Bhaskar’s Arts Academy kicks-off its 70th Anniversary commemoration this February with Sangeetha Sapthathi.
Bhaskar’s Arts Academy (BAA) is a Singapore-based Indian classical dance, music and theatre company with roots in 1952. This February, the Academy commemorates its 70th Anniversary with year-long festivities that will showcase its legacy.
The festivities feature a diverse lineup of close to 20 captivating performances and exhibitions that will honour the Academy’s achievements, as well as give back to the industry through mentorships and collaborations.
Here are some of the programme highlights from the Academy's 70th anniversary commemoration.
Sangeetha Sapthathi
Venue: Stamford Arts Centre Black Box, 155 Waterloo St, Singapore 187962
Date: 25 & 26 Feb 2022
Fee: $25 (tickets)
Kicking off the year-long festivities, Sangeetha Sapthathi showcases a vibrant collection of music pieces, specially curated to reflect the Academy’s contribution to the vibrant arts scene in Singapore since its establishment. Each selection is significant in its own way in presenting an important moment in the institution’s journey thus far. Favourites of its founders, the Bhaskars, will be featured too!
Sangeetha Sapthathi will be presented by the well-established Bhaskar's Arts Orchestra.
Butterfly Lovers
Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Blvd, Singapore 018906
Date: 3 Jun - 5 Jun 2022
Choreographed by BAA’s Artistic Director Mrs Santha Bhaskar, Butterfly Lovers is a representative piece inspired by the Chinese film version of the tale. This was her first full-length production in Singapore.
Premiered in Singapore in 1958, the work was reimagined in 2021 by Mrs Bhaskar’s daughter, Meenakshy Bhaskar. This iteration is now commissioned to be restaged in June 2022 for Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre’s annual cultural fiesta, Cultural Extravaganza.
Marabu 3
Venue: Esplanade Theatre Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr, Singapore 038981
Date: Nov 2022
Following the success of the first two chapters Marabu – The First Ripple and Marabu – The Forgotten Sentinels that were showcased in 2019 and 2021 respectively, Marabu 3 is the final act of the trilogy and part of Esplanade’s annual Kalaa Utsavam.
The Marabu trilogy brings to life pertinent moments of the Singapore Indian community and their shared history with other communities, highlighting the migration and cultural exchange between them. This work will give audiences a glimpse into the Singapore Indian community post-1965, through the eyes of a young dancer.
Bhaskareeyam [Ticketed]
Venue & Date: Alliance Francaise, 1 Sarkies Rd, Singapore 258130 - 30 Jun to 3 Jul | Drama Centre - 21 Jul to 24 Jul 2022
BAA’s annual performing arts festival Bhaskareeyam curates artistically proficient as well as novel works, featuring local and international performing artists. It serves as a platform for artists to come together and celebrate the Arts.
In 2022, the festival will see an extended eight-day mega event, allowing more artists to showcase their creations. During the Festival, artists and cultural professionals who have made significant contributions to the performing arts scene will be honoured with various awards, motivating other artists to strive for excellence in their fields.
Prasaantham [Ticketed]
Venue: Stamford Arts Centre Black Box | Drama Centre, 100 Victoria St, #03-01 National Library, Singapore 188064
Date: 23 April (Malini Bhaskar), 6 Aug (Sarenniya Ramathas) & 10 Sept (Usha Anbalagan)
Inaugurated in 2021 as part of BAA/NAS annual Bhaskareeyam Festival, the Prasaantham series is named after BAA’s Artistic Director Santha Bhaskar. It offered a platform for upcoming artists to showcase their talents, and featured dance talents from various institutions then.
The series will be taking greater prominence in 2022 and will offer the young artists the opportunity to stage a separate full length thematic or repertoire performance. Three such performances are being planned featuring BAA Company dancers, who will be accompanied by a live orchestra.
For more information on the upcoming programmes and ticketing details, you can visit BAA’s Facebook page.
Image credits Bhaskar’s Arts Academy
