VALSALA SIVADAS
Exponent of Bharata Natyam

www.artindia.net is privileged to present this page on VALSALA SIVADAS as part of its series on outstanding artists of India.

Datuk Mohamad Shafie told reporters that the UNESCO defines 'living heritage treasures' as "people with the highest degree of skills and techniques in core aspects of cultural heritage". "We will popularize their success in the programs that we organize," he added. The others awardees were Losimin Majanil, 83 (a shaman and source of reference for the Kadazandusun community in Sabah, Borneo island), Abu Bakar Jaafar, also 83, a 'Boria' (a Malay folk tradition) exponent, Ali Badron Tarbus, 75 ( a master story teller) and Tan Hooi Song, 61 (an expert on traditional Chinese drums).

Born in 1942 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Smt. Vatsala's artistic journey began with her Arangetram in 1954 under her husband and dance guru (the late) Sri V. K. Sivadas. The couple formed the 'Sivadas-Vatsala Dance Troupe'which took the whole Malaya by storm with a rich variety of items, costumes, props and supported by musicians of high caliber. The Sivadas-Vatsala Dance Troupe had the honour and privilege of performing at the inaugural Malaysian Independence Day celebrations on August 31st, 1957.

In 1962, Srimati Vatsala underwent advanced training in Bharatanatyam under (the late) Sri Kutralam Ganesha Pillai in Chennai. Sivadas and Vatsala were the pioneers to conduct Indian dance classes on a systematic and regular basis. They conducted their dance classes at many centers in and around Kuala Lumpur. Their students are a legion spanning 3 generations.

With the advent of television in 1963, their popularity grew even larger and they performed regularly over this new medium. The Sivadas-Vatsala Dance Troupe performed at many state functions and official receptions for visiting foreign dignitaries like US President (the late) Lyndon Johnson, the Prime Minister of India (the late) Indira Gandhi, (the late) Shah of Iran, for members of the British & Japanese Royalty and many others. The Indian High Commission presented Sivadas and Vatsala a rare gift of 2 sets of peacock feathers in recognition of their outstanding work in promoting Indian arts and culture in Malaysia.

The 'Living Heritage Treasure' award is, indeed, a fitting honor to Srimati Vatsala not only for her selfless and dedicated service to the propagation of Indian fine arts in Malaysia but also to the greater cause of evolving a truly Malaysian cultural tradition.