Esplanade Presents

Music | Dance

The Temple

Bharathaa Arts (Singapore)

22 Nov 2022, Tue, 7.15pm & 8.15pm

30mins

(Intermission: None)

Esplanade Concourse & Online

This event is over.

Synopsis

The legendary Bharatanatyam dancer T. Balasaraswati once said, “The Bharatanatyam recital is structured like a great temple”. A margam (a path or course with a fixed order) is a commonly used framework to approach any Bharatanatyam recital and is symbolic of the journey a devotee takes when entering a temple to see the divine. We see how the entrance of the temple unfolds itself as an alarippu, the traditional first piece in a recital, then as a jathiswaram at the halfway hall, and finally as the main piece, the varnam, as we enter the holy precinct of the divine.

 

This process can be detailed for various items within the margam. A dancer mirrors the emotional experiences and moments a devotee encounters in these spaces moments as they revel in the music and express themselves creatively. Join Bharathaa Arts as they explore their version of a traditional repertoire to encapsulate the richness of the art form through the lens of a devotee entering a temple, using Bharatanatyam and live music.

Advisory:

Mask-wearing is optional. However, audiences are encouraged to continue to exercise responsibility and caution, such as wearing masks when in crowded places. No tickets will be issued. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Things to Note:
Accessibility Advisory: We provide a range of access services and relaxed performances for patrons with access needs. For wheelchair-accessible seats, please call Esplanade Customer Experience at 6828 8377 for assistance. Concessions for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and up to one accompanying companion are available. | View our accessibility guide
Artist Information

Bharathaa Arts

Founded in 1997 by the Kesavan sisters, Bharathaa Arts aspires to expose its students to the traditions and rich heritage of Bharatanatyam. Since its inception, Bharathaa Arts has become synonymous with innovative, creative and exciting dance presentations. With the able guidance of its founders, Bharathaa Arts has performed on various local and international stages, with multiple sold-out shows for productions such as Divine Love, VARNA, Kaveri, Utchi Thilagam, Stree Shakti, ULA and Madhavi’s Story. In many of such productions, Bharathaa Arts and the Kesavan sisters have collaborated with other well-known local and foreign artistes such as Srimathi Maanu (Chennai), Srimathi Parvathy Ghantasala (Chennai), Srimathi Anjana Anand (Chennai), Christopher Gurusamy (Chennai), Srimathi Rama Vaidyanathan (Chennai), Sri Ajith Bhaskaran (Malaysia) and many more.

 

The countries in which Bharathaa Arts has performed includes India, Brazil, Paris, Australia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Notably, Bharathaa Arts performed at Brahmotsav at ISKCON (2009) in Bangalore, at the Vrindavan Festival (2009) in Mathura, at the Sripuram Golden Temple at Vellore in 2012 and at the Karur Temple for the Karur Natyanjali Festival (2013). They also participated in the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2015 and more recently, showcased ULA in Adelaide in 2019. The Kesavan Sisters, together with six senior dancers from Bharathaa Arts, were one of the 1000 dancers who performed at the Rajarajeswaram 1000 at Tanjore Temple, organised by ABHAI, Chairman Dr. Padma Subramaniam on 25 September 2010. Bharathaa Arts also has had the privilege of being the first Singapore dance school to perform at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam at Nada Neeranjanam Hall on 20th December 2012. Students of Bharathaa Arts also perform regularly at many temple and community events, including events organised by the People’s Association. Under the tutelage of Kesavan Sisters, 24 students have been able to successfully complete their arangetrams to date. Bharathaa Arts has also won the 1st Prize for the National Travelling Dance Competition organised by the People’s Association during Chingay 2011.

 

The Kesavan sisters have received several awards, notably the Artistic Excellence Award (2000) from the late president S. R. Nathan, Bharatha Kalai Mani Award (2002) from their guru Neila Sathayalingam, Natya Chudar Award (2006) from Bishan Community Club's IAEC, the prestigious Merit Award (2014) from People’s Association and most recently the Natya Acharyamani Award (2021) by Apsaras Arts.

Date & Time

Livestream

22 Nov 2022, Tue

7.15pm

Esplanade Concourse

8.15pm

Esplanade Concourse

8.15pm

Online
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