#STAYATHOMESG
A dance tribute was created, dedicated to healthcare and frontline workers who have been working tirelessly to keep humanity safe from the current COVID-19 pandemic. This was choreographed by Apsaras Arts’ resident choreographer Mohanapriyan Thavarajah featuring the company Bharatanatyam dancers as a tribute using the motif of the flute to depict that melodious music can be produced from one’s healthy breath. The dancers conveyed their gratitude for being able to stay healthy and for caring for those who have fallen ill during this pandemic. This message resonated and highlighted the healing quality of classical Indian dance and was featured as the number one stay-at-home activity in Singapore’s daily – the Straits Times.
Singapore has over 200,000 Indian and Bangladeshi workers living in dormitories across the island with many of them isolated with little to do to occupy themselves. Apsaras Arts joined a movement created on Facebook @Project Dorm where creative content is being beamed to all these workers on their mobile phones. Several dance performance videos featuring entertaining semi-classical Bharatanatyam and Kathak, Bharathiyar’s poetry Suttum vizhi were shared as many of these workers miss their families and are coping with mental anguish and anxieties.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/272XZ48PUKc
Video Link: https://youtu.be/5xIt01chqDY
Video Link: https://youtu.be/jrZDU9cpC18
Apsaras Arts launched their Spotlight Serieson Sunday 12 April with two sessions on the Zoom platform. This series is aimed to develop in-depth and interactive discussions on topics within the performing arts with eminent speakers for the benefit of arts practitioners and connoisseurs to gain new knowledge and find common ground. The first session was on the topic of margam featuring four Indian classical dances forms – Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathak and Bharatanatyam. Soumee De, Shivangi Dake, Mohanapriyan Thavarajah and Aravinth Kumarasamy. The session speakers, discussed the similarities and contrasts between the dance forms and provided greater clarity on the nuances of how a margam is created and some of its central characteristics.
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In the second session of the series on 26 April, three dancers from India have been invited to speak about their legendary gurus. The speakers will share their personal and inspirational insights about their gurus.