Director's Bio
Education
Selvi Sureswaran has a degree in Bachelor of Arts at the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. She was a fully trained professional teacher in Sri Lanka before migrating to Canada.
She was trained in Bharathanatyam, under her Guru the late Mr. Aerampu Supaiah and then by his daughter Mrs.Shanthini Sivanasan for fifteen years at “Kalapavanam” Kokuvil, Sri Lanka. While in Sri Lanka she won first place, three times in “All Ceylon Dance Competition” in following years 1977, 1978 and 1980. Her passion in dance made her pursue learning in-depth choreographies of Dhananjayans by getting trained directly by Bharata Kalanjali. She was trained in “Natuvangam” (Music composer) by internationally renowned dancer choreographer Hari Krishnan. She mastered herself in Nattuvangam with the guidance of renowned dancer Late guru Adyar Lakshmanan. She performed Bharathanatyam with many world-renowned artists like Janak Khendry, Lata Pada, Hari Krishnan , Gopu Kiran and Divya Shiva Sundar. She has given performances in Europe, Sri Lanka, India and North America.
Dance School
Smt. Selvi Sureswaran is the Managing Director of Sri Abiramy Dance academy, one of the leading organizations that brought this ancient art to the province of Ontario in the 90’s. The organization was formed by Selvi Sureswaran in 1995 and now conducts classes in Mississauga and Scarborough and the region of Waterloo. Sri Abiramy Dance Academy, is a organization created to preserve South Indian Arts and Culture. The main goal is to preserve and nurture South Indian classical Dance among fellow Canadians and to help build a cultural mosaic in the province of Ontario.
Sri Abiramy Dance Academy provides more than 50 programs annually in the province of Ontario. Madras Arts and Cultural Association, Annual show by Annamalai University, South Asian Festival conducted by Toronto School Board, Silk Road Festival , The Annual Tamil Cultural Nite, Annual “Tapestry” festival by the City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo Bi-centinal festival, Canada Day celebrations, Cambridge YMCA “Unity & Diversity”, YMCA Peace Medallion, Mahajana College, Theepam Kalaimalai, Sri Durga Devasthanam Navrathri Celebration Toronto, Ganesha Durga Devasthanam Mississauga-Canada, Sri Bathrakaliamman Temple Toronto, Sri Varasiddhi Vinayagar Temple Toronto, events organized by various associations etc are some of leading events taken part over the years.
The community fund raising events to include are the Canadian Red Cross, Indo-Canada Association , Child Haven International etc. A note worthy performance was to raise a sum of $10,000 to the Tsunami relief fund in Waterloo.
Selvi's student performed a 1 hour solo Bharathanatyam in US in 2016, at the main event of the Cleveland Thagaraja Festival, the largest Indian classical music festival outside of India.
She has a total of 20 arangetrams to her credit and a total of 24 students that completed arangetram under her guidance.
Selvi conducts workshops for her students and are given opportunities to learn with world-renowned artists like:
· Workshop Conducted by dancing duo Sri V.P. Dhananjayan and Shantha Dhananjayan founders of BharataKalanjali.
· Workshop conducted by Gopu Kiran (Bharatha kalanjali dancer and instructor)
· Workshop conducted by Divya Shivasundar (Bharatha kalanjali dancer and instructor)
Selvi’s Awards
Selvi received the“Adal Arasi” award in 2003 from the Tamil Cultural Association of Waterloo Region for her commitment to Arts and Culture in the region.
“Naatyakala Mamani” award given to Selvi in 2010 by Sridurga Hindu Temple, Toronto, Canada
”Naatiya Sironmani” tilte was awarded to Selvi by recognising her dance experience and for spreading the south Indian classical art to the common people by Sri Varasiddhi Vinayagar Devasthanam , Toronto, Canada.
Toronto District School Board “Diversity Award” was presented to Selvi for her outstanding contribution towards South Asian community. This award was presented by Diane Dei Amoah TDSB chair of Asian Heritage on June 7th 2014 at Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute.
Students Awards
Students of Sri Abiramy Dance academy have participated and won prizes in various dance competitions. Some of them are:
Shapthi Sateeshwaran 1st pace holder at prestigious 2019 Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival in US ( Invocation round and the keerthanam round) Isha jiju received special mention in the invocation round.
2019 at New Jersey Natyanjali hosted by New Jersey Natya Sangamam.
Shapthi Sateeshwaran 1st place in Junior category
Rachna Venkatesh 3rd place in Intermediate category
Isha Jiju received Special mention in the sub junior category.
