'My (dance) teachers saw something in me that I did not see in myself, and for that, I am forever grateful,' says Nadhirah. Photo: Arif Kaser
In the heart of bustling Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, young dancer Fatin Nadhirah Rahmat is silently but steadily rehearsing to showcase her dedicated progress in bharatanatyam.
This Saturday, she will perform her arangetram (graduation ceremony) at the Shantanand Auditorium in the Temple of Fine Arts in Kuala Lumpur, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey.
Nadhirah, 27, has taken time off her hectic daily schedule of rehearsals to share a little about her journey.
“I can’t believe that I have finally arrived at my arangetram, but I am nervous, too!” she says wide-eyed, adding “I don’t want to let anyone down as everyone has all been so supportive of me and generously shared their teaching and advice. It’s a great responsibility I have on my shoulders. I have to do my best.”
Born in Melaka and brought up in Pahang, Nadhirah’s love for dance was ignited at the age of seven while attending Sekolah Kebangsaan Teruntum in Kuantan. Her passion quickly flourished, and she gained recognition when she had the opportunity to perform at Malaysia’s Week in London in 2007 with Tunas Budaya Pahang (the youth wing of the National Department for Culture and Arts, or JKKN).
Inspired by this early experience, Nadhirah pursued her dance education at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage Malaysia (Aswara), where she completed both a Diploma and a Bachelor of Dance (Honours) with a major in Performance in 2020.
Flower girl blossoms
Her father Rahmat Md Noh is the director of JKKN Johor and had always worked with the department in different parts of Malaysia. So, Nadhirah was exposed to arts and culture all through her life.
“From the age of five, I would attend ceremonies and events, and was made the ‘flower girl’ who would present flowers to the VVIPs,” she said.
Nadhirah will perform her ‘arangetram’ ceremony, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey, at the Shantanand Auditorium, Temple of Fine Arts in KL on June 24. Photo: Arif Kaser
Nadhirah is, however, the only one of four siblings who has pursued a career in the arts. Her rare talent led her to become a professional performer with the ASK Dance Company (ADC) after graduating from Aswara.
“In fact, I was already an apprentice in my final year, then was made part of the ensemble and just this year I joined ADC’s senior ensemble. I love my job,” she said.
“ADC has given me a lot of room to develop skills apart from dancing, like choreography and management, and I really appreciate that. I’ve also been fortunate enough to participate in community outreach programmes such as Forging Traditions supported by Yayasan Sime Darby, through which we teach traditional dance to the public, ensuring that our cultural heritage remains alive.
“I very much enjoy taking part in such programmes. Dancing transforms from something I do on my own to something through which I am able to engage with the whole community.”
Between 2015 and 2020, Nadhirah showcased her skills in various significant Aswara productions such as Jamu, Gelombang Baru, TARI, and Main Zapin. Her unique talent also made her a sought-after performer and choreographer in the commercial dance circuit. She has worked on TV shows and music videos for notable artists such as Elizabeth Tan, Ernie Zakri, Shiha Zikir and Wany Hasrita.
Building confidence
Nadhirah has also made her mark on the international stage, participating in a residency by contemporary dance choreographer Hofesh Shechter in Perth, Australia, sponsored by MyDance Alliance.
“Bilqis Hijjas, who was then president of MyDance Alliance, had seen me performing at numerous events and she asked if I would be interested in attending the workshop in Perth. I said yes and it was the first time I attended a dance workshop on my own. That was in 2019. It was nerve-wracking because I had to talk to people and interact with them. During the workshops I was fine because I was able to focus on my dance. But after the dancing stopped, I had to pluck up all my courage to be able to mingle with people,” she said.
Nadhirah in a scene from 'Nasi Putih', choreographed by Aris Kadir during Dancebox 2019 at KLPac. Photo: Huneid Tyeb
Nadhirah shared that it was exciting to learn Hofesh Shecter’s style and repertoire.
“They had auditions for the Perth Festival and I actually qualified in the opening rounds but had to go home soon after as my sponsorship was only for a limited period! Nonetheless, it was a great experience for me to learn a different form and style. The foreigners were all much larger framed, and because I was so petite next to them, I felt I had to make my moves a whole lot bigger and more pronounced. It was certainly a different experience for me and I learnt a lot.”
Nadhirah’s passion and commitment also led her to compete in the television dance competition Dansa Dansing.
She has performed all over the world, including Acheh and Jakarta in Indonesia, Singapore, and Songkhla in Thailand. Notably, she participated in the Roots Of Dance collaboration project in Poland in 2022 and the Khajuraho International Dance Festival in India earlier this year.
Remembering her mentors
Now, as she prepares for her arangetram, she reflects on her journey and expresses gratitude to her teachers and mentors who have supported her along the way. Teachers such as Shyamala Narayanan, Shankar Kandasamy, Professor Joseph Gonzales, Vishaka Devi, Shonabushani Velusamy and Purnima Segaran, all played pivotal roles in shaping Nadhirah’s bharatanatyam skills and encouraging her to pursue her arangetram.
Gonzales, ADC director, has called her “one of the finest dancers of her generation”.
The young woman is indebted to all her mentors through the years.
Unfortunately, Nadhirah also carries a sense of sadness as her beloved teacher Shyamala passed away earlier this year and will not be there to witness her performance.
“Teacher Shyamala taught me during my diploma years and even from those days she would tell me to go for it but I was always too busy with studies and work,” said Nadhirah.
Nadhirah with her family during her diploma graduation day at Aswara in KL in 2020. Photo: Fatin Nadhirah Rahmat
“Now that I am finally able to do it, she is no longer here to see me dance. But I will surely be dancing for her, and all the others who have put their faith in me. My teachers saw something in me that I did not see in myself, and for that, I am forever grateful.”
Nadhirah added that she was also inspired by many of her seniors at college who had done their arangetram.
“I enjoyed watching them dance and I loved learning Indian traditional dance too. I would always think how great it would be if I could also be like them. So when ADC was willing to sponsor my arangetram, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
“My training at TFA began two years ago, prior to that I had already studied bharatanatyam for five years at Aswara. At TFA, I had to go through a series of exams, both theory and practical. It’s been a long journey to get here.”
Supported by the ASK Dance Company and the Temple of Fine Arts, Nadhirah’s arangetram will consist of traditional pieces such as Pushpanjali and Alarippu, Jathiswaram Kalyani, Varnam Sakhiye Intha Jalam, Netranthi Neraththile, Theeratha Vilayaatu Pillai, and Thillana Dhanashree.
Guided by her choreographer, Shankar Kandasamy, and supported by a talented ensemble of musicians, Nadhirah is ready to captivate her audience, and will continue to contribute to the rich cultural tapestry of Malaysia.
Fatin Nadhirah Rahmat debuts as a solo bharatanatyam dancer at the Temple of Fine Arts, Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur on June 24. Showtime is 8pm. Free admission. For invites, contact: 012-590-0488.
