Silver dreams
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
Published on 11, Nov 2022
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Soo Mei Fei: The Chinese-Singaporean dancer’s journey through Indian classical dance and self-discovery
(November 13, 2024) When Soo Mei Fei appears on stage, dressed in her Bharatanatyam costume made out of Kanchipuram silk sarees, audiences can’t help but be drawn to her. Her distinct Chinese features, paired with the traditional Indian attire - complete with intricate pleats, jewellery, and expressive makeup - create a mesmerising contrast that has quickly turned her into a rising star. This unique combination, along with her graceful precision and dedication to each movement, showcases a commitment that transcends cultural boundaries, making her performances fascinating. “I’m blessed to learn Bharatanatyam,” Mei Fei shared in an interview. “It’s such a beautiful art. It’s not been an easy journey, but it has been extremely fulfilling. I want to train more,” she added. The beginning as a teenager’s curiosity For Soo Mei Fei, who is now in her twenties, her fascination with Bharatanatyam started unexpectedly at the age of 17. While attending the National Junior College in Singapore, she stumbled upon a try-out session for Indian dance. Originally intrigued by Bollywood, she and her classmates assumed the session would focus on Bollywood dance. To their surprise, they were introduced to Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance known for its intricate footwork, expressive gestures,
Read MoreJunior College in Singapore, she stumbled upon a try-out session for Indian dance. Originally intrigued by Bollywood, she and her classmates assumed the session would focus on Bollywood dance. To their surprise, they were introduced to Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance known for its intricate footwork, expressive gestures, and emotive storytelling. Though the majority lost interest, Mei Fei was hooked.
Determined to understand the art form fully, she began digging into Bharatanatyam’s history, spending hours at libraries near her home in Punggol. “It was fascinating,” she reflected. “I wanted to know everything, from the significance of the hand gestures to the stories conveyed through each dance sequence.” Her dedication to understanding this art form laid the groundwork for the journey that followed.
Challenges on the path
The young dancer’s path in Bharatanatyam wasn’t without hurdles. Learning from Vijaya Nadesan, her instructor at Apsara Arts - a prestigious dance academy in Singapore -Mei Fei soon realised the challenges of grasping the technicalities of Bharatanatyam as a non-Indian. Her Chinese heritage meant that the language, lyrics, and cultural nuances were initially foreign. Mei Fei remembers the struggle of understanding Carnatic music that accompanies Bharatanatyam performances, often resorting to Google Translate and spending extra hours reviewing each lesson.
Despite the obstacles, she dedicated herself wholeheartedly, spending entire days at the academy, watching her teachers and classmates. This immersive approach allowed her to improve steadily, and with time, she began to master Bharatanatyam’s unique hand gestures (hastas), foot movements (sthankas), and facial expressions (abhinaya).
Connecting with Indian culture through dance
Over the years, Bharatanatyam became more than just a dance form for Soo Mei Fei. It became a bridge to Indian culture. She began donning traditional Indian saris, learning the art of wearing them, and embraced the aesthetic requirements of Bharatanatyam. “Most of my friends had their mums to help them get dressed, but I had to learn a lot on my own, getting valuable tips from friends and teachers along the way,” told the young dancer whose Bharatanatyam batchmates are mostly Indian.
Bharatanatyam also introduced her to Carnatic music, which she now adores. “It’s very rich. The lyrics and melody have a lot of meaning behind them. I understand the songs because I feel it,” she explained. The connection was so profound that in 2018, she took up another Indian dance form, Odissi, expanding her knowledge and appreciation of Indian classical arts.
Bharatanatyam in Singapore
The introduction of Bharatanatyam to Singapore began with pioneer practitioners from India and Sri Lanka, who brought the classical dance form to life through their productions that included members of the diaspora and non-Indian artists. This collaboration promotes unity in diversity, as people from different ethnic communities bond over learning and performing Bharatanatyam. These interactions also lead to an exchange of ideas across ethnic dance styles. Inspired by their teachers, students of these pioneers have begun using Bharatanatyam as a tool to educate Singaporeans on social issues, breaking traditional boundaries. While performances were once rooted in Hindu texts and mythology, today, the youth choreographers have shifted towards using Bharatanatyam to convey meaningful messages, moving beyond entertainment.
Arangetram: A milestone in her journey
Soo Mei Fei’s commitment culminated in her Arangetram in 2021, a debut solo performance that marks a dancer’s readiness to perform on stage independently. This achievement was a significant milestone, as Arangetram is often regarded as the pinnacle of a Bharatanatyam dancer’s journey. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Mei Fei worked tirelessly, balancing her part-time job, university studies, and dance practice to prepare for the performance.
Reflecting on the challenges she faced, Mei Fei shared, “I didn’t have time to practise for the entire week before the rehearsal, and I just hoped my efforts from before would pull me through. My rehearsal ended up going okay, and that’s when I realised that sometimes you just have to let go.” This experience taught her to trust her skills and the journey she had undertaken. “The movements in Bharatanatyam are very structured, and the dance itself just gives me a form of stability. It is my solid anchor,” she shared, expressing how dance has become her grounding force amidst life’s challenges.
