blue God”. Aruna Mohanty presents the odissi dance production Krishna Saranam, a multi-text composition that depicts a playful miracle-performing Krishna in his childhood. This dance presents the love story of Radha and Krishna—their separation, sufferings, anger, annoyance, supplications, and their final reunion. Gauri Diwakar presents Hari Ho Gati Meri – Muslim Poets in Love of Krishna, inspired by the lines of poet Sayyad Mubarak Ali Bilgrami, who was a Muslim by faith. Part of a living tradition of shared heritage and oneness, his poetry reflected love for Krishna. This kathak dance presentation is based on poems of Muslim poets who wrote, praised and at times even worshipped Lord Krishna. The performance also features divine love poetry, ashtapadis from Gitaa Govinda, by the 12th century poet Jayadeva, who laid much emphasis on prema (love) and bhakiti (devotion) expressed in sweet, simple and melodious words in the classical language of Sanskrit. Buy Tickets
Samyoga – The Bond Between Man & Woman
The Bond Between Man & Woman By P.N Vikas & Sreeliji Sreedharan Sat 11th May 2019 Black Box, Stamford Arts Centre / 8pm / Duration 60min DARSHANA – Intimate Dance Series presents SAMYOGA is a thematic Bharatanatyam duet performance illustrating the bond between man and woman. The concept of hero and heroine dominates in most Indian epics, in Hindu mythology, and in literature works. The Natya Shastra also refers the bond and the characteristic aspects of a hero (nayaka) and Heroine (nayika). These Nayikas are further classified in two varieties of the shringara rasa (emotion of Love), the rasa related to love: sambhoga (love in union) and vipralambha (love in separation). The eight types of nayikas elaborates the reactions and emotions by the love of her beloved at various situations. SAMYOGA brings out the various emotions which are reflected through the love of a man & woman.P.N Vikas and Sreeliji Sreedharan are Bharatanatyam faculty members of Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society. Vikas is an alumni of world-renowned Kalakshetra foundation, Chennai. where he completed his diploma and post graduate diploma in first class, and with the best student award of Kalakshetra, and served as a guest faculty for four years. In Singapore, he has choreographed several works for SIFAS, and was casted in “Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana”, a magnum opus produced by Apsaras Arts. Sreeliji started learnining Bharatanatyam from Guru Sudha Bhaskara in Kerala. She holds first class diploma and first class post graduate diploma in Bharathanatyam from Kalakshetra. She has performed in various roles in the Kalakshetra Repertory company in India and abroad. Book the Show
Melbourne Trinity Festival 2019
“Ode to Thygarajah “ Bharatanatyam Performance by Mohanapriyan Thavarajah Venue : Kel Watson Theatre, Melbourne, Australia Date : 26th May 2019 Time : 8pm
Mohini – The Divine Enchantress by Seema Harikumar
Mohini – The Divine Enchantress Bharatanatyam Dance-Theatre Production Featuring : Seema Harikumar Venue : Stamford Arts Centre Date: 06/09/2019 at 8pm / 07/09/ 2019 at 4pm Synopsis: In Hindu mythology, Mohini is depicted as a femme fatale who uses mysticism and charm to distract and suppress her opponents. At the same time, we also see how she enters into a union with Lord Shiva – transcending gender norms – to produce Harihara. Hindu mythology uses gender as a vehicle to communicate metaphysical concepts of material and spiritual reality. This production presents instances of Mohini’s appearances in mythology to understand why Vishnu (the embodiment of spiritual reality) comes ‘wrapped’ in material reality. Who is Mohini and what does she represent?Developed with a narrative executed by Indian puppetry, the dance theatre will bring a unique flavour to the audience ! Book the show About the Artiste: Seema Hari Kumar is a senior disciple of Smt Neila Sathyalingam and has evolved from a student to a performer-teacher over the last 25 years. Apart from taking to the global stages through various dance stints in Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa, Seema has also played key roles in Apsaras Arts’ productions like Chidambara Ragasyam, Heroines of Raja Ravi Varma, Nirmanika, Aalam and Aarupadai to name a few. In 2011, Seema collaborated with a Sheejith & Parvathy from India to stage a full-length thematic production ‘Dvayam’ at the Esplanade Theatre Studio. As a versatile artiste, Seema has also been featured as narrator in live dance-theatre productions like Agathi, Sivagami and Sangamam. She has also assisted in the mentorship and choreography of schools during the Singapore Youth Festivals and on Vasantham’s “Salangai Oli” programme. Given her natural flair with kids, Seema has been teaching since 2003 and was instrumental in launching the Bala Bharatham curriculum at Apsaras Arts. She is the first recipient of the Neila Sathyalingam Memorial Award (2019) and the Bharathaa Arts Achievement Award (2018). An Initiative of DIAP 2019: Mohini: The Divine Enchantress is a dance-theatre developed at the Residency Programme launched during Dance India Asia Pacific 2018. Under the artistic mentorship of Smt Priyadarsini Govind and Smt Anjana Anand, Seema has undergone a rigorous training process in conceptualisation, choreography and script development since Sep 2018.
