CREATIVE TEAM
Jasmine Lim
Nanthesh Sivarajah
PERFORMER
PERCUSSION
Deepa P. Mani
Jasmine Lim performer Jasmine has worked and trained in Perth, Melbourne and Singapore. Jasmine began her training in Brunei Darussalam and performed with the company in 2017. Jasmine moved to Melbourne in 2019 continuing her training at the National Theatre Ballet School. She was awarded with the Most Outstanding Individual Performance award from the school. Jasmine is looking forward to contributing to the exploration and creation of thoughtful, inspiring dance art.
Nanthesh Sivarajah is a multidisciplinary artist based in Melbourne, Australia. Nanthesh is passionate about combining his broad artistic skillset to produce unique works. He is a percussionist, trained in both South Indian Classical (Carnatic) and Western forms, and proficient in several instruments including the Mridangam, Kanjira, Ghatam, Morsing, Drumkit and several other percussion instruments. He has two decades of performance experience across Australia and abroad and has played with seasoned artistes at some of South India’s oldest and most prestigious venues.
CHOREOGRAPHER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, PERFORMER Deepa P Mani is a Performing & Teaching Artist with over 30 years of experience in Bharathanatyam and Contemporary dance. As a performer, dance theatre producer, and owner of Chandralaya School of Dance, she advocates for the power of traditional dance to connect people with heritage, identity, and creativity. Born in Chennai, Deepa has danced across India, the United States, and Australia, building communities and promoting dance as a path to wellbeing. In addition to her role as a teaching artist at The Song Room, Regional Arts Victoria, and the John F. Kennedy Center, Deepa has served on the Executive Board of the Creative Women’s Circle, Glen Eira’s Multicultural Art Committee, and advises Glen Eira’s Business and Economy team. A mentor with Inspiring Rare Birds, she is also the recipient of the 2024 APATA National Performing Arts Teacher of the Year Award and has won multiple honours for her work in diversity and inclusion.
Sheena Chundee CHOREOGRAPHER, PRODUCER, PERFORMER Sheena Chundee Choreographer, Producer, performer At the age of 11, sheena attended full-time training at The Royal Ballet School. This foundation led her to perform with notable companies such as The Royal Ballet, The English National Ballet, and the Netherlands Dance Theatre. Throughout Sheena’s career as a ballerina, she worked with esteemed alumni including Adam Cooper, Carlos Acosta, Christopher Wheeldon, Pina Bausch and Mavin Khoo. Sheena relocated to Melbourne, Australia, in 2009 where she founded Rebel Stepz Arts, a multicultural arts organisation dedicated to providing educational and artistic initiatives across communities. Under her leadership, Rebel Stepz Arts has grown into a vibrant hub for creativity, offering a wide range of services including arts education, performances, event management, and team-building activities. Sheena’s vision for Rebel Stepz is rooted in the belief that the arts can serve as a powerful tool for promoting wellbeing, fostering creativity, and building connections among people from all walks of life.
Rohan Dasika DOUBLE BASS Rohan has been a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra double bass section, having previously worked on contracts as Assistant Principal in the same orchestra, as well as in the Frankfurter Opern-und-Museumsorchester. Rohan has also been engaged at many of Australia’s chamber music festivals and venues, often as the result of an association with leading classical accordionist James Crabb. In 2019 as part of the Orchestra of the Lucerne Festival Alumni. Rohan has also participated in numerous concerts and recordings as a member of ELISION, notably giving the Australian premiere of Liza Lim’s “Table of Knowledge” for solo double bass. In 2019, Rohan was awarded the Freedman Classical Fellowship, and since then has begun the lifelong work of bringing the South Indian side of his heritage into his music.
Bhairavi Raman VIOLINIST Bhairavi Raman is a skilled Indian-Australian violinist. Extensively trained in both Western Classical and Carnatic music, she blends concepts and techniques from both styles when she plays. Bhairavi has been performing for music and dance productions for over a decade, with over 400 performances to her name, including at prestigious venues like the Madras Music Academy and the Melbourne Recital Centre. Collaboration is at the heart of Bhairavi’s creative work-she has produced acclaimed projects in close partnership with local and international artists across disciplines including poetry, spoken word, movement, dance and theatre. She has also completed arts leadership programs with the Australian Art Orchestra and Footscray Community Arts Centre.
Rebel Stepz Arts and Chandralaya Dance Presents
TOUCH Where Ballet and Bharathanatyam Converge
TOUCH, a sold-out success at the 2023 Melbourne Fringe Festival, champions diversity and unity through dance. This compelling production brings together Ballet and Bharathanatyam to explore themes of prejudice, racism, and isolation, sharing the personal journeys of two dancers. With powerful storytelling, TOUCH invites audiences into a world where empathy and understanding transcend cultural divides, challenging traditional norms and celebrating our shared humanity. A testament to the richness of multicultural expression, TOUCH fosters a space of inclusivity, connection, and mutual respect.
Sheena Chundee and Deepa Mani -Creators of TOUCH.