Beauty of Architecture

UK18 Nov 2011, Fri 8pmBharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London

19 Nov 2011, Sat 7pmThe Capstone, Liverpool Hope University

Singapore12 & 13 Nov 2011, Sat & Sun8pmEsplanade Theatre Studio

by Apsaras Arts (India | Singapore | UK)

Nirmanika

Performances | Artist Development | Education

Benson Puah CEO The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Indian culture is one of myriad expressions. Beyond the diversity of its many languages and customs, it is also one of shared experiences. Whether in the intricacies of henna drawing, the colourful significance of the sari, or even popular Bollywood films, many of us here would have encountered one or more aspects of its rich culture in some form or another.

Amidst the festivities and the vibrant display of colours, sights and sounds, Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts presents an opportunity where you and your family may get together and enjoy, as you understand more about Indian heritage.

Esplanade is delighted to present the second season of Nirmanika. An innovative and creative production on bharatanatyam and architecture, the show returns with a new dance segment along with dancers from the UK. In collaboration with MilapFest, Singapore kicks off the first leg of its international tour before it sets off to London and Liverpool. It has been fulfilling seeing how the production has grown to include international partnerships; and we hope to share, and perhaps inspire more programmes like this.

Apsaras Arts has come a long way as a local arts group, dedicated to their art and committed towards quality productions. Over the past two decades, they have established themselves as a premier performing arts company recognised not only in Singapore but also in the international Indian dance circle.

It is very heartwarming for both Esplanade and Apsaras Arts to receive such support from Indian communities around the world for this production and we hope you will enjoy the show.

Message from Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Classical Indian arts have stood the test of time, and withstood centuries of change in the Indian subcontinent; with every successive wave of rulers came cultural change including new languages, food and customs. The arts we see today are highly evolved and relevant, with modern stories and messages, reflecting the diversity of India. While the country took on all of the positive influences that different peoples brought, India’s arts evolved, taking on new influences too, and later, began to travel out of the subcontinent with migration patterns. Now, pockets of practice and performance thrive in North America, South East Asia and Europe, for instance, each with their own distinctive identity, adding once again, new influences to the genre. The United Kingdom and Singapore are two hotbeds of Indian culture, each with their own unique style of presentation and performance, and massive communities of musicians, dancers, composers and choreographers. But why celebrate the art form in isolation? The coming together of Milapfest and Apsaras Arts is about shared ideals and the desire to present a unique international dance form that is common to communities around the world. Working together with Apsaras shows us that Indian dance is a contemporary international dance form relevent to people all over the world. NIrmanika is a fascinating experiment, testimony to what we can achieve together across the continents. The performance is not only a set of fascinating choreographic pieces, celebrating magnificent architecture, but it is a major ground breaking cultural project, with dancers, choreographers and musicians from Singapore, UK and India working together in harmony. “Milap” means “to meet each other in friendship”. Our original values, to bring together people through the celebration of arts, are celebrated today in our hugely enjoyable co-presentation with Apsaras Arts. Today, Milapfest is an Indian Arts Development trust with a national performance and education programme. While we are constantly developing new international links with artists and organisations in India, Europe and North America, we are delighted that our first performance collaboration is with Apsaras Arts Singapore. We hope you enjoy the performance as much as we cherished the process!

Alok NayakDirector of Development at Milapfest

Welcome Message from Milapfest

Synopsis Architecture and dance, albeit are two very different disciplines, share commonalities in process and creation. Choreographers and architects, when creating new bodies of movement or conceptualising building infrastructures, are always posed with the question on how to manipulate space and light to construct new forms.

Nirmanika, a dance production which means “architectonics” in Sanskrit, explores the forms and aspects of architecture through deconstructing ancient monuments such as India’s Taj Mahal and Indonesia’s Borobudur Monument through bharatanatyam techniques, nritta (movements) and abinaya (expressions). Collapsing the performance into six segments of dance that elaborates on concepts such as geomancy, space, structure, philosophy, history and form, Nirmanika is ultimately about the beauty of architecture expressed through dance. Synopsis1. Shri

Portraying vastu and mandalas, this segment looks at how the vastu sastra (Indian geomancy) art and science of geometry is applied to Hindu architecture. Despite being an ancient tradition, it is still practiced today and includes the eight cardinal directions and deities. According to the vastu sastra, inhabitants of a building enjoy harmony and well-being when balance is struck between the five elements of earth, water, fire, air and space within a built environment, much like Chinese beliefs in feng shui. Nirmanika explores the famous shri chakkra, and its concepts including the nava avaranas (nine energy layers), dasa avatarams (10 incarnations of Vishnu), and bindu (cosmic centre).