Empowering through art and education
As a certified Bharatanatyam dancer and a graduate in Fine Arts from LASALLE College of the Arts, Soo Mei Fei’s journey now extends beyond personal achievement. She’s passionate about fostering an appreciation for Bharatanatyam among younger generations, especially non-Indians. “Art should not have boundaries. It’s a great learning experience to know more about another culture that is different from us,” she says. “In doing so, we discover that we are more similar to each other than we thought”.
Her work as an instructor at children’s enrichment centres and dance academies in Singapore allows her to instil this philosophy in her students. To Mei Fei, Bharatanatyam is more than a series of movements—it’s a means of personal growth, self-expression, and cultural discovery. She sees her students not just learning dance techniques but also developing qualities like discipline, resilience, and empathy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKWB4PchDsg
Looking Ahead…
Soo Mei Fei envisions a future where Bharatanatyam continues to flourish across cultural boundaries. She’s interested in exploring collaborative projects that merge Bharatanatyam with other art forms, such as classical piano or visual arts, and creating interdisciplinary performances that bring new dimensions to the traditional art form.
For Mei Fei, every step she takes in Bharatanatyam makes her belief stronger that art transcends borders and unites people from diverse backgrounds. Her journey reflects the power of curiosity, dedication, and the unyielding pursuit of passion. Soo Mei Fei reminds us that the language of art is universal, resonating with the heart regardless of where we come from.
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Born with dancing shoes: Shreyah Mohanselvan is connected to her roots through Bharatanatyam
(October 29, 2022) She was on a summer break, waiting to start school again in a few weeks when she first received the news that she had been nominated for the US Presidential Scholars Award in the Arts. Chosen among students from 25 states, Shreyah Mohanselvan, a native of Tamil Nadu, was thrilled to know that the government recognised her passion for classical Indian dance forms that she had been learning since she was four years old. Aspiring to be a professional dancer someday, this youngster has attained outstanding prowess in five different dance forms including ballet, Bharatanatyam, and Odissi. [caption id="attachment_23543" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Shreyah Mohanselvan, Indian classical dancer[/caption] “Dance is not just my passion but a fascination for me. I gave in to my obsession with dancing at the age of four. I started with ballet at the New Albany Ballet Company and went on to learn Indian classical dance forms including Bharatanatyam,” Shreyah said to Travel Beats, an Indian American community portal. Undeniably, dancing is her comfort zone and favorite stress buster. However dancing is just the tip of the huge talent iceberg for this young Global Indian. A brilliant student, Shreyah Mohanselvan is equally talented in science
Read Moreeniably, dancing is her comfort zone and favorite stress buster. However dancing is just the tip of the huge talent iceberg for this young Global Indian. A brilliant student, Shreyah Mohanselvan is equally talented in science and engineering. A recent graduate from Rice University in Texas, where she earned a degree in computer science, the dancer is currently working as a Product Manager with Microsoft.
Ballet to Bharatnatyam
Born to Mohanselvan Subramanian and Sumathi Mohanselvan, who immigrated to the USA from India in the early 90s, Shreyah would tap her feet to any kind of music even as a toddler. And so, recognising her talent, her parents decided to put Shreyah in a local dance class. However, while she was good at ballet, the dancer wasn't satisfied with what she was learning. It was her mother, who after sensing her curiosity to learn more, decided to take her to her first Bharatnatyam class.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8fXyUu3TSk
The sounds of ghunghroo and taal mesmerised Shreyah from the get-go and there was no turning back. Over the years, the young dancer learnt not one but two major classical dances of India - Bharatnatyam, and Odissi. “The two dance forms have differences and similarities, and sometimes it is difficult to force the body to be true to both of these two conflicting dance forms,” she explained in an interview with City Scene Columbus.
Recognition comes calling
Shreyah, however, is not just a dancer, she is an award-winning dancer. The youngster claimed the first place in the Federation of Indian Associations of Central Ohio’s Indian solo dance competition for three consecutive years. She also has three first-place and two second-place finishes in the Vindhya Cultural Association in Columbus, a competition that attracts talent from all across the state.
In 2018, she was presented with a National Young Arts Winner Honorable Mention Award in Indian/classical dance. The youngster owes her nomination for the 2018 US Presidential Scholars Award to Carolina García Jayaram, President, and CEO of the Miami-based National YoungArts Foundation which is one of the partners for this National Recognition Programme.
No pain, no gain?
But, as they say, no achievement comes without pain. Throughout her school life, this youngster followed a very strict daily routine to stay on top of not just her dance practice, but also her academics. So much so that, while others her age were enjoying all kinds of junk food, the 20-year-old had a diet plan scheduled for her. "I always eat balanced meals to maintain my energy and stamina. Around the time of major rehearsals and performances, I pay extra attention to my diet and sleep to make sure I can maintain my focus and energy levels," she shared during one of the interviews.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3j7UaoMs88
A bright youngster, who also served as the student council president at her school, Shreyah has big plans for the future. Even though she is working full-time at Microsoft now, the youngster continues to practice every day early in the morning and wishes to start her professional journey as a dancer soon. Although her schedule can sometimes be exhausting, the young dancer believes, "If one is doing something she loves, she is already doing something amazing."
- Follow Shreyah Mohanselvan on LinkedIn
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