Soo Mei Fei

🪔 About

Soo Mei Fei is a Singaporean Chinese Bharatanatyam dancer who achieved a significant milestone on January 26, 2021, when she became the first Singaporean Chinese woman to perform a full-fledged arangetram, a debut recital of Indian classical dance, on stage in Singapore at the age of 23. Her performance, held at the Goodman Arts Centre Black Box, featured a challenging repertoire of Bharatanatyam elements including shabdam, varnam, padam, javali, and thillana. Veteran local dancer and choreographer V. Balakrishnan lauded her debut as that of a professional dancer, noting her exceptional standard and quality. Soo's journey into Indian classical dance began unexpectedly during her time in Secondary 1 at National Junior College. Initially drawn to an "Indian dance try-out" poster with the misconception it would be Bollywood, she discovered Indian classical dance. Despite this initial surprise, Soo developed a profound passion for Bharatanatyam. She formally commenced her training at Apsaras Arts, a prominent dance academy in Singapore, joining in either 2015 or 2016. Her foundational instruction at Apsaras Arts was provided by Mrs. Vijaya Nadesan, the academy's principal, and the late Ms. Neila Sathyalingam, one of its esteemed founders. For four years leading up to her arangetram, Soo Mei Fei underwent rigorous training under the guidance of Mr. Mohanapriyan Thavarajah, who serves as the principal dancer and resident choreographer at Apsaras Arts. Currently, she continues her tutelage under Ms. Gayathri Chachithanandar and receives additional training from Sri. Mavin Khoo. Beyond Bharatanatyam, Soo has also briefly explored Odissi, another ancient Indian dance form, since 2018. A graduate in Fine Arts from LASALLE College of the Arts, Soo Mei Fei is an active performer within Singapore's performing arts circuit. She has been part of ensemble works with the Apsaras Arts Dance Company, including major productions such as "Anjaneyam" in 2017, and has also performed in "Kasi" under Kalpavriksha Fine Arts. In addition to her performance career, Soo is dedicated to promoting Bharatanatyam, particularly among younger, non-Indian generations, and works as an instructor at children's enrichment centres and dance academies in Singapore. She advocates for art transcending cultural boundaries and expresses interest in collaborative projects that integrate Bharatanatyam with other art forms.