With inputs from Ms. Madhavi Yelnurkar, GIIS East Coast Campus Visual Arts teacher and Ms. Srabonti Haldar, GIIS East Coast Campus Dance teacher
At GIIS East Coast Campus, our students are experiencing music in a unique and exciting way through the Performing Arts programme. Our students are guided into developing their musical skills while encouraging them to explore songs in different languages and styles, each with its own emotions and expressions.
Our students are learning a wide variety of music — from Indian songs, including regional languages, to Western music and even Singaporean songs. This diverse exposure helps them to not only improve their vocal skills but also deepen their understanding and appreciation of different musical traditions.
Enriching journey that encourages expressions
In the classroom, they are also introduced to instruments such as keyboards and others, allowing them to explore and experiment with creating music. Beyond lessons, we provide them
with numerous opportunities to showcase their talents through various singing competitions and
Performances. One of the highlights is Global Singing Stars, a prestigious platform that allows our students to perform confidently and share their musical abilities with a wider audience. Such events play a crucial role in building their confidence and stage presence.
Our students also participate in external and internal performances, including events at Singapore Community Centres and school functions. The school choir further gives students an opportunity to shine and develop their artistry. Through all these initiatives, we are dedicated to encouraging and enriching the musical journey of every student, helping them grow into confident and expressive performers.
‘Art empowering students to explore, express, and evolve’
At Global Indian International School (GIIS), we believe that true education goes beyond textbooks and exams. Our award winning 9GEMS Holistic Development Framework is designed to nurture all-round development in students by integrating academics with co-curricular activities. One of the shining examples of this approach is our vibrant art education programme, which empowers students to explore, express, and evolve creatively.
Our well-equipped art studio, the ‘Creativity Zone’, is a space where imagination takes flight. Students walk into this space with excitement and curiosity, ready to experiment with a variety of artistic tools, mediums, and techniques. From sketching and painting to working with mixed media, they engage in hands-on learning that enhances both their technical and visual expression skills.
At GIIS, art education bridges the gap between tradition and innovation. Students are introduced to digital art alongside traditional forms, allowing them to explore modern methods of creation. They also learn to use AI tools for research and creative inspiration, enabling them to stay ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Singapore Book of Records, Moment of Pride
But the learning doesn’t stop within the four walls of the classroom. As part of our experiential learning approach, students are actively involved in creating murals across the campus. From
transforming the canteen wall into a canvas of colorful expressions to contributing to upcoming
mural projects, they experience the joy of leaving a lasting creative footprint. One of our large-scale collaborative artworks was proudly recorded in the Singapore Book of Records last year, a moment of immense pride and recognition for our young artists and the school community.
Art at GIIS is also deeply connected to community engagement. Our students participate in art exhibitions, school events, and set up art booths, where they not only showcase their work but also learn how art can serve a larger purpose. Whether it’s contributing to community service initiatives or designing decor for school functions, students gain a deeper understanding of the social relevance of art.
In addition, our learners regularly represent GIIS in inter-school and international art competitions, where their talent has been widely recognised and awarded. These experiences boost their confidence, sharpen their skills, and prepare them for future creative pursuits.
Skill-based learning nurturing unique talents
Our focus on skills-based education is rooted in the belief that every student has unique talents
that deserve nurturing. Whether they come in with an existing interest or discover a new passion, we offer the resources, guidance, and exposure needed to grow. These foundational courses and activities help students build strong portfolios that can support their future academic and professional journeys.
At GIIS, we are committed to shaping not just academically successful students, but well-
rounded individuals who are confident, compassionate, and creatively expressive. Through the 9GEMS model, we are building a generation that thinks beyond boundaries and
learns through real-life, future-ready experiences.
At GIIS, the 9 GEMS framework nurtures every child holistically. The Visual and Performing Arts gem plays a pivotal role in shaping character, discipline and emotional intelligence. One of the most transformative forms of this gem is dance — a powerful language of expression, emotion, and culture. Through dance, students not only explore rhythm and grace, but also empathy, mindfulness, and deeper self-awareness. It becomes a practice rooted in discipline and connection — to culture, community, and the self.
As part of our Visual and Performing Arts initiatives under 9 GEMS, students at GIIS are given rich opportunities to showcase their talents and embrace dance as both art and service. These include: International Cultural Exchange programmes with schools in China and other countries. Global Performance Exposure in countries like Germany and Malaysia, offering invaluable stage experience to the students. Outreach Performances at Old Age Homes and for Dementia Patients, using dance as a tool for healing and joy.
Students evolve as confident and compassionate individuals
Celebrations of Festivals like Deepavali, Chinese New Year, and National Day, promoting cultural inclusivity through traditional performances. Prestigious Platforms like the PYP Showcase, where students perform for large audiences. Nationwide Commemorations such as SG60, where dance becomes a tribute to Singapore’s unity in diversity. Embassy Collaborations for occasions like Indian Independence Day and Republic Day, hosted by the Indian High Commission.
Each of these experiences reinforces the core belief that dance is not just movement — it has meaning. Our students learn that every performance is a story, an offering, and a bridge
between hearts. Through the Visual and Performing Arts gem, they evolve as confident individuals, cultural ambassadors, and compassionate human beings.
In essence, dance at GIIS is not just taught — it is lived, shared, and passed on with purpose.
Ms. Rakhi Chatterjee
Hindustani Vocal Artist and Senior HOD of Performing Arts Department at GIIS EC Campus.
Music is not just a profession for Ms. Rakhi Chatterjee — it is her passion and lifelong
devotion. She holds a B.A. (Special Honours) in Hindustani Classical Music and an M.A. in Indian Folk Music from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. She has also earned prestigious certifications such as Sangit Prabhakar in Hindustani Classical Music from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad, and Sangeet Bivakar from Bangiya Sangeet Parishad, West Bengal.
A dedicated student of Guru Manjushree Mukherjee and Bidushi Sipra Bose, Ms. Chatterjee is both a seasoned vocalist and an accomplished music composer. Since 2006, she has been associated with the Global Indian Cultural Centre (GICC) and the Global Indian International School (GIIS), enriching the musical journey of countless students.