2. KutthambalamAlso known as architectural concepts for dance venues, this segment defines the requirements established by poet-prince Ilango Adigal in the 3rd century Tamil epic, Silapathikaram, for the construction of the traditional performance stage known as Kutthambalam.

3. MonumentsThe unique characteristics of three famous Indian monuments – the Konarak Sun temple in Orissa, which was built to depict the sun’s movements; the Meenakshi Temple of Madurai with its majestic Gopuram towers, water tanks and many circular streets; and finally, the beautiful Taj Mahal. Dancers illustrate the use of space, geometry, and architectural elements such as sculptures, halls with many pillars, towers, domes and more.

4. Tales in StoneScattered along South India’s Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries, Mamallapuram is a group of temples founded by the Pallava kings and carved out of natural rock formation. It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), madapas (cave sanctuaries), and its giant open-air reliefs.Based on Kalki’s novel Sivakamiyin Sabatham, Nirmanika explores the concept and the tales behind the making of these unique rock carved temples through dance interspersed with monologues. Playing the central character of Sivakami portrayed as a dancer in Kalki’s novel, the dancer describes the Pallava emperor’s vision and her father Ayanar’s creations for Mamallapuram.

5. AbinayaThis is the story of how King Raja Raja the Great (9th Century AD) came up with his ideas for building the Tanjore Brahadiswara temple. One of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire (region 985 – 1014 C.E), he was known for his great political and organisational achievements and contributions as a patron of the arts and religion. The king was an influence to both the artistic and architectural wealth of India, with his contributions in the magnificent Shiva temple in Thanjavur (Tangore, Tamil Nadu).

6. ElevationReferring to the Indian-influenced, spiritually elevating architecture of Borobudur in Java, Indonesia, this piece incorporates verses from the ancient Tamil Tirumandiram book of philosophy to describe the elevation of one’s spiritual experience through architecture.

Director’s Message The inspiration for creating the concept for Nirmanika came from my interest in architecture, archaeology and the personal study that I have done on many Asian monuments. In fact my childhood desire was to study and qualify as an architect, which resulted in endless hours of building

fascinating structures using LEGO blocks and dreaming of designs inspired by great buildings of the ancient world. Nirmanika gives me the opportunity to express my life’s passion, of dance, music, history and architecture, all in the same concept.The selection of the monuments in Nirmanika includes some of my favourites and has inspired numerous visits and many hours of research on their histories and designs. Each monument is unique and has many tales to share with its seekers. I hope the concept, music and choreography of Nirmanika will be exciting and inspiring to you, the audience, as it has been to Anjana, Neila Mami and myself while we went through its creative process.Nirmanika presentation at Esplanade in 2010 was well received by art lovers and artistes; and with humility and confidence we strive to present Nirmanika on a tour of Singapore and UK for its second season with a unique collaboration with Milapfest and their wonderful artistes from the United Kingdom. Innovation and collaboration are the key pillars with which we have designed and built Nirmanika for your exploration.

Aravinth Kumarasamy

“It is with great privilege and honour that Apsaras Arts is presenting in collaboration with Milapfest in Britain and Singapore. Apsaras Arts continues to explore new collaborations in groundbreaking performances, and we are indeed appreciative of this wonderful opportunity to be a part of and Milapfest (UK) working with dancers and musicians from Singapore, UK and India” – Neila Sathyalingam, Founder and Artistic Director, Apsaras Arts. “Bharatanatyam has the amazing power to transport audiences to times and places far away, and transform the performance space into whatever scene or setting a dancer portrays. Mythological stories and human tales are common in the dance form, but is different. It’s a fascinating production that tells the stories behind the creation of the most spectacular architectural wonders of the world. Milapfest is thrilled to share this collaboration with the wonderful organisation Apsaras Arts from Singapore, in a partnership that has found amazing synergy and shared goals for the development of Indian arts.” - Alok Nayak, Director of Development, Milapfest (UK)

My guru is… Shrimathi Neila Sathyalingam

My first memory of dance was… at the age of 10 when my parents brought me to watch a contemporary dance performance conceived by the late Indian choreographer Chandralekha. It was an explorative piece on the theme of femininity. It was an abstract piece for a 10-year-old to comprehend but the sheer athleticism of the dancers most certainly captured my attention.

