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Journalism of Courage
Mohiniyattam has come beyond Kerala and is going places, says Delhi-based dancer Vijayalakshmi daughter of veteran dancer Bharati Shivaji as she prepares for Mohiniyattam Collective,a three-day festival organised by Centre for Mohiniyattam,which was established by the duo in 1984. The event,which is being held in collaboration with the India International Centre,will open on August 16. The line-up will pay tribute to the dance form and its evolution in and outside Kerala,through performances,discussions,exhibition and a film screening.
Its like music. You first listen to it and then describe it, says Vijayalakshmi,adding,The audience always comes and sees the performance but doesnt know the background,tradition or interpretation. My mother often says that a national focus on the dance form is required and no one is doing that. Besides Panchavadyam,a temple art form performed by Kerala-based Kalamandalam Sreekumar and Group,the festival will also put on display some rare documents on the dance form,sourced from the collection of Bangalore-based Mohan Khokars Dance Collection and the archives of Sangeet Natak Akademi. Lasya Lahiri,a documentary directed by Chandigarh-based Sangeet Natak Academy winner and theatre personality GS Channi,which traces the evolution of the dance form through different regions,will also be screened.
The main focus,however,will be the performances that explore the four styles of Mohiniyattam Kerala Kalamandalam,Kalyanikutty Amma,Kanak Rele and Bharati Shivaji. Opening the festival will be a piece that has background score by international composer Mac Quayle,performed by Vijayalakshmi who will represent the Bharati Shivaji school. Also representing the school will be Russian danseuse Olga Stolyarova and Manjula Murthy. In addition,Mandakini Trivedi will represent Reles style,Athira Shankar will bring out the style of Kalyanikutty Amma and Pallavi Krishnan will perform in the style of Kerala Kalamandalam. The performances will take place after brief notes by historians MGS Narayanan and V Kaladharan,and Mohiniyattam gurus such as Sreedevi Rajan,daughter of Kalyanikutty Amma.
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