A pure expressive dance form from the state of Kerala is unique

One of the famous Indian classical dances, Mohiniyattam gets its name from the word Mohini – a mythological enchantress avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, who helps the good prevail over evil by developing her feminine powers. Whereas, Aattam a Malayali word meaning rhythmic motion or dance. Thus connoting the two, Mohiniyattam means dance of an enchantress, a beautiful woman.

A popular classical dance form in Kerala, Mohiniyattam's roots can be found in Natya Shastra. This dance form follows the Lasya style as described in Natya Shastra. The Lasya style involves a dance that is delicate and feminine. Mohiniyattam includes Carnatic style music and enacting a play through the dance. The songs are typically in Malayalam-Sanskrit hybrid called Manipravalam. Traditionally it is a solo dance performed by women. So here is a list of few well-known Mohiniyattam dancers in India.

Sunanda Nair Nair did hermaster’s degree in Mohiniyattam from NalandaNritya Kala Mahavidyalaya affiliated with The University of Mumbai. She has also completed her Ph.D. from on for thesis ‘Intrinsic Lyrical Feminism in Mohiniattam’. Nair has been a teacher of this dance form and also given many performances. Not only Mohiniyattam, but Nair is also trained in the classical dance form of Bharatnatyam. Nair received her training from masters like KalaimamaniKadirvelu, KalaimamaniMahalingam Pillai and Guru T.V.Sounderajan among others.

DrKalamandalam Radhika Dr Radhika was the first non-resident Keralite to have won Kerala Sangeetha NatakaAkademi award for her contribution in the field of Mohiniyattam as a performer. In fact, she is also trained in Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and various other dance forms. She has conducted more than two thousand performances and workshops all over the globe and is also a member of the UNESCO International Dance Council. She is also known to have, under extensive research, re-organized the basic steps, jewelry, and costumes worn by Mohiniyattam dancers of the early 1940s.

SmithaRajan She is a performer and granddaughter of the legendary Indian classical dancer couple Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and KalamandalamKalyanikuttyAmma. Even her mother SreedeviRajan is a noted Mohiniyattam Guru and is also her teacher. Her training in Bharatanatyam started young and she did her Arangetram at the age of four. Then Smitha’s mother taught her Mohiniyattam and she performed her Arangetram in Mohiniyattam at the age of six, while her grandfather taught her Kathakali and fine-tuned her facial expressions.

Pallavi Krishnan She is known for her versatility as a performer, choreographer, and trainer. While she trained in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam and Kathakali under Guru KalamandalamSankaranarayanan, her passion for Mohiniyattam led her from Santiniketan to Kerala Kalamandalam. She with ease can exhibit both the adavu (technic) and abhinaya (facial expression).