Sreedevy Sivarajasingam

🪔 About

Sreedevy Sivarajasingam is a prominent Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and educator based in Singapore, recognized for her contributions to Bharatanatyam and her innovative approach to dance. She co-founded Omkar Arts in 1987 at the age of 15, an institution that gained popularity for infusing modern influences into classical Indian dance forms and performing on television and in community venues. Her formal training in Bharatanatyam was undertaken at the Singapore Fine Arts society. Sivarajasingam began choreographing at the young age of seven and commenced her teaching career around 1991, at 19, as a co-curricular activity (CCA) instructor while still at university. Over more than three decades, she has taught a diverse range of dance styles, including Bharatanatyam, Indian folk dances, and Bollywood, at her studio in Little India and various school CCA groups. While initially known for her contemporary fusion style, Sivarajasingam later focused on teaching the foundational aspects of classical dance to her students, many of whom were introduced to her through her contemporary work. She is committed to continuous learning, regularly returning to India for training. She completed a certification course at the Tamil Nadu Dr J. Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University and has undertaken specialized training in abhinaya (facial expressions) and nattuvangam (rhythm training) with support from the National Arts Council's Capability Development Grant. As a choreographer, Sivarajasingam has created pieces for the Singapore Youth Festival and various school events, including classical Bharatanatyam items and fusion works. She emphasizes instilling discipline, cultural understanding, and a sense of aesthetics in her students, aiming for them to develop into confident solo performers. Her work includes exploring innovation in Bharatanatyam choreography, as demonstrated in her session on "Re-imagining Alarippu" at the IPAC Symposium curated by Apsaras Arts.