video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=wwXIfr&v=1466038264390279&rdid=nIU0sVTwylPJ17Js
It was a night to remember the Sutra magic of dance and art. Enchanting as it was, a night of colourful dazzling dance and art display by Klang’s young stars who lit up the Sutra stage. The dance was showcased in an open-air round theatre, under the shimmering and brightly lit flora and tropical trees. A sea of colour unfurled across the open-air Sutra Dance Theatre in Titiwangsa, as teenage dancers, radiant in bright red Indian saree and blouse costumes of every imaginative cut and flourish, took to the stage, swirling, twirling and spinning through the misty after-rain air atmosphere.
At the heart of this unforgettable evening was Malaysia’s legendary dancer and choreographer, Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, the host. With his signature blend of artistry and vision, he orchestrated a breathtaking two-day Odissi dance and art extravaganza at his beloved Sutra House in Kuala Lumpur — a tribute to fresh, untapped talent from Klang, where Sutra Foundation’s Dance Outreach Program had sown seeds of creativity over the past four years. The show was themed “UNBOUND ODISSI: A combined Dance and Art Exhibition” event inspired by Sutra’s Odissi theatre. The performance was by the student dancers of Raas Leela Performing Arts Artists of Play & Paint Art Studio, Klang.
"It was a historic moment for Odissi in Klang," Ramli beamed, speaking to Newswav. "We were overwhelmed with a full house — about 200 dance and art lovers each night — gathered under the open skies in a theatre ringed by lush flora. Sutra’s mission is to preserve, nurture, and promote the performing arts while fostering sustainable cultural and environmental appreciation." video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=wwXIfr&v=1466038264390279&rdid=nIU0sVTwylPJ17Js
Adding prestige to the evening, Shri Shanmugam Mookan, the Prime Minister’s Special Officer for Indian Affairs and a proud son of Klang, graced the event as a guest of honour. His encouragement lit up young faces, urging them to continue enriching Klang’s cultural tapestry. “Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has always emphasised that Malaysia’s economic progress must go hand in hand with the growth of our cultural soul. And, in line with that vision, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has been tasked with preserving our heritage, and empowering it to grow, evolve, and reach new audiences,” Shanmugam said.
As twilight melted into night on April 25, 2025, a cool breeze carried the fragrance of rain through the air, heightening the sense of magic. The audience sat spellbound, drawn into a dreamworld crafted by the lyrical movements of the Odissi performers. The night was an odyssey of movement and colour: Sutra celebrated Klang’s rising stars. “Our students are both children, teens and adults. The dance group mostly consists of ladies who are in their early 40s. They should be applauded for participating at this age, same goes for my artist group, youngest 12 and the oldest participant is 65,” said Priya Yogi, director of the dance and art academy.
Meanwhile, inside Sutra House, another kind of wonder awaited — an exquisite visual arts showcase curated by Nirmala Karuppiah. Paintings and sketches created by dance and art students of Raas Performing Arts, some as young as five, captured the essence of Odissi through water colours, pencil strokes, and acrylic bursts of emotion. The artwork, alive with graceful movement and emotive expressions, left even seasoned art lovers stunned.
For many visitors from Klang, it was their first glimpse of Sutra’s magic — and they were awed.
Datuk Ramli, celebrated globally for his mastery of both Odissi and contemporary dance, praised dance teacher Priya Yogi and artist Antonio Lopez for orchestrating a show that seamlessly blended two art forms into one symphony of beauty.
Former South China Morning Post editor Cyril Pereira captured the spirit of the night perfectly: “It was astonishing to see the dual artistic expression — dance and visual art — bloom at Sutra. These children, from tiny tots to teenagers, revealed talent that transcended dance routines. Their creativity awakened a sense of pride and wonder in parents, forging stronger family bonds and inspiring a community-wide celebration of youth and potential.”
At Sutra that night, it wasn’t just a performance. It was a celebration of heritage, passion, and the boundless possibilities that ignite when young hearts are given the stage — and the freedom — to shine.
Although interested in dance since childhood, Ramli only seriously ventured into the art form while studying mechanical engineering at the University of Western Australia, where he trained in ballet and modern dance. It wasn’t until later that Ramli specialised in Odissi, training under Deba Prasad Das in India.
Upon returning to Malaysia, Ramli founded the Sutra Dance Theatre and Sutra Foundation. He became a pivotal figure in promoting cultural diversity and bringing international recognition to Indian classical dance through critically acclaimed performances like Odissi spectacular, Jaya Ram. Ramli’s influence extends beyond the stage, having taught generations of dancers and choreographers while remaining an outspoken champion of the arts.
Ramli’s dedication to the arts has earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri Award from India. He continues to champion the integration of arts and culture into the human development index. One of his philanthropic programmes is the Sutra Dance Outreach Program, designed to nurture young dancers from underserved communities. He is acknowledged as an example of Living Heritage by the Malaysian government and was awarded one of the highest civilian honours in India—the Padma Shri award—in recognition of his contribution to the arts.
Though he was artistically inclined, Ramli Ibrahim was also an accomplished academic student who qualified for the science stream, and even went to Royal Military College. He furthered his studies in Australia and is a qualified mechanical engineer.
ends
Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy (www.imkrishna.net) is a media coach, adjunct professor and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with Bernama, NST, The Star, and Malaysiakini. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German and Australian Television networks and the New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society's concerns.
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