Mrs Vijaya Nadesan

🪔 About

Mrs. Vijaya Nadesan is a prominent figure in Indian classical dance, serving as the Principal of Apsaras Arts Academy in Singapore. Her journey in Bharatanatyam began in the 1970s, growing up on Hindoo Road in Singapore, where she first enrolled in dance classes at the Tanglin Club. Following a family relocation in 1978, she resumed her dance education at the Kallang Community Centre at the age of nine, under the tutelage of Muthulakshmi and Vijayarani. At 17, her training took a significant turn when she began studying under the renowned Neila Sathyalingam. This period marked her integration into Apsaras Arts, where she became a group dancer and represented Singapore in numerous local and international events, touring extensively to countries such as Papua New Guinea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Thailand. Under Sathyalingam's mentorship, Nadesan developed a deep understanding and passion for Bharatanatyam. Transitioning from performer to educator, Mrs. Nadesan began her teaching career, initially taking over dance training programs in schools through Assisted Education Programs (AEP) and Co-curricular Activities (CCA). Her dedication and expertise led to her appointment as the Principal of Apsaras Arts Academy by Artistic Director Aravinth Kumarasamy. In this role, she oversees the academy's faculty and students, and manages the back-end operations of both local and international productions. She is committed to fostering informed and creative thinkers among her dancers, emphasizing the profound rootedness of Bharatanatyam. Mrs. Nadesan also actively engages non-Indian students and mentors aspiring dancers, including her own daughter, whose arangetram she blessed in 2016.