Dancer stages fundraiser for her cancer treatment

Navi Indran Pillai who battled and triumphed over cancer not once but two times will be performing in a Bharatanatyam solo recital called Dhanvantrim Nruthyam #kissedbycancer in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The 29-year-old from Shah Alam, Selangor first started learning Bharatanatyam at age six and staged her arangetram (graduation) in 2008 after studying and performing for 14 years.

Navi was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 at the age of 22. Her dreams of becoming a classical Indian dancer was put on hold as she underwent aggressive treatment to regain her health. She beat the disease in 2014 and left to further her studies in Australia.

In 2017 in an annual check-up Navi found out she went into remission, this time she was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer that had spread to her liver and spine.

After 6 months of braving through another round of potent cytotoxic drugs Navi is now completely cancer free again. But she has to undergo a lifelong targeted therapy along with hormone therapy to continue to stay well.

Navi’s therapy costs up to RM15,000 every three weeks. With her insurance coverage depleting, she hopes to raise additional funds and help her parents pay for her medical expenses. At the same time Navi hopes that her performance will inspire others to pursue their passion despite setbacks in life.

“Treatment can take a toll and, with the hormone therapy, my body is going to a lot of places that I can’t really control. But doing something I love really helps. For me, when I dance, I forget that I am sick, that I’m in pain. I feel a thousand times better. For me, dance can be healing,” Navi recently said to The Edge Malaysia in an interview.

In the last few months, Navi has been in the dance studio daily, preparing for her solo performance. Her two-hour-long performance will feature five pieces choreographed by her teacher, Guruvayur Usha Dorai with the help of Indian classical band, Ominous, which will play between her dance pieces.

An advocate for cancer support, Navi is currently the head of the volunteer programme at the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) empowering other cancer patients. She also continues to lobby for stronger support for cancer patients in public hospitals.

‘Dhanvantrim Nruthyam’ will be held on Oct 12 (6.01pm) at the Shantanand Auditorium, TFA, 116 Jalan Berhala, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. Tickets are priced at RM30, RM50, RM75 and RM100. To support Navi’s journey get your tickets at airasiaredtix.com or contact 019-2219314 on WhatsApp.