Shrimathi Bavany Shivakymar
began dancing at the age of five under Shrimathi Bhavani Rajasingham at
Isai Lakai School of fine Arts Point Pedro and completed her Arangetram
at theage of nine. She completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Dance and Nattuvangam
at the Baratha Choodamani Academy of Fine Arts in South India under the
internationally famous Shri Adayar K Laksman. She was also trained Kuchipudi,
MohiniAttam and Kathakali, by very eminent gurus Dhanajeyan, MS Saiva,
and Vasantha Aravindha. She was also trained in
vocal music under Oorikkadu Nadaraja. Bavany's dedication towards Indian
Culture has allowed her to explore other Indian Fine Arts such as the Veena,
and Kathak. She obtained gold medials in dance and musical competitions in Sri Lanka. She has also choreographed more than 180 dance items including dance dramas such as Shiva Thandavam, Ramayanam, Valli Thirumanam, Peen Adimai, Kalai Mahal Karunai Sakunthalai, and Ananda Thandavam. Bavany turned her artistry to teaching Indain Classical dance in the Edication Service and later established her own School. The Olympic Sport Club awarded her the Best Dancer title of "Kalai Arasi" in 1973. At the tender age of 13 Bavany was talented enough to perform nattuvangam for three of her students in their Arangatrem ceremony.  In 1984 she migrated to Western Australia and subsequently established the Baratha Kala Bavanam School of Indian Fine Arts in Perth. The School has achieved high level of recognition in the community through its several performances, workshops, Master classes, Seminars and Charity programmes. She has also participated in various cultural shows in India, Srilanka, Bahrain and Australia. Its to further develop her artistry. The grant enableher to spend time in India, Malaysis and Singapore developing new repertoires and gaining new understanding of Indian Fine Arts. She brings her dedication 
and commiment to the sprit of dance and continues her work towards a greater
understanding of Indaian Dances in Western Australia. In 1994 the Shadow
Minister Mr Bill Thomas MLA bestowed the name 'NATYA KALA VALLI' in recognition
of her 25 years of artistic enlightenment to the dance world. Considering
Bavany's contribution and service in the field if Indian dance, the Government
of Western Austraila through the Department for Arts provided further grant
in 1994. Her patience, continuous encoragement and support towards her
students have lead five of her students to complete successful Arangetram
in WA.
In 1995 April St Jphn's College and Hartley College old boys assiciation cordially invited Bavany and her students to perform at the fund raising convert at Deakin University of Melbourne. This program was highly appreciated by the Melbourne Audience too. She has also done workshops and master classes in Sydney and Brisbane. Bavany's commitment and love of Indian Dance allowed her to perform a gruelling 12 hours dance Marathon (NATYA ARATHANAI) at Multi cultural Arts centre of W.A on 10th Auguest 1995, which is the first and only performance of this calibre in Australia. In 1996 April she and her students presented a Marathon dance conrefugees fund raising. In 1997 July the Department for Arts through the Ministry for Culture and the Arts provided a grant to a new Dance project called Ananda Thandavam based on Nanthanar Sarithiram. Bavany also organised a Dance, Drama, and Misic concert "April blossoms" on the 12th April at North Perth Town Hall for the found raising of the MUrugan Temple in WA. She has also performed on 9th Decamber 97 at Eastham Murugan Temple in London and 2nd Decamber in Denmark in Europe.
|
ContactMrs Bavany ShivakumarBaratha Kala Bavanam School of Indian Fine Arts 18 Mclernon Place, South Lake Western Australia Tel (08) 9417 4135 |