The new Indian Heritage Centre will mark its opening with a month-long cultural festival that celebrates the diversity of Indian art forms.
On Thursday, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong opens the centre, about 70 dancers from various dance schools in Singapore will perform on the narrow steps of the elegant four-storey centre in Campbell Lane, opposite Little India Arcade.
Walking Life! through the baoli or narrow steps where the dancers will perform, the centre's director, Dr Gauri Krishnan, says the steps were inspired by traditional Indian stepwells and are a way of connecting the facade to the building.
The idea of using them for a dance presentation is to feature every space of the purpose-built centre which has five permanent galleries spread over 3,000 sqm.
Invited guests will get to see a showcase of different classical Indian dance forms including Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kathak and Mohiniattam.
The CultureFest brings together the best of the performing arts, theatre, dance and popular culture, including a rock concert.
Popular Bollywood singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan kick-started the festival with a sell-out weekend concert at the Esplanade last Saturday.
Dr Krishnan, 51, says: "We felt it was important that popular culture is not missed out. We have tried to present many events that cut across various themes such as traditional arts and crafts, games, trades and food. We also want to cover the cultural traditions of many regions in India."
Among those invited to participate in the inaugural edition of CultureFest is celebrated Singapore-based classical Indian dancer Gayatri Sriram.
Dancers from her school in Singapore, Shruti Laya School of Dance, will be part of the opening act.
Sriram herself will be performing with other dance luminaries such as Santha Bhaskar, 75, artistic director and choreographer of Bhaskar's Arts Academy, at the Victoria Concert Hall on Saturday.
Sriram, 42, says: "This is such a wonderful community effort and the centre is a fantastic showcase of how Indians have contributed to Singapore.
"It is an honour to be part of a festival that is well thought through. It has not only reached out to the various Indian dance schools in Singapore, but also put in incredible effort to choreograph what promises to be a spectacular opening act."
Backed by the National Heritage Board, the centre cost $16 million to build and gallery outfitting works cost $5 million. The building is the culmination of nearly seven years of work and is the newest addition to Singapore's heritage landscape.
The more than 440 artefacts on show - which have been acquired or donated or are on loan - trace the roots of Singapore's Indian community and its links to the global diaspora.
There are exquisite temple jewellery, stone sculptures, costumes and wood carvings as well as vintage suitcases tracking the first journeys of Indian immigrants.
The centre is divided into sections. The first two track the early interactions between South Asia and South-east Asia and the movement of Indians from the 19th to 21st centuries.
The third section chronicles the contributions of early Indians in Singapore and Malaya. The fourth showcases the political awakening of Indians in Singapore.
And the fifth section highlights the contributions of Indians in Singapore from the late 1950s to the 1980s.
Dr Krishnan approached theatre veterans Daisy Irani and Subin Subaiah to explore interesting and different ways to bring history alive.
The acting couple will be ending the CultureFest with a production titled We Are Like This Only, Too on May 30 and 31 at the centre.
They will guide visitors through the galleries using elements of theatre. Expect to get up close with the actors and a whole lot of laughs as they interpret the stories in a theatrical way.
Irani, 55, says: "We have a lot to be proud of as you can tell from the displays. Subin and I will be reprising our popular theatre roles and providing a tongue-in-cheek tour of the space.
"We want visitors to get excited about our shared stories and leave on a high as we walk them through the storyline presented here."
Public relations professional Mansi Maheshwari Patel, 30, is looking forward to the opening of the centre.
She says: "I know the centre is going to be my second home. I attended Shankar Mahadevan's curtain-raiser concert last Saturday and if that was a preview of what the centre has to offer, I am sold."
Culturefest highlights
1. Vizhuthugal, Vizhunthom Yezhunthom (The Roots)
The original hour-long Tamil theatre production by Blacspice Media aims to revive Tamil street theatre in Singapore. The production uses live percussion, music, drama and dance to present the migration of Indians to Singapore and their contributions to the arts. Blacspice Media, headed by creative director Saleem Hadi, won the 2008 Distinguished Community Documentary Award in Cannes for its short film titled Take (2008), about people living in Singapore and their views on death.
Where: Campbell Lane, outside the Indian Heritage Centre
When: Friday, 7.30pm
Admission: Free
2. Street Carnival: art and crafts
Campbell Lane will come alive with this colourful presentation of Indian arts and crafts. Create giant Rangolis, which are drawings on the floor done using a mix of materials including coloured rice, dry flour, coloured sand and flower petals, or get a quick makeover at the sari and turban tying stations.
