SMU Adjunct Faculty, School of Social Sciences, Dr Stephanie Burridge noted that many students go through school without an understanding of traditional performing arts unless they join a relevant co-curricular activity club. Malavika Menon who is a solo Indian classical dancer agrees with Dr Burridge's observations that teachers of different dance forms do not collaborate and influence one another as much as they could. She called for more respect and freedom to be given to traditional performing arts so that the local arts community can develop a brand of truly multicultural performing arts unique to Singapore.