Apsaras Arts Adelaide- A Performative Dance School

Apsaras Arts Adelaide is a performing Classical Indian dance school based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established by Ms Somi Lindsay It is one of 5 branches of its parent company - Apsaras Arts Singapore 

Founded in September 2013, the dance school specialises in Bharatanatyam, particularly in the Kalakshetra format or "bhani".  Since its inception it has grown to have over 50  dedicated students forming a closely knit community of dancers.  Apsaras Arts regularly performs at community events, state festivals and prides itself on the high standards of its predecessor's ethics. In 2019 it premiered its first annual school concert featuring almost all of its dancers.

In Australia, as is in many parts of the world outside of the Indian subcontinent, students of Bharatanatyam pursue the art form as a means to connect with their culture. Bharatanatyam stands out as an activity that holistically taps into the physical, emotional and psycho-social aspects of wellbeing. Recognising the needs of the diaspora of classical Indian dancers in Adelaide, Somi has tailored a curriculum that focuses on cultural understanding, ensuring the content is delivered to the Australian student in a fun and engaging manner while keeping with its rigour. It is her belief that the traditional arts have always stood the test of time and it is the role of the practitioners to pass down cultural memory to the next generation while adapting to the modern landscape of the thinking student.

Dance classes are held across 2 sites on Fridays and Saturdays at Magill . All classes are conducted by Somi and follow the South Australian school term. Sports vouchers are accepted for all eligible students. Apsaras Arts Adelaide is a member of Ausdance SA and a registered Sports Provider with the Government of South Australia’s Office for Recreation, Sports and Racing.

Apsaras Arts Adelaide- What is Bharatanatyam ?

Bharatanatyam is a South Indian Classical Dance form that is thought to be one of the most beautiful, subtle and sophisticated traditional art forms of the Indian subcontinent. Believed to be performed by the celestial " Apsaras" of South Asian mythology, it is featured in both literature and  architecture of ancient places of worship all over Southeast Asia. As one of the oldest of the seven main classical dance forms prevailing in India, and a history dating back two thousand years, it was developed from ritualistic dances performed as offerings to the deities of Hindu temples.

Bharatanatyam is performed according to the most delicate nuances of a musical piece or poem, through the vehicle of the body. Reflecting the principles laid down in the Natyashastra  treatises, it has received universal approbation.   

There are two main aspects to the dance form. 

'Nritta' is pure dance, incorporating footwork and movement from the vocabulary and 

'Nritya', which is a hybrid of Nritta and Natya (the emotive and dramatic aspect of the dance that portrays the story, poem or text of the dance piece through face, mime and body movements). 

Today Bharatanatyam has spanned across globally as a prolific art form that is practiced by thousands of students and artists. It serves as a means to connect with one's cultural fabric - learning about the mythologies, languages, poetry and stories of India, while also enabling the practitioner to experience a mind and body workout.  With an emphasis on core strength, finesse and rhythmic coordination it continues to evolve and be relevant in this day and age. 

"Classical Indian dance, when performed with an understanding of the philosophical vision and technical wizardry of those who founded and shaped its style, is incredibly modern in its stress on the distilled essence of the most abstract ideas engaging the modern mind." - Smt Priyadarshini Govind

Somi founded Apsaras Arts Adelaide in 2013 under the blessings of her guru Smt Neila Sathyalingam (Founder of Apsaras Arts Singapore) and is the youngest of the 4 director's operating under the Apsaras Arts franchise globally. 

Raised in Singapore , Somi took her first steps in Bharatanatyam at the age of 5 under the tutelage of her guru, the esteemed late Smt Neila Sathyalingam. Smt Neila was one of the pioneer practitioner's of the classical Indian dance form in Singapore, and herself a direct disciple of the visionary founder of Kalakshetra's Rukmini Devi Arundale. 

Under the guidance of her teacher, Somi trained and performed extensively throughout her childhood. With a multicultural performing arts troupe commissioned by the Government of Singapore to promote the country’s multi ethnic diaspora, Somi represented Singapore as a “Singapore Little Angel” in the nineties. 

By the age of 15, Somi had staged her Arangetram - a solo dance debut. This pivoted her deep interest into dance further and she spent many school holidays travelling to India for more specialised training. 

In her performing journey with Apsaras Arts, Somi continued to represent the company extensively. The Singapore Arts Festival, Chingay Parade, Singapore Youth Festival, Esplanade’s Kalautsavam and WOMAD were some of the many local and international festivals held in Singapore that Somi routinely performed for.

Since settling in Australia and subsequently establishing Apsaras Arts Adelaide, Somi discovered her untapped potential  and love for teaching Bharatanatyam. She has curated a syllabus of Bharatanatyam specially tailored for children, and has a growing student population of adult learners- attesting to her ability to inspire and address the needs of a variety of dancers.  She continues regular professional development through conferences, and has been a mentee of the noted teaching artist Ms Durga Devi Manimaran since 2016 focussing on pedagogy in Bharatanatyam.

Notable Performances

You can contact Somi directly via

Email:  somi.somehsa@gmail.com

Phone:  +61 401 734 532

or use the contact form below