ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Suganthy Pirapagaran
Master of Arts in Bharathanatyam (Tanjavur Tamil University – Directorate of Distance Education)
“Her gestures are immaculate and fidelity of expressions is exceptional.”
Smt. Suganthy Pirapagaran started her dance journey at the age of 5 in Sri Lanka under the tutelage of Smt. Daisy Ashok, a diploma holder of Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts, Madras. In 1994 Suganthy continued her training with Smt. Anusha Tharmarajah, also a graduate of Kalakshetra. She has recently completed her Master of Arts in Bharathanatyam at Tanjavur Tamil University via its Distance Education Program. Her gurus describe that “her gestures are immaculate and fidelity of expressions is exceptional”.
Suganthy’s repertoire also includes completion of the different grades of examination led by the oldest Sri Lankan government-recognised institute for music and dance in Jaffna, the Northern Ceylon Oriental Music Society. Her interest in the fine arts was evident as she also pursued vocal training to complement her dance, and Veena lessons in which she sat multiple examinations.
In 1996, Suganthy and her family moved to New Zealand when she was 15. There she continued to take part in various cultural presentations representing this South Indian fine art form, receiving national recognition. With her continued passion, great aptitude and keenness to learn, she later joined Smt. Suganthy Thayaseelan at New Zealand Kalabhavanam. Under her guidance she successfully completed her dance debut, her Arangetram, obtaining her Diploma in Bharatanatyam and becoming the first graduate of New Zealand Kalabhavanam in 2000.
As her guru moved abroad, Suganthy was entrusted with the responsibility of primary dance teacher at New Zealand Kalabhavanam, where she continued the efforts of Smt. Suganthy Thayaseelan and successfully staged the dance production “Shiva Leela” with students of varied calibre, in collaboration with other artistes.
Suganthy has a successful full-time career in IT. She has performed on various stages in community programs in Melbourne and Sydney. Despite her commitments she maintains her enthusiasm to advance her skills further, and recently travelled to India for further expertise in Nattuvangam under the mentorship of “Akshaya Adhyaapika”, “Natya Kala Rathna” Asst. Prof. Mrs N. Ogeswari of Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts.
With the establishment of Kala Vidhya School of Dance in 2017, she hopes to spread the art of Bharathanatyam among interested audiences in Melbourne and impart in her students the same passion and fidelity she has for dance.