Tan Mei Mei rightly deserves the award presented to her by the High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur on the 9th of March, 2024 during the International Women’s Day celebration at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose ICC.
Tan Mei Mei was one of the seven professional women who were recognised for their outstanding contribution in their professional fields.
For Sutra Foundation, Mei Mei has been an exemplary dancer and teacher, not only because of her artistic contribution in her chosen art of Odissi but also in recognition of her selfless team spirit and genuine care for others. This is a rare quality in the competitive performing arts field.
In Sutra where Mei Mei has spent almost half of her life, she has shown to possess a truly extraordinary spirit of giving to her art and to help her colleagues.
For Mei Mei, the success of the production is paramount. And she will give her best and also to ensure her total support for others in order the collective effort towards the success of the production can be realised.
As a dancer or teacher, behind and on the stage, Mei Mei’s concern for others is sometimes can be seen and sometimes taken for granted. She is always there to help the juniors in class be it in showing the right execution of technique and (being an expert in the elaborate wardrobe of an Indian classical dancer), she is always there to help in the elaborate make-up or complicated tying of the saris.
Being a senior member of Sutra, she does not push herself forward, but on the otherhand, is self effacing. Mei Mei would help others first rather than see herself on the front line. This is her inherent personality that endear her to Sutra where being a Chinese immersed in India culture is never regarded as something strange or out of the ordinary.
Of course, being a principal dancer with Sutra, Mei Mei is a consummate and thinking performer who interprets the artistic characterisation of a role with great care and intelligence.
What is also admirable is her tenacity in making sure that she triumphs in the end in spite of discomfort and pain due to various injuries. We have watched anxiously as Mei Mei battled to finish a performance in spite of knee injuries, marking her steps at rehearsals and giving her maximum best during the actual performance only to slump exhausted afterwards. The pain and agony hidden away from view of her admirers.
Sutra Foundation salutes Tan Mei Mei in her indomitable artistic spirit to give her best to her art and her selfless love and bhakti to grow together with others in her journey.
Sutra Foundation