I love dance because… it allows me to celebrate my being. It gives a profound sense of purpose to my physical vessel. It liberates my mind from the shackles of monotony. This is why I love dance and more!

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… I feel I want to be a part of Nirmanika for many personal and artistic reasons. It is more than just a clever concept that can appeal to contemporary audiences; it offers both members of the audience as well as the artistes involved a chance to connect with inanimate objects such as building structures on an intimate and spiritual level. It makes one realise that the intangible idea of space can be made concrete and is sacred.

Ranjani GanapathySingaporeDancing for 17 years

My guru is… Smt Usharani Subramaniam, Mr.V.Balakrishnan & Mrs Neila Satyalingam

My first memory of dance was… when I was four years old; my mother dressed me up like a baby Krishna and made me do different poses for a popular cinema song Chinna chiru kannan, Antha singara vanan with my sisters, who were the gopikas’ in the dance. Only they knew how to dance then, and being on centre stage with costume and make up gave me the interest to join them in learning this art form.

I love dance because… there is no other means to enrich your soul and it’s amazing to use expressive hand and facial gestures to communicate to the audience.

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… it was a blissful experience being part of Nirmanika in 2010. It is a unique production and one of my favourite! The core of this production is all about timing and precision as we have to illustrate the structure and statues of various temples. It has enlightened me on the essence of angles and alignment. It made me realise, how important they are and how as dancers, we are important in showing the structure the way it is meant to be. Konarak, especially, was an interesting dance piece—the sunrise and sunset was shown with the coordination of the group moving like the rays and this was a challenge! It’s such a joy to be part of this production again, as it makes me to be aware of precision in dance.

Iswarya Kumar SingaporeDancing for 14 years

My guru is… Shrimathi Neila Sathyalingam (maami)

My first memory of dance was… reborn as a dancer the first class I had with Maami and so that would be my first memory of Indian dance - adavu classes with Maami; painfully euphoric.

I love dance because… it literally breathes life into me to go through yet another day in life. It is hard to find something to hold on to when everything else fails. When you find that, it becomes not only a passion, a love, but a necessity; like dance has become for me.

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… It is one of the most challenging productions yet and has pushed us dancers to a whole other level of performing. The uniqueness and demands of the concept pushes us and expands our horizons as dancers. It’s a rare opportunity to grow.

Ruby JayaseelanSingaporeDancing for 6 years

Dancers – Apsaras Arts, Singapore

My guru is… Shrimathi Neila Sathyalingam (maami)

My first memory of dance was… of my parents bringing me to watch cultural events and performances as a little kid. The Indian classical dancers inspired me with their expressions and elegant movements and I started to realise the beauty of that art form. My very first dance journey began at the tender age of three and my interest for this beautiful art form heightened throughout the years. Without the support from my parents, I would not have been who I am today and I am very thankful for that.

I love dance because… it is a form of expression where I can express myself until today, I adore the beauty of traditional Indian Classical Dance.

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… Nirmanika portrays various aspects of architecture through sculpturesque bharatanatyam dance and expressions. It is indeed a new experience for me as a dancer to be able to grasp the movements that are not always common but instead incorporating different styles of bharatanatyam dance moves. Furthermore, one of my dreams is to perform in London. I love this new experience and I am so excited to perform this wonderful choreography in Singapore and London.

Iswarya Kumar SingaporeDancing for 14 years

My guru is… Shrimathi Neila Sathyalingam (maami)

My first memory of dance was… doing a small dance as a radha. It was truly unforgettable. It was my first time dancing in front of so many people but the encouragement given by naga akka, Vijaya akka and my mentors (my parents) have brought me this far. I remember being the smallest in my class. You can hardly hear me speak during class as I used to be very scared of Mami. Every time we need to go for exams with Mami I used to fake a fever or flu, and I would always run away. It is an awesome memory that still makes me laugh now.

