Born and raised in Melbourne, Rukshikaa Elankumaran often journeyed to Chennai, India, the renowned hub of Bharatanatyam dance, to delve deeper into her artistic pursuits. Now, she is thrilled, along with many other artists, to welcome the return of the Indian Performing Arts Convention (IPAC) to Melbourne this May.
“This convention holds immense significance. While Melbourne boasts numerous dance and Carnatic music schools, there has been a lack of dedicated space and time for the community to come together to learn, explore, and share. IPAC addresses this gap by providing a platform for exactly that,” says Elankumaran.
She adds, “This initiative is particularly vital for my generation, who often find themselves navigating a space with no clear trajectory. Personally, I always felt drawn to Chennai as the hub for Bharatanatyam, longing for the opportunity to learn more, which was unavailable in Melbourne.”
IPAC was launched in 2021 with a strong focus on the development of music, Carnatic musicians, and Bharatanatyam dancers led by acclaimed artists from India, Singapore, and Australia. A collaborative initiative between Monash University Performing Arts Centres (MPAC), the Academy of Indian Music Australia (AIM), and Apsaras Arts, Singapore, it is returning to Melbourne for its fourth year this May.
Australia’s legendary percussionist Ravi M Ravichandhira OAM, who has played a pivotal role in establishing IPAC, says, “This presents a great opportunity to reshape the way young adults think about dance and music. It operates as a mentor-led program, aiming to inspire and empower participants.
“The convention provides ample opportunities for collaboration, allowing luminaries, musicians, and dancers to spend a solid week with young adults and collaborate with established musicians and gurus. It is inclusive and open to all, featuring various elements such as lecture demonstrations and more.”
As always, Aravinth Kumarasamy, the artistic director of Singapore-based Apsara Arts, an award-winning dance company, is curating the Convention in Melbourne.
Elankumaran, under the guidance and mentorship of the extraordinary dance icon, Priyadarsini Govind, has a special number for the Dance Showcase section of the week-long event. This exciting new work involving seven dancers was developed as part of last year’s IPAC, during an intense one-week in-person conception phase with Govind, and further refined with online and in-person workshopping leading up to the premiere on Sunday 26 May.
Throwing light on her upcoming creation and performance, she says, “It mirrors my life journey, following the narrative of a young girl on a quest for happiness, ultimately discovering bliss through dance, spirituality, and self-realisation. For me, it represents the convergence of these three realms: dance, spirituality, and psychology, which I am currently studying.”
Importantly, for Elankumaran, having Priyadarshini Govind as a mentor to guide and support her in navigating the concept has been invaluable. “It not only aided in the creative development of the work but also served as a learning experience, shaping my approach to future concepts.”
This year’s other program highlight is “Three Bright Stars,” presented by MPAC. This extraordinary event brings together Dr S Sowmya, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, and Rama Vaidhyanathan, renowned figures in Indian classical arts, for the first time. The trio will be accompanied on the mridangam by Ravichandhira.
The Music Showcase concert will feature world premieres of two musical works guided by Carnatic music giant R.K. Shriramkumar. Australia’s aspiring Carnatic vocalists and violinists will demonstrate their newfound skills following an intensive four-day workshop series led by Dr Sowmya and Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi. This marks the debut live performance of their key learnings on Saturday 25 May.
Lecture demonstrations by Dr Sowmya, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi and Bragha Bessell are also on the IPAC program.
While looking forward to this unique convention, Ravichandhira, notes putting up such an event has its challenges, funding being one.
He notes with IPAC, “We now have the privilege of these legendary artists coming to Melbourne, allowing young dancers to learn from them, witness their performances, and bridge the gap between generations.
“We all aspire to grow from where we are,” he says.
The fact remains, Melbourne’s cultural life is set to get richer.
Find out more here.
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