About Us
The brainchild of 3 Balinese dancers living in Singapore - Elly Evyana, Intan Handayani and Irving Chan Johnson - Eka Suwara Santhi boasts almost a decade of experience in enlivening Singapore's cultural scene through Balinese Dance.
Eka Suwara Santhi comprises 3 words – the number 3 being an auspicious number in the Balinese belief system. Derived from old Javanese (kawi), the sacred language of Balinese texts, Eka means Oneness, Suwara stands for Wisdom and Santhi translates as Peace. The name is derivative of the Trimurti – Brahma (Eka), Siwa (Suwara) and Wisnu (Santhi). The name connotes Harmony and Balance – the unity of dance, music, art and emotion.
Eka Suwara Santhi also maintains Singapore’s only performing Barong. The performance of the Barong represents the god Siwa and all that is good, with the Barong itself a mythical creature in Balinese belief. Eka Suwara Santhi’s Barong is named Ratu Bagus (the Wise King) another reference to the god Siwa. Ratu Bagus is always accompanied by his divine consort, the Goddess Durga – at Eka Suwara Santhi she is Ratu Ayu (the Beautiful Queen). The mask for Ratu Ayu and her student I Kalika, were carved by the late I Made Tangguh from the village of Singapadu and one of Bali’s most distinguished mask carvers.
Artistic Directors
Irving Chan Johnson
"I teach Balinese dance as I was taught it by my teachers in Batuan. Dance is not just about a mastery of the vocabulary of movement but a dance is someone who is familiar with what he/she is doing."
Intan Han
"I began learning Balinese dance as a child in Jakarta. With Eka Suwara Santhi I hope to influence a new generation of Balinese dancers in Singapore."
Elly Evyana
"I realised that Balinese dance was a part of me despite not living in Bali and not performing regularly. I feel that I have the skills both to perform and to teach and have a responsibility to keep Balinese culture alive overseas."
Adelia Sukma
"I moved to Singapore in 2014. With Eka Suwara Santhi, I have had a lot of valuable opportunities to perform and collaborate with both Singaporean and Indonesian artistes. "
Voices from the Troupe
What does Balinese dance mean to the members of Eka Suwara Santhi? What makes Balinese dance so unique?
Hear from some of our dancers below!
Qistina
"Balinese dance has become a vessel for me to express my deepest emotions, connect with my roots, and share the beauty of Indonesian culture with the world. Through every graceful step and fluid motion, I strive to honor the rich heritage of Balinese dance and its profound impact on my life
Sitti Nurbayah
"Being a Balinese dancer is not just about the physical aspects of the dance, but also about embodying the spirit and essence of Balinese culture and tradition. It requires discipline, dedication, and a deep appreciation for the art form and its history.
Khai
"I like Balinese dance because of its combination of complexity and beauty — the storylines, spiritual contexts, connections with nature, ethereal costumes and of course, the enchanting sounds of live gamelan.
Even after a decade, I am still learning to improve on my movements and showmanship... the learning never stops.
Past Events
Here are some of the performances that Eka Suwara Santhi has engaged in!
