Aarthi Sankar is one of six acts set to entertain you at Celebrate! AWARE’s 25th Birthday Party. The classical-Indian dancer has been performing since the age of three and sometimes dabbles in Bollywood moves on the side. She talks to Debbie Sim about dance, being an AWARE member and her mum, the superwoman.

While Bollywood is in the rage, why stay Classical? How do you feel you’ve managed to merge the two – is it difficult to do that?
I love Bollywood dancing too, I think it’s so immaculate, grand and theatrical. But classical dance is more rooted and there are more rules and principles to follow since its been around for eons now. I do not believe in diluting classical dance with Bollywood elements nor in making Bollywood dancing more rigid by infusing it with classical principles. Instead I keep them separate, perform them both and and enjoy both of them to the fullest.

You’re a NUS Sociology undergraduate, one of the champions of Vasantham Central’s Indian dance competition, and president of the Indian Cultural Society. Seriously, is there anything you can’t do?
I can’t sing for nuts, I can’t even swim nor can I even cycle (quite sad right??). I draw my inspiration from my Mum – I still secretly think she’s superwoman though she denies it. She has always taught me that if I am passionate about something, I should give it a shot and not come up with excuses about how I cannot do it.

You both sound like superwomen to us. We’re so glad you’re performing at Celebrate!
I’ve been a member of AWARE for 2-3 years now and my mum and both my sisters are also members. My mother always taught us to empower ourselves and remember that there is nothing we can’t do as women. I think AWARE embraces this exact spirit which must have been what drew me to join AWARE. When I was approached to perform and I knew it was for an AWARE event, I figured I could finally contribute back to to this society!

What does AWARE mean to you?
AWARE stands for empowerment, embracing your womanhood and standing up for what you believe in.

What can the crowd expect from your performance at Celebrate?
Lots of fun, energy and vibrance! See you at AWARE’s 25th Birthday Party!

Read other interviews with Lunarin, Baracuda Batucada, MICappella and Like A Band.