Renowned classical dancer and innovative choreographer Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari was honoured with the esteemed ‘Nritya Kalanidhi’ award during the inauguration of the 17th Dance Festival hosted by The Music Academy. This grand cultural event kicked off on Wednesday in the bustling city, setting the stage for a celebration of classical dance.
The award was presented by Edgar Pang Tze Chiang, the Consul General of the Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore in Chennai. In his address, Mr. Chiang fondly reminisced about the illustrious contributions of Ms. Narasimhachari and her late husband, M.V. Narasimhachari, who were revered dance instructors at the Singapore Fine Arts Society back in the 1970s. Their legacy includes mentoring numerous Singaporean dancers and devising spellbinding multicultural performances, thus forging a lasting connection between the cultural tapestries of Singapore and Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Chiang emphasized the unique cultural relationship that exists between these regions, highlighting the significant role of the Tamil population within Singapore’s Indian community. As one of the four official languages of Singapore, Tamil signifies the deep historical and people-centric ties that have become intertwined with the rich heritage and fine arts tradition of Tamil Nadu.
He reaffirmed this connection by noting past participations of Singapore’s Indian fine arts musicians and dancers at previous Dance Festivals hosted by the Academy, and announced that this year’s event would also see a performance by Aravinth Kumaraswamy, the artistic director of Apsaras Arts Dance Company, on January 15.
Mr. Chiang extended praise to The Music Academy for its role as a bastion of South India’s vibrant cultural heritage, emphasizing that the festival itself is a testament to the organization’s dedication to musical education and the preservation of cultural artefacts. Alongside his speech, he took the opportunity to release the dance brochure for the festival and present awards to the winners of the Spirit of Youth Festival, the HCL Concert Series, and the mid-year dance series.
N. Murali, the president of The Music Academy and director of The Hindu Group of Publications, added grandeur to the event by discussing this year’s festival line-up. It promised to be an eclectic mix, showcasing a wide array of classical art forms such as Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Yakshagana, and Mohiniyattam, each presented through both solo and group performances.
In his felicitation speech, Mr. Murali celebrated Ms. Narasimhachari as a leading light among classical dance exponents, noting that both she and her husband had a wide-ranging exposure to various dance genres, including Kathakali and Odissi. The duo’s creative output through their Kalasamarpana Foundation has left a vibrant legacy in the form of many unique artistic creations. In addition to her mastery of dance, he lauded Ms. Narasimhachari’s musical talent, both as a Veena player and as a gifted lyricist and nattuvanar.
Ms. Narasimhachari, upon receiving the award, spoke with profound gratitude, emphasizing the collective acknowledgment of her life’s purpose found through her art rather than a personal accolade. This humbling moment set a celebratory tone for the inauguration, which then segued into mesmerizing Bharatanatyam performances by acclaimed artists Mythili Prakash, Priya Murle, and Roja Kannan, leaving the audience spellbound and in eager anticipation for the duration of the festival.
As the city embraces the Dance Festival’s showcase of talent and artistry, this recognition of Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari serves as a reminder of the enduring power and influence of classical Indian dance not just within the homeland but globally, as it continues to inspire and captivate hearts across diverse cultural landscapes.