Rachna Venkatesh, Kaayena Patel, Swathi Salil and Shaumiga Ranjan recived 2nd place in Group dance
Rachna Venkatesh 3rd place holder at prestigious 2018 Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival in US. Shapthi Sateeshwaran also received Special mention award in the Junior category.
Leya Oommen was 1st place holder in 2018 at New Jersey Natyanjali hosted by New Jersey Natya Sangamam.
Rachna Venkatesh and Divya Ramachandran was placed among Top 5 finalist at prestigious 2017 Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival in US.
Leya Oommen was 1st place holder in 2015 at the prestigious Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival in US, the largest Indian classical music festival outside of India.
Shaumiga Ranjan was also placed among the top 10 the same year at Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival the in 2015.
Mirra Bharath won 1st place in MACA 2014 Bharathanatyam Competition held in Toronto Sringeri Mutt.
Abira Sivakumaran won 2nd place, Tharsha Rajalingam won 2nd place in 2008 Briyanka Pirabaharan 1st place in 2011 by competing in Papanasam Sivan’s Annual Dance and Music competition.
Vismaya Sreekumar, Leya Oommen and Isha Jiju have won prizes at competitions conducted by TMS, CMA over different years
Won Silver Medal by her student Briyanka Pirabaharan in 2010 for competing in Ontario Development Agency and 3rd place in 2011 Dance competition conducted by TVI(Tamil Vision International) .
Sri Abiramy Dance academy won the silver and gold medal respectively for Ontario Dance Festival in 2007 & 2008, sponsored by Ontario International Development Agency.
Leya Oommen @ Cleveland
Shapthi Sateeshwaran @ Cleveland
Productions and Events
Her dance programs are classical and semi-classical in nature. In keeping with changing faces of Canadian society and culture, she combines Indian art with that of other multicultural performing arts.
1995 – till date : Abiramy Natyalaya School participates in Annual Programs conducted by Mahajana College , Theepam Kalaimalai , Sri Durga Devasthanam Navrathri Celebration Toronto, Ganesha Durga Devasthanam Mississauga-Canada, Sri Bathrakaliamman Temple Toronto, Sri Varasiddhi Vinayagar Temple Toronto and Tamil Cultural Nite Waterloo Association
2001 : Cinderella - Musical Dance Show emphasizing on Chinese and Indian culture
2004 -2006 : Charity Dance Show for Tsunami fundraising , Canadian Red Cross and Indo-Canada Association.
2008 : Modern Contemporary Dance performed by Abiramy Natyalaya Students in City Hall
2008-2009: Silk Road Festival – Sri Abiramy Natyalaya promoted Bharatanatyam classical dance by performing in Multicultural Art Festival.
2010 : Workshop Conducted by dancing duo Sri V.P. Dhananjayan and Shantha Dhananjayan founders of BharataKalanjali.
2010 : Naatyarpanam – Dance show presented by Sri Abiramy Natyalaya for funding to support education and community outreach programs. Choreography by : Dhananjayan’s , Danced by : Sangeetha Balasingam
2012 : Prayanam – Workshop conducted by Gopu Kiran (Bharatha kalanjali Dancer) and the staged by Abiramy Natyalaya and natya Sangara Shantalayam productions
· 2013 : Siva Sakthi Pravaham - Workshop conducted by Divya Shivasundar (Bharatha kalanjali Dancer) and students of Sri Abiramy Natyalaya danced about the different aspects of Lord Shiva and Sakthi.
· 2013 : Krishna Dance performed by her students in Deepavali festival conducted by Madras Arts and Cultural Association
· 2013-14 : Students performed folk and classical dance in South Asian Festival conducted by Toronto School Board.
· 2014 : Performed fusion, folk and classical in the 25th Anniversary Celebration conducted by Tamil Cultural Association of Waterloo
· 2014 : OM Saravana Bhava – Workshop conducted by Divya Shivasundar (Bharatha kalanjali Dancer) and students of Sri Abiramy Natyalaya danced about the different aspects of Lord Murug
Training
Classes are conducted every week for all the Levels. Sri Abiramy Natyalaya trains students in kalakshetra style dance techniques.
Practicals : once every week . Hours are based on the dance level .
Theory : Follow Annamalai University Curriculum
Exposure : Students are given opportunity to perform in the dance events based on their level and interest.
Exam : Prepare students for the exam to appear in Dance level courses conducted in Annamalai University Toronto. Dance Levels : Level 1 – Level 7
Arangetram : See more info under the recital menu.
For Info : 647 - 407 - 1961
