Bhaskar's Arts Academy

Some stills from last night's Samarpanam at Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple.

Guru Nelluvai Ragesh and his 41 Mridangam students presented items from beginner to senior levels.

Every beat they played together became a prayer, and every nadai brought them a step closer to the divine. Through Samarpanam, the students honoured both their Guru, who passed down the tradition, and the Goddess, the source of all art and inspiration.

In an unexpected gesture, the temple presented each student, regardless of their age, with a ponnadai. Grateful to the temple not only for this opportunity and platform but also for inspiring the young artistes 🙏🏽

Congratulations to the Guru and the students! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Beginner and senior Nrityalaya mridangam students alike come together with their Guru Sri Nelluvai Ragesh, offering their art in devotion to the Goddess. Across years of practice, the nuances of rhythm unite them — from a student learning their first 𝑡ℎ𝑎-𝑡ℎ𝑖-𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑚-𝑛𝑎𝑚 to a senior artist executing complex 𝑘𝑜𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑠. Every beat played together becomes a prayer, every nadai a step closer to the divine.

Through this collective Samarpanam, the students honour both their Guru, who passed down the tradition, and the Goddess, the source of all art and inspiration.

Please join Sri Nelluvai Ragesh and his students at Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple tomorrow at 7.30pm.

May the spirit of Vesak fill your hearts with peace, compassion, and joy. Let us walk a little more gently, speak a little more kindly, and live with greater mindfulness as we carry the light of wisdom in our daily lives.

Happy Vesak Day from all of us at Bhaskar’s Arts Academy and Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society.

𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Looking forward to the next phase of Odissi Mancha - performances by Odissi dancers from local institutions.

𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬
Founded in 1981 by His Holiness Swami Shantanand Saraswathi, the Temple of Fine Arts (TFA) was established with the vision of uplifting mankind through the arts. Guided by the motto “Art, Just for the Love of It,” TFA nurtures students in an environment where discipline, devotion and joy in learning come together. Shrimathi Deepa Srivathsan is a Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancer and has been an integral faculty member of TFA Singapore since 1999. She has conducted several school AEP programs, is involved in conceptualization, development and training for TFA productions. She has also been vital in establishing the Odissi department, training students, preparing them for their debut performances and organising in-house melas under the guidance of Guru Ratikant Mohapatra (Odisha).

𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞
Established in 2002, Global Indian Cultural Centre (GICC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the community by providing an inclusive platform for people from all walks of life to explore and celebrate the richness of Indian culture. As GICC steps into its 25th year, it continues to offer a wide range of enrichment programmes open to all - including Indian classical dance, music, languages and other holistic learning opportunities. Led by Guru Srabonti Dutta, the Odissi dancers at GICC have blossomed and continue to stage inspiring performances all over Singapore. As part of its commitment to community well-being, GICC also conducts free Hatha Yoga sessions for the community.

Catch the Odissi dancers from Global Indian Cultural Centre with 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐛𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐲𝐚 on 23 May, 7.30pm, and Temple of Fine Arts with 𝐑𝐮̄𝐩𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐬𝐚 on 24 May, 7.30pm.

Tickets available from https://sistic.com.sg/events/odissi0526

𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Looking forward to the next phase of Odissi Mancha - performances by Odissi dancers from local institutions.

𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐤 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Chowk Productions is a Singapore based Odissi dance company founded by dancer
and choreographer Raka Maitra. Raka’s own aspirations to create original works led her to choreograph and experiment with the form which brought it to festivals all over the world. In 2014, the company Chowk Productions was formed, establishing it as a professional dance company when Chowk got awarded the Seed Grant by the National Arts Council. Chowk was recognized as a Major Company by the National Arts Council in 2021 and is internationally recognized as a pioneer of a unique Asian contemporary dance language that dissolves the dichotomy between tradition and modernity.

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲
Parampara Music Academy in Singapore teaches Indian classical music and dance rooted in the guru–shishya tradition. It offers classes in Hindustani vocal, sitar, tabla, as well as Odissi and contemporary dance, both in-person and online. The academy aims to deepen students’ understanding of classical traditions, develop practical skills, and nurture artistic growth through structured lessons, workshops and performance opportunities. The academy also hosts regular performances to showcase student progress and build confidence.

Catch the Odissi dancers from Chowk Productions with 𝐀𝐚𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚 on 23 May, 7.30pm, and Parampara Music Academy with 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐭 on 24 May, 7.30pm.

Tickets available from https://sistic.com.sg/events/odissi0526

𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Looking forward to the next phase of Odissi Mancha - performances by Odissi dancers from local institutions.

𝐀𝐩𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲
Established in 1977, Apsaras Arts Academy provides dance training in Bharatanatyam (Kalakshetra Bani), Kathak (Lucknow Gharana) and Odissi – for both children and adults, as well as an introductory dance programme called Balabharatham for 4 to 6 year olds. Soumee De has been teaching Odissi at Apsaras Arts Academy for the past five years. Trained in two classical dance forms - Kathak and Odissi, Soumee co-founded ETHOS in 2014, a dance collective for Odissi dancers who perform and conduct workshops to promote, teach and build awareness of the Odissi dance form. She continues her learning in Odissi and theatre from Guru Ratikant Mohapatra from Srjan, Bhubaneswar and Guru Venus G from Natanakairali, Kerala.

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬
Founded in 1998, Chitrakala Arts has blossomed into a leading Bharatanatyam and Odissi institution in Singapore. Led by it’s Artistic Director Guru Chitra Shankar, Chitrakala Arts offers comprehensive training programs focusing on holistic guidance with elements of yoga, meditation, concentration, flexibility and stamina, making the student's dance journey a way of life. It holds classes at 4 centres locally with over 140 students and has trained over 600 students. It also conducts masterclasses and workshops by renowned artists from India to enrich the learning experience of its students. Its annual showcase "NrityaSangamam-Perform with Purpose” provides a platform for students to showcase their talent while supporting a cause, making their dance journey more meaningful.

Catch the Odissi dancers from Chitrakala Arts with 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐚 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 on 23 May, 7.30pm, and Apsaras Arts with 𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫 - 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 on 24 May, 7.30pm.

Tickets available from https://sistic.com.sg/events/odissi0526

It was a buzz of activity at Nrityalaya yesterday as part of the Bras Basah Weekend Brew Club.

It was a joy welcoming curious visitors through our doors and sharing our vision and art through student showcases.