Where: Indian Heritage Centre
When: Friday to Sunday, 4 - 9pm (Friday), 11am-9pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Admission: Free
3. Jing-Jak Theatre
Theatre group AK Theatre presents Jing-Jak, an interactive theatre production for children featuring the age-old art of Indian puppetry in musical theatre. It tells the story of three friends: Radin Mas, a princess; Jak, a boy turned horse; and Jing, a sad, chubby peacock. Using traditional art forms of Poi Kaal Kuthirai (horse dance) and Mayilaatam (peacock dance), the story of friendship and the importance of inner beauty is celebrated in this fun-filled Tamil play.
Where: Special Exhibitions Room, Indian Heritage Centre
When: Saturday, 11am and 3pm
Admission: Free
Info: For children aged four and older
4. Natya Darpana, a classical Indian dance showcase
The original performance uses classical Indian dance to portray the various Indian festivals celebrated in Singapore. It features several of the country's leading Bharatanatyam dance schools, choreographers and dancers, such as Gayatri Sriram.
Where: Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall
When: Saturday, 7pm
Admission: $10 via Sistic (call 6348-5555 or go to www.sistic.com.sg)
5. Dina Raga Malika, a classical Indian music showcase
Indian ragas or melodies are associated with different times of the day or seasons. Classical musicians will present Carnatic and Hindustani styles of music, bringing together elements from the north and south of India. The showcase features vocal and instrumental music, including various musical instruments such as string instruments veena and sitar, together with the flute and tabla.
Where: Special Exhibitions Room, Indian Heritage Centre
When: May 15, 7pm, evening ragas; May 16, 4pm, afternoon ragas; May 17, 10am, morning ragas
Admission: Free
6. Street Carnival: Traditional Trades
Travel back in time and see traditional Indian traders in action. Get your fortunes read by a parrot astrologer or buy some fresh curd and milk from a milk seller.
Where: Indian Heritage Centre
When: May 15 to 17, 11am-9pm
Admission: Free
7. DIY Indian games
Learn all about traditional Indian games and create game boards, decorating them in traditional Indian folk art styles of Madhubani and Warli painting.
Where: Activity Room, Indian Heritage Centre
When: May 16, 10am - 1pm
Admission: Free. Places are limited. E-mail NHB_IHC@nhb.gov.sg to register
8. Perfume-making Workshop
India has been the heart of The Perfume Route, with a 5,000-year-old distillation vessel found in the Indus Valley. Learn the basic techniques of perfume-making and take a unique scent home.
Where: Activity Room, Indian Heritage Centre
When: May 17, 10am - 1pm
Admission: Free. Places are limited. E-mail NHB_IHC@nhb.gov.sg to register
9. Comedy With Kumar
In this stand-up comedy performance, entertainer Kumar touches on themes and issues pertinent to Singapore's Indian community.
Where: Activity Room, Indian Heritage Centre
When: May 22, 7.30 - 8.30pm
Admission: Free
10. Folktales Of India For Kids
Storyteller Kamini Ramachandran takes children on a colourful journey into the world of Indian gods and ancient animal tales.
Where: Special Exhibitions Room, Indian Heritage Centre
When: May 23, 11am and 4pm
Admission: Free
Info: For children aged four to eight
11. In Fusion With Divine Sutra
Rock out with home-grown Indian fusion band Divine Sutra (with singer Julius Venugopal). The outdoor concert will feature covers of English and Tamil hit songs as well as original tracks from the band's upcoming album, Tales Of Neela Dey.
Where: Campbell Lane, Indian Heritage Centre
When: May 23, 7.30pm
Admission: Free
12. Garba Performance
Garba is a traditional folk dance performed at festivals by the Gujarati community. It is usually performed barefoot. Thirty-five dancers from the Singapore Gujarati Society will present a specially choreographed performance.
Where: Indian Heritage Centre
When: May 29, 7.30 - 9.30 pm
Admission: Free
13. We Are Like This Only, Too
Time to go under one roof with thespian couple Daisy Irani and Subin Subaiah. Their HuM Theatre presents an entertaining and original production that will take visitors through the Indian Heritage Centre featuring humorous stories and characters inspired by those seen in the curated exhibitions.
Where: Indian Heritage Centre Galleries
When: May 30, 7.30 pm, May 31, 1pm
Admission: Free. E-mail NHB_IHC@nhb.gov.sg to register