I love dance because… it makes me stronger in every way. The minute I start dancing all my problems or negative vibes just run away. I feel happier. To be short and simple Dance = My Soul :)

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… Nirmanika is a different production where we learn not just about dance but other technical points as well. It is a totally different experience dancing in this production as the London dancers perform alongside us. Dancing in Nirmanika in Singapore and UK gives me a wide experience with different dancers, audiences and atmospheres. I am proud and happy to say that I am part of Nirmanika as it is a skillful and exciting journey.

Mohana RajanSingaporeDancing for 18 years

My guru is… Shrimathi Neila Sathyalingam

My first memory of dance was… getting ready for my first performance and frantically wondering how I was ever going to pin all those heavy ornaments onto my pageboy haircut!

I love dance because… it simultaneously keeps me grounded and pushes me ahead.

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… Nirmanika has shown me how we are able to not only use the planes of our bodies, but our expressions as well to embody architectural elements of buildings and places. It’s a production that’s new and exciting and I can’t wait to bring it to dance-lovers all over.

Chitra Pubalan Singapore Dancing for 23 years

My guru is… Usha Ragavan

My first memory of dance was… Painful Aramandi! I was only 4, hence sitting on knees was not enjoyable but slowly the liking developed.

I love dance because… it gives me the greatest happiness... words cannot describe.

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… I found the concept very interesting; I thank God and my guru for giving me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Devika SrimalLondon, EnglandDancing for 15 years

My guru is… Usha Ragavan

My first memory of dance was… When I was young I watched a bharatanatyam performance;it touched my heard and I wanted to be there someday.

I love dance because… there is no other means to enrich your soul and it’s amazing to use expressive hand and facial gestures to communicate to the audience.

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… The concept really interested me to see the link established between architecture and dance. I don’t think there could be a more beautiful way to express the same.Meena Raj

London, EnglandDancing for 8 years

My guru is… Learnt at Kalakshetra

My first memory of dance was… as a little girl, I used to jump around to any music that I would hear on the radio. I watched a friend’s performance in a sharing with other friends and remember enjoying it thoroughly. I started formal training in bharatanatyam just before I turned eight.

I love dance because… it allows me to express myself through the medium of movement, which comes very naturally to me. Rhythms excite me, hence, makes dancing enjoyable!

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… Nirmanika is a very interesting project with a unique concept, very different to the traditional repertoire and especially exciting to use the body to depict details of historical architecture. It’s also exciting to collaborate with dancers who have already worked on it.

Shyala Lakshminarayana, Liverpool, EnglandDancing for 23 years

My guru is… Kiran Ratna

My first memory of dance was… going to class every Sunday and looking forward to seeing all my dance friends.

I love dance because… it is so beautiful in so many ways and has been a part of my life ever since I can remember.

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… It sounds original and exciting.

Hamisha MistryBristol, EnglandDancing for 18 years

My guru is… Chandrashekar, Vidwan Chandrashekar Navada

My first memory of dance was… Mysore Dasara Festival India.

I love dance because… it is spiritual and beautiful.

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… this is one of the most interesting and inspiring artistic collaborations..

Devika RaoLeeds, EnglandDancing for 23 years

My guru is… Roma Thakore & Bela Vasavada (Canada/USA)

My first memory of dance was… was actually from Hindi films. I remember watching the songs of Guide and Chandni over and over again as a three year old dancing in front of the T.V, trying to copy the heroines’ moves. I’ve been in love with Indian dance ever since.

I love dance because… it’s instantly uplifting— it’s fun, challenging, creative and spiritual and it’s an important part of who I am—I know it will always play a major role in my life.

I’m dancing in Nirmanika because… The concept of Indian architecture portrayed through bharatanatyam fascinated me, and an opportunity to work with dancers from Singapore was one I didn’t want to miss.

