About Us

An Overview

The Malaysia Barathanatyam Dance Association was established in the year 2008 with the objective of uniting all the Barathanatyam dance teachers in the country under one umbrella, to work together towards the development of this divine art form in Malaysia.

Currently comprising over 77 Barathanatyam schools, the Association, fondly known as the Barathanatyam Sabha holds its annual festival of Barathanatyam on a grand scale, hosting performances by dancers from Malaysia and India. While providing a platform for Malaysian talents, the Sabha also believes in benefiting from the recitals of experts in the field of Barathanatyam. Workshop and Lecture demonstrations are also an important aspect of the festival, serving as an opportunity for dancers, dance teachers and students to obtain priceless bits of knowledge from senior exponents of this ancient art form.

Through these efforts, the Sabha strives to earn Barathanatyam its deserved status in the Malaysian performing arts industry as well as to train as many students as possible through its activities, to produce dancers of good standard and calibre. Together with the cooperation of all its members, the Malaysia Barathanatyam Dance Association will continue its undying services to the divine art form of Barathanatyam.

The Committee

Our Vision

To have a better understanding of Barathanatyam as a noble art.
To further enhance Malaysia as a centre for cultural development.
To establish a high standard of Barathanatyam by combining the visual and auditory in a temporal process and to create this to be the ultimate goal of dance.
To ensure dancers not only grow into performing artistes but also to blossom into teachers and choreographers.

Our Mission

To promote Barathanatyam as a divine art without deviating from its roots.
To retain and preserve the purity and traditions of Barathanatyam as stated in Baratha Muni’s Natya Shashtra.
To crystallize dance whilst maintaining its fundamental principles and truths.
To unite all the Barathanatyam teachers and students in Malaysia under one umbrella.

The Founder

“Nattuva Thilagam”

Mrs. Indira Manikam

‘Nattuva Thilagam’ Mrs. Indira Manikam is the youngest of the two sisters. Mrs. Indira was educated in Convent Sentul Primary and continued her primary education in India. She later finished her Secondary education in High School, Kuala Lumpur and CIMA College until lower Six Science. Besides excelling in studies, Mrs. Indira is also an outstanding Indian Classical dance graduate from Tanjore India. She is also lucky to be blessed with a supportive husband, Dr. Manikam and three beautiful and talented children. Mrs. Indira Manikam who started dancing at the tender age of two, learnt Bharathanatyam from Tanjore Pichaiya Pillai Bharatha Natya Vidyalaya. From a mere talented dancer, she finally established the Tanjai Kamalaa Indira Dance School in 1966 which has now become one of the leading dance schools in Malaysia.

Throughout her journey in this art industry, Mrs. Indira Manikam has been greatly committed to inculcating traditional values in the youths by promoting and developing Indian dance and culture. Mrs. Indira Manikam has also organised many of these dramas with the main aim of raising funds for the needy. The first dance drama the 'Shiva Gowri' dance drama was staged to raise funds for the Saiva Siddharta Mandram, an orphanage and religious body. The 'Karaikal Ammaiyar' drama was also staged to teach and create awareness of religious and mythological stories to the students and the public. 'Sivagamiyin Sabatham', the biggest dance drama production, was staged in 1991 in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the school. (MIC) education fund. It was staged in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Ipoh. “Kannagi” was staged in 1998 in Petaling Jaya, Sepang and Seremban. “Ramayana and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” comprising very young talents was staged in 2001. Graduates from the school have also performed at the 6th and 7th World Tamil Research Conference held in Kuala Lumpur and Mauritius, the school was once again given the privilege to perform in Mauritius for its Tamil Puthandu in April 2001.

Mrs. Indira Manikam is not short of accolades, collected from all these years of her service to the art, she was awarded several titles such as ‘Narthana Peroli’, Gnanaoli Thiruchudar’, ‘Natiya Sudaroli’, ‘Natiya Kalai Arasi’, ‘Natiya Kala Devi’, ‘Natiya Kala Rani’, ‘Nattuva Thilagam’, ‘Kalaimamani’, ‘Natya Nadaga Thilagam’ and Several Lifetime Achievement Awards in recognition of her dancing and teaching skills. Mrs. Indira has always devoted her time to teaching dance as well as our culture and moral values to give lectures on the art of dancing and its contribution to character building. She has travelled to many towns in Malaysia as a dance judge for competitions among them were those organised by the Tamil Nesan newspaper, Nestle Company, Cine Fashion Magazine and Kuyil magazine.

She has managed to mould and guide many of them towards the right path thus contributing a great deal to the betterment of our Malaysian Indian youths. Most of her students have been privileged to be counselled by Mrs. Indira not only in dance but also in personal and social matters. Mrs. Indira was also the Chairperson of the Women Section of the Silambam Organisation (Indian Martial Arts) from 1995-1998. Mrs. Indira Manikam has held a prominent position in the Council of Yasi Cultural Association under the distinguished Chairmanship of Datum Seri S. Samy Vellu. Mrs. Indira is also a council member of the Tamil Artist Association. In 2009, she founded the Malaysia Bharathanatya Dance Association, with its main aim to congregate all Malaysian dance teachers and students under one roof for their development in the dance field. Apart from being the Founder and the past President of this Association, Mrs. Indira Manikam is also one of the Directors of the NLFCS (National Land Finance Society) Arts and Cultural Trust Foundation.

Mrs. Indira Manikam has no doubt been able to contribute towards the betterment of our Malaysian youths of today. One of her greatest achievements is that she has conducted 1000 Salangai Poojas (first grading) and Arangetrams (dance graduation). From a dancer to a teacher and becoming a choreographer, "Nattuva Thilagam" Mrs. Indira Manikam has elevated herself as a much respected and prominent figure in Indian cultural society. Her contributions would certainly be a great asset in the character-building of our younger generation.

A message from the Founder

This is one of the happiest and proudest moments for me, especially as a Barathanatya exponent.

A long cherished dream was finally been realized today. For years I’ve had a vision of forming a Bharata Natya Association, a place where we, despite our different style of teachings, can be united under one Umbrella. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time and am exited to see this dream funally becoming a reality. This Association is one place where all of us, Barathanatya supporters, students and teachers can call ‘home’.

The journey here has not been as easy one but well worth all the hardship and work. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one who has worked hard in breathing life into this dream and supporting this project. I would especially like to say a special thanks to Tan Sri Dato K. R. Somasundram, the advisor and patron of this association. He has been a rock in terms of support and not only in popularizing the dance form itself but also in helping us with the formation of this Association. I am truly grateful for all his help and service and on behalf of the Association I would like to express our thanks and honor in having him as the patron.

Support is something I feared when it come to the idea of the association. I was worried of how well this idea, this dream, would be received. Personally speaking to many people, I found to my great relief and happiness that this dream was shared by many people and that my fears were unfounded. This is because despite the teachers having different styles or background in Barathanatyam, we were all working towards the same thing – spreading our knowledge of this Art and to get more people interested in Barathanatyam.

This Association is a huge step forward in our efforts to propagate Barathanatyam. Together, I believe we can be a strong force in promoting this dance and looking after the interest of the dancers. Now, we can speak in one voice. It is my fondest wish that with this, we can all unite for a brighter future for Barathanatyam, not only for the continuation of this dance form but also to safeguard an important aspect of our culture, for our children and community.

Thank you.