Kerala · Lasya · Sopana Sangeetam · Element of Air
The dance of the enchantress: Kerala's most graceful classical form. At Kairali, Mohiniyattam is taught in the Kalamandalam tradition: soft, undulating, circular movements set to the Sopana Sangeetam style of Kerala temple music. The ivory Kasavu saree, the jasmine-bound bun, the swaying motion of palm fronds in tropical air.
The Form
Mohiniyattam, the "dance of the enchantress", derives its name from Mohini, the female avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is the quintessential Lasya form: soft, undulating, circular movements that mirror the gentle swaying of palm fronds in tropical air. It avoids the sharp angles and vigorous jumps of other forms; the emphasis is fluid grace, emotional depth, and the subtle expressiveness of the eyes and brow.
The 20th-century revival of Mohiniyattam was led by the poet Vallathol Narayana Menon, who included it in the curriculum of Kerala Kalamandalam, and the legendary Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, who codified its 32 basic adavus and formal structure. The form is associated with the element of Air.
The Margam
Mohiniyattam is as much an aesthetic as it is a technique. Costume, the plain white-or-ivory Kasavu saree with the rich gold border, the smooth left-side bun ringed with fresh jasmine, is part of the dance's identity. We teach students not only the adavus but the aharya tradition that holds the form's grace together on stage.
All Classical FormsTrained by
Founder · Senior Director · Bharatanatyam Guru
Bharatanatyam · Mohiniyattam · Folk · Classical Dance
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