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CNA
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Her dance video racked up 11m views on YouTube – now she's representing Singapore at Osaka World Expo
Seven years ago, Shruthi Nair and a friend performed a three-minute dance outside the Indian Heritage Centre on Campbell Lane. It had all the makings of a viral video. Music was blasting from the speaker. A crowd gathered. And the two young women danced barefoot on grey stone slabs. Their performance combined classical Indian, hip-hop and contemporary dance to Carnatic (South Indian classical music) adaptations of hit pop songs. An unexpected pairing. Unbeknownst to them, someone took a video and uploaded it on YouTube. It exploded: 11 million views in total. People from South Africa, Canada and the United Kingdom messaged Shruthi to say how much they loved it. 'It was the first time I knew that so many people appreciate this,' Shruthi mused. Fast forward seven years. The 28-year-old freelance dancer and choreographer will be performing on a much bigger stage. She will be dancing at the Singapore Pavillion at the World Expo 2025, in Osaka, Japan, on May 31 and Jun 1, 2025. Featuring local artists, creatives and talents, the ongoing World Expo 2025 runs until Oct 13 this year, and is expected to welcome at least one million visitors. TELLING HER SINGAPORE STORY THROUGH DANCE Shruthi has performed at the National Gallery, Esplanade Theatre, Stamford Art Centre and Gardens by the Bay for River Hongbao. You may also find her grooving to modern hits and raps in front of Singapore's old HDB flats and futurist tunnels. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shruthi Nair (@_shruthinair_) Her feet beat out a mesmerising rhythm, her hands string together mudras, hand gestures that tell a story. Often referred to as Indo Contemporary, this dance style blends elements of Bharatanatyam – a form of Indian classical dance – with contemporary dance techniques. This is Shruthi's Singapore story. 'I feel like my movement vocabulary, a blending of something traditional and modern, sort of mirrors our nation, where the traditional and old, and the modern and new can all exist at the same time, and they all have a place,' she said. As a young Indian woman growing up in a small, globalised metropolis, she initially struggled to navigate her cultural experiences. One reason she cited was the lack of representation of Indian women on television, social media and other mainstream platforms. 'You question your place in the world and your place in the country,' she told CNA Women. Over time, Shruthi learned to embrace her differences and uniqueness, and this translated into this fusion of classical Indian and contemporary dance. 'Talking about your feelings and emotions can be really difficult. I find it so much easier to just dance it out. It just has so much more power to me,' she said. Through her dance, she also hopes to bridge the gap for audiences and immerse them in the rich beauty of her heritage. The hand gestures, facial expression and footwork of classical Indian dance may not be understood by all, she noted. 'But behind the technical language, I think the human connection and emotions are something that everybody can identify with and resonate with.' A 23-YEAR DANCE JOURNEY Dance has been nothing short of a lifetime obsession for Shruthi. At the age of five, her mother took her to a Deepavali show at a community club where she watched a Bharatanatyam dance for the first time. Something about the colour, facial expressions, footwork and music ignited a spark in her young mind. 'In between, even before the show ended, I dragged my mother to the office and said, put me in the class now. I was in the class the following weekend,' she laughed. She continued her training at Bhaskar's Arts Academy, an Indian performing arts school, and then at the School of the Arts, Singapore for her International Baccalaureate (a pre-university curriculum), taking dance as one of her higher-level subjects. Even though she went on to pursue a bachelor's degree in Sociology at the National University of Singapore, and began a career in marketing, it just felt natural to give it all up. In 2023, a little over a year after she started her corporate job, she left to become a freelance dance artiste and choreographer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shruthi Nair (@_shruthinair_) Some of her gigs as a freelancer have included Light to Night Festival at the National Gallery in January this year, ASEAN Festival of Arts 2024 in Malacca, F8 Festival Makassar 2024 and the Best of ASEAN Performing Arts 2023 in Jakarta. But passion does not pay the bills. As a freelancer, some months are packed with weekly gigs, others are unsettlingly quiet. 'The worst months are those without any gigs so there's no income at all, and I still have rehearsals or classes,' she said, adding that those days can start at 9am and not end until midnight. 'It seems very futile – as if I'm doing everything but not doing anything at the same time,' she said. Even when work is steady, as a freelancer, she struggles when payment is sometimes delayed. 