ABOUT THE FOUNDERS
GURUS
SMT JEYALAKSHMI RAMAN
Srimathi Jayalakshmi Raman graduated from Kalashetra in Madras, India, the world renowned institute for Bharatha Natyam in 1967. While studying her dancing , she was trained in Carnatic Music (South Indian Classical music) under the guidance of the late Bhudallur Krishnamurthy (Principle of Carnatic College of Madras).
She was a National Dance Artiste in Singapore and travelled with the State National Dance troupe to Russia, Iran, during the Asian Games, Indonesia , and the arts Festival in the Philippines, and has also represented Singapore on several other occasions.
Jayalakshmi is recognized as a pioneer in Bharathanatyam, being the first woman in Singapore to achieve a distinguished Diploma from Kalashetra. Likewise, Kalaivani is the first school of its kind to be set up in Perth where performances and dance classes are conducted regularly. She began her career at the Fine Arts Society in Singapore then branched out soon after as a well-known teacher as her talents drew greater audiences.
SMT NEILA SATHYALINGAM
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The second of four daughters of a well-known dental surgeon, Srimathi Neila Sathyalingam was born Neila Balendra in 1938 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She began dancing at the age of five, and trained in the classical Indian dance traditions of Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali and Manipuri at the Shanti Kumar School of Dance and the Kalaya School of Dance in Colombo. In 1954, she won the gold medal at the All-Ceylon Dance Festival and was selected to perform for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in April 1954.
At the age of 18, she enrolled in Kalakshetra, Chennai, India, reputed to be one of the best dance institutions in India under the tutelage of its founder Srimathi Rukmini Devi Arundale.
Neila completed her five-year course in two years, graduating with a first-class honours diploma in Bharatanatyam and was appointed as one of the faculty members for dance at Kalakshetra.
Neila met her husband, Shri Suntharalingam Sathyalingam, at Kalakshetra. The son of a very prominent Sri Lankan politician, he had graduated from the University of Madras with a Sangitha Sironmani and the Diploma in Music from Kalakshetra and was then teaching Indian classical music at Kalakshetra. Together Neila and Sathyalingam founded Apsaras Arts in Singapore in 1977, and have since been promoting Indian traditional art forms in a multiracial Singapore. She has also actively collaborated with other ethnic dance, music and dance ensembles and government bodies to promote Indian dance forms in Singapore and also gaining international recognition. Neila has been successful in creating many dancers and dance teachers through her dedicated teaching. Her students have established their dance careers in Singapore and several countries around the world.
Neila has been bestowed many prestigious titles including Singapore's Cultural Medallion Recipient in 1989 and Viswa Kala Bharathi in 1995 for her outstanding contribution to Indian arts internationally.