Geethashankarandance

10/06/2026

Art is about experiencing "everything"...and being human is what living, breathing, hurting, rejoicing, feeling, learning, and listening to find ways to solve the functions of the EGO, the Body, the Soul & karma.
The I, just carries on for GOOD, POSITIVE & HOPE. 💖🌺💕

08/06/2026

Namaste. Sunday June 7th Classes at GSD Performing Arts Studio

830am - 10am
YOGA:Dance of the Feminine

9am Kathak for Teenagers

10am Drama & Storytelling

1130am Bharatanatyam for Children

👌🌺😀

07/06/2026

One year ago. All the hardwork.
🌿🌹👌

A life in the performing arts, has stories to share, educate, uplift or take lessons from, and be grateful and proud of.

Sadhana, dedicated service, continuous work, perseverance, to hold a lineage, raise a family, and all because I'm keeping a promise to my parents, and living my joy of Odissi, alive.

Thank you to Guru Gajendraji for asking me to do something as a Guru Deba Prasad Das, lineage practitioner along with my children. 🌺

...

04/06/2026

The Life Story of Kapitan China Yap Kwan Seng (1846–1902)

Early Life and Journey to Malaya

Yap Kwan Seng was born in 1846 in Taishan, Guangdong Province, China. Coming from a humble Hakka family, he migrated to Malaya at around the age of 18 in search of better opportunities.

He initially worked as a tin miner in the Seremban area of Negeri Sembilan. Through hard work, determination, and business acumen, he rose from an ordinary laborer to a successful mining entrepreneur.

Rise as a Mining Magnate

In the 1870s, Yap Kwan Seng moved to Selangor and entered the booming tin mining industry. At the height of his success, he reportedly employed thousands of miners and became one of the largest Chinese mining operators in the region.

His wealth and influence grew rapidly, making him one of the most prominent Chinese businessmen in British Malaya.

Builder of Modern Kuala Lumpur

As Kuala Lumpur expanded, the demand for construction materials increased dramatically. Recognizing the opportunity, Yap established large brick-making operations.

The area where many of these brickworks were located later became known as:

Brickfields

The name, meaning "fields of bricks," remains in use today and is one of Kuala Lumpur's best-known districts.

Beyond mining and brick manufacturing, Yap invested in real estate, transportation, and numerous commercial ventures.

Becoming the Last Kapitan China of Kuala Lumpur

Following the deaths of prominent Chinese leaders Yap Ah Loy and Yap Ah Shak, Yap Kwan Seng was appointed the fifth Kapitan China of Kuala Lumpur in 1889.

The Kapitan China served as the chief representative and leader of the Chinese community. His responsibilities included:

Resolving disputes within the community
Maintaining public order
Liaising with the colonial government
Promoting economic development
Overseeing community welfare

He also became one of the earliest Chinese members of Selangor's state administration and public boards.

Champion of Healthcare

Yap Kwan Seng believed strongly in helping the poor and improving public welfare.

Founder of Tung Shin Hospital

He established a charitable medical institution known as Pooi Shin Thong, which provided free treatment and medicine to those in need.

This institution eventually evolved into the renowned:

Tung Shin Hospital

For many years, he personally contributed funds to support its operations and assist underprivileged patients.

Support for Kuala Lumpur General Hospital

Yap also helped establish facilities for the treatment of poor patients, contributing to the development of what later became:

Hospital Kuala Lumpur

Today, it is one of Malaysia's largest public hospitals.

Advocate of Education

Yap Kwan Seng firmly believed that education was the key to social advancement.

He played an important role in establishing:

Victoria Institution

Founded in 1893, the school has educated many distinguished leaders, professionals, and public figures in Malaysia.

Service During Colonial Conflicts

During the Pahang campaigns of the 1890s, Yap provided transportation, supplies, and logistical support to the British administration.

He also participated in fundraising efforts during the Second Boer War, earning recognition from colonial authorities for his contributions.

