Somi Somehsa

🪔 About

Somi Somehsa, also known as Ms. Somi Lindsay, is a Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher based in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. She commenced her Bharatanatyam training at the age of five under the tutelage of the late Smt Neila Sathyalingam, the esteemed founder of Apsaras Arts Singapore. Smt Sathyalingam was a direct disciple of Rukmini Devi Arundale, the visionary founder of Kalakshetra. Somi Somehsa specialized in the Kalakshetra format of Bharatanatyam. Throughout her formative years, Somi Somehsa trained and performed extensively, notably representing Singapore as a “Singapore Little Angel” in the nineties. She achieved her Arangetram, a solo dance debut, by the age of 15. Her performance repertoire includes participation in significant events such as the Chingay Parade (1996-2000), National Day Parade (1997-1998), WOMAD (2002), and lead roles in productions like "Aarupadai" (2001-2002) and "Chidhambara Ragasiyam" (2006, 2009). She has also graced various international and local festivals, including the Adelaide Fringe Festival and OzAsia Festival. In September 2013, Somi Somehsa established Apsaras Arts Adelaide, an Indian classical dance company and school dedicated to Bharatanatyam. This academy operates as one of five global branches of its parent organization, Apsaras Arts Singapore. Since its inception, the school has flourished, now boasting over 50 dedicated students. Somi Somehsa has meticulously developed a Bharatanatyam curriculum tailored for both children and a growing cohort of adult learners. To further refine her pedagogical approach, she has been mentored by specialist Ms. Durga Devi Manimaran since 2016. Apsaras Arts Adelaide holds memberships with Ausdance SA and is recognized as a registered Sports Provider by the Government of South Australia's Office for Recreation, Sports and Racing. Somi Somehsa's contributions have been acknowledged through several accolades. In 2021, she received the Vaagai Tamil Awards for her volunteering efforts aimed at fostering a multicultural society. More recently, in 2024, she was honored with the Neila Sathyalingam Memorial Endowment Award for her significant achievements in Indian Classical Dance. Awards & Honours: Vaagai Tamil Awards (2021), Neila Sathyalingam Memorial Endowment Award (2024), Member of Ausdance SA, Registered Sports Provider.