DECEMBER 2019

CENDANA OUTREACH PROGRAM TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2020

NOVEMBER 2019

2ND TEDX TALK

DUSK TO DAWN

Dusk To Dawn – Was staged for In Pieces series 2 for four nights (31st Oct to 3rd Nov 2019) at Masakini Theatre Company’s black box – Ramli Hassan Studio.

Title :
*Dusk to Dawn*

*Synopsis*:
A theatrical themed musical which highlights popular tamil cinematic songs. The theme revolves around Love – between Mother & Child, Friend and a Lover. It involves every phase one goes through in the cycle of life.

Exalted : Mahadeva

Exalted – In Pieces2
3rd October 2019 @ Ramli Hassan Studio (Masakini Theatre Company) Entrance: RM50

*Exalted choreographed by Rathimalar – reworked from a solo piece originally created by Guna titled Such An Ananda.

Exalted, a homage to Siva, with His flowing matted hair, through which the river Ganges bursts forth. His dance of life intoxicates those who meditate in his grace.

A group composition choreographed for the Sutra Dancers by Rathimalar, originally inspired by the solo choreography of Guna – SUCH AN ANANDA.

Music by Anoushka Shankar – Mahadeva

Ghoomar – Bollywood

OCTOBER 2019

BLESSED AT Sree Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Temple, Butterworth.

SEPTEMBER 2019

Brindavani Thillana with Harenthiren for Jejak Purnama Hari Malaysia Celebration (Sunday 15th Sep) in Petaling Street Jalan Tun H S Lee.

March 2019

24TH MARCH

My first TedX talk on Dance! #gratitude #tedtalks #tedx #tedxresetrewind19

I thank HeriotWattUNi Malaysia as I am given the opportunity to speak my story and share my dance around the theme of “Reset & Rewind”. Come join us for the inaugural TEDxHeriotWattUMalaysia!

Why dance, why immerse oneself into an activity that makes you lose yourself? Why do we get addicted to it, or perhaps the word addictive is too strong of a word, say when we love doing something and we crave to keep doing it again and again. As it brings calmness, relaxation, relief, takes away our mind from everyday life struggles… an escapism from reality.
With my roots of classical indian dance, some ballet and contemporary training I’m able to create my own language in dance, and perhaps it may be the same sort of language another dancer has with the same background as myself. Therefore, what’s different? Is the question. And that’s the answers we are all constantly seeking …. how can we create something unique and true…. for our own validation that that’s our language our voice of creativity…. this artistic expression we all speak of, is what we truly are… and thus we keep asking that one question again and again, who am I?! reset rewind…. “seek out a tree and let it teach you stillness” … all you really need to do is to accept this moment fully… just be and enjoy being! It’s about being conscious of every action… and every action has an equal and opposite reaction …. surrender to the moment, surrender to this very present …. every artist creates from a place of no mind, from inner stillness… eckhart just puts it all so beautifully …. how could all this help me, how could all this benefit me…. ? How could all this help you and how could all benefit you?! To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom – Socrates.

16TH MARCH

MAHSA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PERFORMS IN FRONT OF MALAYSIA’S EDUCATION MINISTER DR MASZLEE MALIK

February & March 2019

I had lots fun in 4PLAY-impromptu with WeiJun.

My dear friend Mathew, Thank you for having me in Pieces, utterly grateful to be able to come home and be a part of it, and to dance with you again Mathew. Love you and so proud of you! ♥️ Here’s our 4PLAY. Enjoy!

rehab goes to Indonesia!

It was first created with January Low in 2014 and later reworked in 2017 with Mohd Fauzi). This current version with Sueki is for a contemporary choreography laboratory (D-Lab) in Solo, Indonesia (Feb 24th to March 3rd) organised by an Indonesian choreographer, Melati Suryodarmo, in partnership with facilitators from Taiwan, Japan and Malaysia – represented by our very own JS Wong. Participants from all over Asia are to present their choreography at the end of the laboratory. Sueki Tan Bee Hung and Ren Xin Lee performed in JS Wong’s work “ Fit Us Out”, and along with Ren Xin’s work on Bee Hung). rehab is special, therefore I am happy that it was given the opportunity for it to be seen and shared in Indonesia. All thanks to JS for making it possible, and my heartfelt thanks to Sueki for partnering and dancing with me in this work. With love and gratitude. #rehabgoestoindonesia

January 2019

Krishna Love Re-Invented | Krishna Leela

Kumbh Mela reflections by Rathimalar Govindarajoo

He asked, “would you like to go with us to India for its Kumbh Mela festival?”. My eyes flooded with tears and a brush of goose pimples sprinkled my skin. “Yes”, I answered with a shake in my voice, I was simply filled with joy and gratitude. It was a humbling gift offered to me, a blessing from a Guru!

I have never had the chance, or the opportunity to go to India for its Kumbh Mela Festivals with Sutra Dance Theatre. I was either away dancing in London, or more recently unavailable due to other commitments as a Dance Educator in schools. This time, it felt like it was a “perfect time”, and as if an auspicious opportunity had just fallen onto my lap that was fated for me to take, and embrace it with all its blessings.

The Kumb Mela was being held in Allahabad, now named Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, and Sutra Dance Theatre was invited to partake in its festival.

Rehearsals commenced, and we took on roles in the production of Krishna Leela, embodying the elements of Krishna, Radha and the Gopis, creating patterns and rearrangements of great Odissi Gurus that have manifested the play of the divine Raas Leela in their compositions.

A mix of senior and junior dancers came together, joining in this dance. As senior dancers, Geethika, Mei Mei and I have come to realize how important it is to nurture and give back what was bestowed upon us. Giving back patience, perseverance, diligence and persistence in contribution to develop the junior dancers’ discipline in dance. It was productions and tours like these that have molded us into dancers of Sutra – whom hold such unique qualities in interpretations of movements and rasa, to personify charismatic temperament not just on stage, but to internalize manifesting positive attitudes through and within in character building. This is what had been taught to us by Master Ramli, and our seniors; and it is important that we pass on this schooling / culture to the next generation.

‪However, I believe we are all still a student no matter how well-experienced we get, we must never stop learning. We have to have courage, but with rigorous vigilance on the mind to be egoless and humane. I pray we will be humble, stay humble and forever continue to learn to gain more by giving and receiving. My love and utmost highest salutations to my gurus for they have taught us all to Dance … live this kind of Life… this beautiful journey, yet a very very challenging path.

The day of the show arrived, and we were all dressed in our Odissi costumes heading towards the river where the Kumb Mela camps were put up in Prayagraj. We got off the van and made our way into a large tent that was constructed into a stage hall. Several shows had already begun, and we were up next. A little dressing room was arranged for us to use in preparation. All thirteen of us snuggled in for a group-hug before tying our bells. It was those moments when you are awoke feeling like as if you’ve achieved your life goals, and cannot help but think to yourself that you’re actually living a life that is meaningful. Moments like these that bring us back to life, and we see the universe manifesting our dreams into reality. Our hearts swelled, humbled by such intense feeling of love, and I couldn’t hold back my tears from flowing with gratitude.