Final Years and Legacy

Yap Kwan Seng owned one of the grandest residences in Kuala Lumpur, located near what is now the city's historic center. His home frequently hosted British officials, business leaders, and community representatives.

On January 17, 1902, he passed away in Kuala Lumpur at the age of 56.

Shortly afterward, the British colonial administration phased out the Kapitan China system. As a result, Yap Kwan Seng is remembered as the last Kapitan China of Kuala Lumpur.

Historical Significance

If Yap Ah Loy is often credited as the founder of modern Kuala Lumpur, then Yap Kwan Seng is widely regarded as one of the leaders who helped transform the settlement from a mining town into a developing modern city.

His major contributions include:

Expanding the tin mining industry in Selangor.
Developing the Brickfields area.
Founding the charitable institution that became Tung Shin Hospital.
Supporting the growth of Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
Helping establish Victoria Institution.
Promoting Chinese community welfare and self-governance.
Contributing to Kuala Lumpur's urban development.

Today, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng stands as a lasting tribute to his achievements, ensuring that his name remains an important part of Kuala Lumpur's history.

“To all readers, what do you think? Welcome to discuss in the comments section.”

04/06/2026

It's what Dancing teaches you about Attachment or detachment.
You live and experience and,. Let go..

The maturity to be compassionate, is far greater than the pettyness to hold on with no purpose for one's soul.

🌹🌿

04/06/2026

In a series of Workshops in the last year, my Intention was to introduce and infuse in my students / a new generation (regardless of age), .. complementing and supportive genres or forms of traditions that "make us-Malaysians" unique and DIVERSE.👌😊
While I am a classically trained dancer/ performer, but inside me had always been a jolly, happy, COMPOSITION of Multitalent eager to explore any type of Expression!!
Could be Past lives, memories, reliving once more!
ALSO!! the upbringing at the time of my Malaysian environment. My parents are fantastic hosts and citizens. Totally GLOBAL!!
The 70s, 80s, 90s into now..
AND.. the impact of 50s & 60s stories I heard and absorbed from my parents, uncles, aunts and watching videos and reading books of culture and philosophy, history, architecture, archaeology. Migration is evolution and this is ongoing. 🌹

The Chinese have had a great, positive impact in my thinking, from 5 or 6 years of age, and this helped shaped my choices in setting my practices, planning, principles and management templates. The discipline of honour, word, commitment, looking at my father's friends & their goodwill, the spiritual disciples, the monks who visited, the shaolin martial arts movies, kungfu-Bruce Lee, tai chi, the circus acts, the troupes that set up chinese operas stages, the makeup, music, mandarin, calligraphy, literature, dances, costumes, the flair of the movements, the heightened feelings in the skills of the acrobat-gymnast, the grace of the classical Chinese dancers.... All possessed me.

Its an uphill battle to truly influence anyone after this long, with the rush of the current lifestyles, with the advent of social media as a "teacher" that, only if you think it's a trend, all of a sudden, you want an experience of a lifetime, you won a lottery, have an illness, or an ailment that requires you to meet a rare dancer-choreographer... or are influenced to have this for "likes" or...must have an outcome. The expectation is about getting ringgit for ringgit value exchange. Even without full commitment like our days.
We are conflicted by social media earnings and trending fusion dance, and INFLUENCER short term goals.

Then there are others, sincerely wishing/requiring to meet an idol, a beautiful shifu / tokoh guru, truly wanting to study an artform, interested in becoming graceful, in touch with the Feminine spirit, or is awakened to the Blessings of feeling blessed being born or living in a country that's peaceful, harmonious, multicultural, and has voices of ancestry and leadership...
AND, they GO FOR IT!

So! While I can, I shall do my best and leave the rest.

A Chinese folk dance workshop on 13th June to influence in a bit.. for a start.. from a special friend, an idol I admired, when I was already a "someone" in the Arts in the 80s..

It's going to be Work-in-progress for a production in the pipeline, if funding gets passed. If not, it's an experience for greater chances of investments in malaysianness-building.

Jia you! Jia you!! 🌿🌺

03/06/2026