'The lack of financial stability and unpredictability can be scary, especially if there's something that I really need to pay off, such as student loans and bills, or there's some immediate need that I need to get settled, such as groceries and transport costs,' said Shruthi, who is single and trying her best to support her parents. DANCING TOWARDS TOMORROW It was during a quiet month – and low point – when she was selected to represent Singapore at the World Expo. 'I had just come out of a few projects and didn't have any new freelance gigs lined up for maybe, one to two months. Financially, things were tight as well, with a few delayed payments,' she said. 'When I got the e-mail, initially, I was like, did they send this to the right person? It felt incredibly surreal,' she said. 'Being able to go on a global platform like the World Expo to represent my country as an independent artiste restored a lot of faith and hope for what my future can look like,' she reflected. With six performances over two days at the World Expo, Shruthi is looking to blend Bharatanatyam dance and contemporary movement with Japanese cultural elements through costume, music and storytelling. The dance narrative is inspired by a Japanese myth, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter's Daughter – Princess Kaguya. In this story, a bamboo cutter finds a glowing infant inside a bamboo stalk. She grows into a free-spirited young woman whose beauty attracts many admirers, including the emperor. She challenges her noble suitors with impossible tasks before finally revealing she is a princess from the moon and departing with celestial envoys. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shruthi Nair (@_shruthinair_) The opportunity to dance at the World Expo has been a huge turning point for the young dancer. 'Singapore is a melting pot. Being able to share a piece of Singapore's vibrant, multicultural identity through my art feels incredibly personal and profound,' Shruthi said. Reflecting on her journey, she said: 'I love dancing with all my heart but some days, you feel like it doesn't love you back.' 'But when I dance, those feelings dissipate,' she beamed. 'I am at my best self when I'm dancing – I'm confident, I'm sure of myself, I know what I'm doing. It's as if an alter-ego sort of takes over. 'The second I take off my shoes and feel the floor, I feel super connected to the ground beneath me, the space around me. That feeling is unparalleled. 'When words don't suffice and I cannot communicate something, dance helps me express myself and embody my feelings. 'I'm still trying to navigate this career path day by day – I think nobody has it all figured out. But over the past year, I realised that it's really up to you to carve your own path,' she said.
Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
New exhibited artefacts part of Indian Heritage Centre's 10th anniversary celebration
The Indian Heritage Centre is also launching an Open House event on May 10 and 11. ST PHOTOS: GAVIN FOO SINGAPORE - When Mrs Salma Moiz, 84, got married decades ago, she had intricate mehendi designs on her hands and legs. The mehendi designs - traditional body art, made using a paste from the henna plant - can take hours to draw on the body, and was applied using a slender needle-like applicator. Such a tool was once used widely by Singapore's Indian and Malay communities to draw henna art during weddings and festivals. These days henna tube applicators, which are faster, are more commonly used instead. Mrs Moiz's mehendi applicator was a family heirloom that she kept for decades, but now it will get new life as a museum exhibit after she donated it to the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC). It is among 60 new artefacts that will be put on display at the IHC's permanent exhibition by September this year as part of celebrations for the centre's 10th anniversary. Mrs Salma Moiz's mehendi applicator was a family heirloom that she kept for decades. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO The exhibition showcases the history and heritage of Singapore's Indian and South Asian communities. Mrs Moiz, a former museum tour guide, said it was important to document the experience of past generations, and ensure that these pieces of their heritage are placed where they are cared for and can be appreciated. 'If (these artefacts) go down the generations, they will not understand the value and history behind it. But here (at the heritage centre), it's preserved forever,' Mrs Moiz said. Mrs Salma Moiz (in green) and her daughter Ms Azra Moiz at the Indian Heritage Centre's IHC10 Open House on May 7. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Beyond the new artefacts, the IHC is also launching an Open House event on May 10 and 11, that includes a gallery tour where the exhibits are used as part of a live storytelling performance. The event is part of the ongoing Singapore HeritageFest 2025 organised by HeritageSG, a subsidiary of the National Heritage Board. Asked about the event, the IHC's chairman R Rajaram said: 'Museums are seen as places of quiet contemplation, but additional effort is needed to reach out to audiences to make it interesting and engaging.' Performers narrating the stories of some artefacts during a soapbox gallery tour of the Indian Heritage Centre's permanent gallery on May 7. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Mr Rajaram, 62, who is also a university registrar at the National University of Singapore (NUS) said the IHC is the only museum focused on tracing the history of the Indians in Singapore, adding that he is heartened to see people of all races turning up for the centre's events. Beyond the Open House celebrations this weekend, visitors can look forward to monthly workshops highlighting various Indian traditions such as cooking and Rangoli art. There will also be a Deepavali Open House from September 27 to October 19. The centre is also developing a dedicated tactile and interactive experience zone in their child- friendly spaces, which is expected to launch in June 2025. The entrance to the Indian Heritage Centre's permanent gallery. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Arts Picks: Teroka Raya festivities, Peter Rabbit high tea and Ang Ah Tee show
Storyteller Hafiz Rashid will narrate the story of Hang Nadim's Journey To India. PHOTO: MALAY HERITAGE CENTRE Teroka Raya Festival The Malay Heritage Centre may be closed for a revamp, but it is celebrating Hari Raya with some fun family-friendly activities at sister institution Indian Heritage Centre. The most intriguing is the English-language storytelling sessio n. Tales From The Nusantara: Hang Nadim's Journey To India tells the story of the well-known Malay folktale hero journeying to India in search of unique textiles for the Sultan of Melaka. The session by storyteller Hafiz Rashid will also include a workshop, where participants can desig n paper dolls and textile outfits. Fashionistas will appreciate the henna party with SyraSkins, run by sisters Mehroon and Syra Gulam; and Mari Berkain: Malay Fabric And Styling Worksho p, where attendees can learn to drape traditional menswear such as the sarong and samping at the hands-on styling session with vintage fashion social media account Kebaya Societe. Where: Indian Heritage Centre, 5 Campbell Lane MRT: Rochor When: April 26, 10.30am to 6.30pm Admission: Free and ticketed Info: Peter Rabbit-inspired high tea The Peter Rabbit-inspired high tea at Skai takes inspiration from Beatrix Potter's beloved stories. PHOTO: SKAI Art and literature make for good high tea fodder, it seems. The latest in a series of art-inspired high teas in town is contemporary grill restaurant Skai's Beatrix Potter-themed event. The beloved Peter Rabbit characters are a perfect match for the very English tradition of tea. Executive chef Seumas Smith and executive pastry chef Yong Ming Choong have cooked up a delightful menu that takes inspiration from Potter's stories. Chef Smith has very tactfully avoided making Mr McGregor's pie (#IYKYK) and instead offers Mr McGregor's Garden Sandwich, comprising beef brisket sandwiched in seed bread with the obligatory dollop of mustard. He has also drawn on the classic dish of coronation chicken for Mrs Tiggy-Winkle's Picnic Pie, packing curry flavour in a dainty vol au vent for a punchy bite. His Forbidden Orchard Tartlet, featuring foie gras in a glossy red apple coat, rivals the sweet treats for most Instagram-friendly bite. Wha t adults will appreciate is that the desserts are not overly sugary. Peter's Garden Pot, with dark chocolate gelato pepped up with a citrus confit packed into an edible pink chocolate pot and topped with edible flowers, is entirely charming. While there is the obligatory tea (by TWG) and coffee (by Suzuki), adults can also top up for a cocktail creation. Book your tea on Skai's website for a chance to win a Peter Rabbit plush toy. Where: Skai, 70-01 Swissotel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road MRT: City Hall When: Till June 30, 3 to 5pm daily Admission: $68 (adult), $34 (child) Info: Silent Stories Of Time Cultural Medallion recipient Ang Ah Tee is exhibiting still-life paintings at Hai Hui Art Gallery. PHOTO: ANG AH TEE Cultural Medallion recipient Ang Ah Tee is a prolific painter best known for his landscapes. The 82-year-old's latest show at Hai Hui Art Gallery focuses on his still life paintings. He has always been unabashed about painting commercially viable works and the 22 pieces on display are indubitably accessible art pieces that would fit in any home. His signature technique, using a palette knife with acrylic, gives his works t exture and dynamism. Works like Flowers In A Blue Vase and Guitar And Maracas, with their quirky composition and bright colours, suggest the influence of Impressionist painters such as Paul Cezanne and Vincent van Gogh. Where: Hai Hui Art Gallery, 04-46 The Adelphi, 1 Coleman Street MRT: City Hall When: April 26 to May 12, noon to 6.30pm daily Admission: Free Info: Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