Parama Padam – Malaysia Premier
Parama Padam – The Life’s Game of Snakes & Ladders A Dance-Theatre Production Presented by Sutra Foundation, Malaysia & Apsaras Arts Ltd, Singapore Featuring : Mohanapriyan Thavarajah Venue : Shantanand Auditorium, TFA KL Date : 3rd Aug 2019 Time : 8pm Parama Padam is an ancient Indian board game which was created in ancient India. On the game board there are a hundred squares which are illustrated with ladders and snakes. The ladders in the game represent good virtues and the snakes indicate vices. Ladders take you up as the good deeds take us to heaven and the snakes bring you down as cause of your vices. During the 18th century, the British made this game popular world-wide and called it “Snakes and Ladders”. Drawing inspiration from the philosophy of the ancient Indian Board Game – Parama Padam (Snakes & Ladders), Sutra Foundation Malaysia and Apsaras Arts Singapore present a solo thematic production, featuring internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam dance artiste Mohanapriyan Thavarajah. To get the tickets – Sutra Foundation at 03-40211092 or email at sutrafoundation25@gmail.com
Nupur Lahari – The tales of Anklet bells by Shivangi Dake Robert
Nupur Lahari – The Tales of Anklet bells A thematic Kathak solo performance. Featuring Shivangi Dake Robert Venue : Stamford Arts Centre Date: 08/09/2019 at 6pm Synopsis: The term “Kathak” is derived from the Sanskrit word Katha which means “story”, and Kathakar which means “the one who tells a story”. Kathakars communicated stories from the great epics and ancient mythology through dance, songs and music in a manner similar to early Greek theatre. Kathak evolved during the Bhakti movement, later performed in the courts of north Indian kingdoms. Kathak is found in three distinct styles called “gharanas”, named after the cities where the Kathak dance tradition evolved – Jaipur, Banaras and Lucknow. While the Jaipur gharana focuses more on the foot movements, the Banaras and Lucknow gharanas focus more on facial expressions and graceful hand movements. Nupur means bells and Lahri means waves. Shivangi draws inspiration from the sound scape of waves and bells as their Kathakars and will be taking the audience on a journey with a tales through her anklet bells. About the Artiste : Shivangi has been a faculty member, company Dancer and choreographer at Apsaras Arts Dance Company since 2015. More than two decades on a journey as a professional Kathak dance artiste, Shivangi has been recognised to be vibrant and graceful Dancer at her generation and has embraced a distinct style of performing which is compelling to her personality. She started learning Kathak at her age of 8 under the tutelage of guru Dr. Sadhana Naphde. She was awarded a National Scholarship by the Ministry of tourism and culture, Government of India and received intensive Kathak training under the guidance of guru Smt. Shama Bhate. She has also successfully completed her Visharad, Alankar from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and Master of fine Arts in Kathak. Over the years, Shivangi is privileged to have been receiving the advance training from the legendary Pt. Birju Maharaj, and be able to perform his master choreographies. Shivangi has been performing widely at the international arenas and to specially mention her performance at Vasant Utsava-New Delhi, Nrityotsava-Nalanda Dance Research Centre, Mumbai, Rasas for Dance at Esplanade, Singapore and many others were well received by the audiences. Shivangi’s performance also featured in the National television for reality shows in India. Shivangi has several prestigious awards to her dynamic performance. Book the show
Parama Param – Le jeu de la vie
France Premier of Parama Padam Spectacle de dance Bharata Natyam Mohanapriyan Thavarajah Dimanche 20 octobre 2019 à 18h Au Centre Mandapa, Paris, France Bharata natyam Spectacle précédé de l’initiation au jeu. Inspirée par le jeu ” snakes and ladders ” dont le diagramme est reproduit sur le sol, la chorégraphie suit l’itinéraire de ses règles pour gagner le paradis. Ancien de plus de 2000 ans, le jeu Moksha-Patamu d’origine, était destiné à l’éducation des futurs offi ciants hindous. Mohanapriyan invite les spectateurs à un échange à l’issue de son récital. Book the show
Dance Heritage Tour by Apsaras Arts
Dance Heritage Tour by Apsaras Arts 16th – 20th December 2019 Join us on a journey to visit some of the key institutions and places of significance to Bharatanatyam in Tamil Nadu, India. Listen to the dance scholars , historians and experts as they unravel the mysteries and guide you on these visits. This 6 day tour takes you through the heart of the land of dance and music of South India. Sign up for the tour
Navarathri Festival 2019 – Performance