Archana ShastriLiverpool, EnglandDancing for 19 years

Dancers – Milapfest, UK

Concept, Music Composition and Creative Direction Aravinth Kumarasamy

Artistic Direction Neila Sathyalingam

Choreography Anjana Anand

Dancers Apsaras Arts, Singapore Chitra Pubalan Iswarya Kumar Mohana Rajan Ranjani Ganapathy Rajeshri Mutayan Ruby Jayaseelan

Milapfest, UK Archana Shastri Hamisha Mistry Devika Rao Devika Srimal Meena Raj Shyala Lakshminarayana

Musicians for Singapore & UK performances Nattuvagam – Aravinth KumarasamyVocals – Anish RamMridangam – T Ramanan

Musicians for Singapore performances onlyFlute – Govindarajulu NaiduViolin – Srividhya SriramGhatam and Morsing: Kajan M

Musicians for UK performances onlyFlute – Aravinthan BaheerathanVeena – Arani Sivapathasundaram

Light Design Alberta Wileo

Original Lighting DesignVivianti Zasman

Stage Management Sabanitha ShanmugasundramKalaiavasan

Costumes and Make-upNagaletchmi Balasupramaniam

Singapore production supported by

UK production supported by

About the ProductionApsaras Arts returns with the second staging of Nirmanika. This year, the production will be in collaboration with Milapfest, UK, an Indian arts development trust based in UK, which works to promote and support the performance, development and appreciation of Indian arts internationally. Following the performance of Nirmanika at Kalaa Utsavam 2011 at Esplanade, the combined performance of Nirmanika will be presented in a tour of the UK by Milapfest in November 2011.

About Apsaras ArtsWith over three decades of prolific local and international productions, Apsaras Arts has grown into a dance company that has gained recognition in Indian dance-theatre, enjoying successful performances worldwide. Through creative innovations and bold collaborations, Apsaras Arts aspires to instill awareness of Indian dance forms in Singapore, maintain the best standards of performance and cultivate an interest in the rich heritage and traditions of Indian Arts.

About MilapfestWith the goal to make Indian Arts mainstream and encourage more people to enjoy and appreciate its many forms, Milapfest produces and commissions world-class music concerts, dance performances and workshops nationally throughout the year, featuring the very best in Indian artistic talent. Apart from giving many talented professional artists the opportunity to perform, Milapfest places greater emphasis on encouraging young British artistes to develop their skills and knowledge. Young talent is continuously encouraged through workshops, residential summer schools, an art school, and two national Indian music orchestras, SAMYO and Tarang.

Creative Director | Aravinth Kumarasamy

Aravinth Kumarasamy is Managing and Creative Director at Apsaras Arts. A multi-talented performer involved in Indian dance, music, theatre and other related fields, he is a prominent figure in the local Indian community. Aravinth is trained

in the vazhoovur style of bharathanatyam and is the proud recipient of several awards including Singapore’s Young Artiste Award. Aalam, Dvayam, Temple Dancer, Nitya Sumangali, Earth and Fire, Courtesan’s Daughter and Aarupadai are some of his internationally acclaimed productions. Aravinth is an Artistic Director, Composer, Choreographer, Musician, Arts Activist, Producer, Trans-cultural Collaborator, Researcher, Arts Presenter, Speaker and a Peace Ambassador.

Artistic Director | Neila Sathyalingam

Neila, Singapore’s Cultural Medallion Recipient in 1989 is Founder and Artistic Director of Apsaras Arts. She established Apsaras Arts in Singapore in 1977 and has since been promoting the traditional art form. She has also actively collaborated with other 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 testament 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 contributions to Indian arts internationally. She is renowned for the fresh and innovative creativity in her artistic direction.

Featured Dancer & Choreographer | Anjana Anand

Anjana started her training in dance at Mallika Parthasarathy in New York and mastered the arts of bharathanatyam under Shanta Ponnudurai, completing her post-diploma at SIFAS (Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society) where she was titled Natya Vishaarad.

She furthered her training in India and graduated in 1998 at Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts, Chennai where she was awarded the title of “Best Student” with a first class, subsequently completing her Bachelors in Music from the Madras University and Masters in Fine Arts at the Bharatidasan University in 2007. Anjana is a faculty member at Kalakshetra and is pursuing her PhD at Bharatiyar University, Coimbatore. She frequently goes on international concert tours and has been working with Apsaras Arts since 2009.

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