MOHINIYATTAM

Mohiniyattam achieved the present identity and a strong stand among the other classical dance forms due to the relentless effort of great artists like Kalyani kutty Amma ,Kalpurattee Kunjukutty Amma and Thottacheri Chinnau Amma. The great poet of Kerala Sri.Vallathol ,in the 20th century established the Kerala Kalamamdalam to promote the arts of Mohiniyattam and Kathakali. The above mentioned three artists were invited by the poet to teach MOhiniyattam at the institution.The song of MOhiniyattam is based on Carnatic music and the language used is Manipravalam {a mix of Malayalam and Sanskrit}.

KATHAKALI

The history of this artform can be traced back almost 1000 years , where the seed lay embedded in the artform called, "KOODIYATTAM".Koodiyattam is the oldest classical artform of Kerala.It is offered as a votive offering to the deity.Koodiyattam literally means "acting together".Kathakali evolved across during the last 400 to 500 years.The contributiion of Maharaja kartika thirunal Rama Varma to kathakali is incomparable.A descendant of the ancient Chera Kings of South India , he encouraged arts and literature in the 18th century.

MANIPURI

RASALILA can be seen as a ubiquitous presence in most of the dance forms.It is a favourite dance in a circle by Krishan with his milkmaids.The dances are presented as a group with Krishna at the helm of the whole show. The dance takes its own style in the different artforms. In Manipuri, it is presented as a group with gorgeous colourful costumes and gentle swaying petal soft movements.

KATHAK

The Vaishnavite cult which swept Northern India in the 15th century and the resultant Bhakti Movement contributed to a whole new range of lyrics and musical forms.The Radha-Krishna theme proved immensely popular along with the works of Mirabai ,Surdas,Nandadas and Krishnadas.The emergence of Rasalila , mainly in the Braj region { Mathura in western U.P.}was an important development.There are three major gharanas { schools } of KATHAK from which performers today generally draw their lineage : The gharanas of JAIPUR ,LUCKNOW and BANARAS.There is also a less prominent RAIGARH GHARANA which is an amalgamation of all the three preceding gharanas , still became famous for its own distinctive style.

ODISSI

The RATHYATHRA festival celebrated annually with much pomp and splendour is the high point of all the festivals, attracting lakhs of devotees and pilgrims from time immemorial.To see the LORD on the chariot on the RATHYATHRA day is to secure salvation from the cycles of birth and death.Thus the grandeur of JAGANNATH PURI must be vivid to anyone from the above description.Early Maharis performed mainly nritta(pure dance) and abhinaya(interpretation of poetry) based on mantras and slokas.Later Maharis performed dance sequences based on the lyrics of Jaidev's "GITAGOVINDA".

KUCHIPUDI

The storyline goes like this.It is said that there was once an orphan of Srikakulam ,who was raised by the villagers.He was married at childhood as was the custom of the time.Later he was sent to Udipi for vedic studies.There he acquired the name Siddhendra Yogi.He returned to Srikakulam after acquiring mastery in his studies.The knowledge of vedas had inspired him into a different life.But the villagers admonished him to go back to his wife and take up family responsibilities.On the way, he had to cross a river.As he was swimming across ,he realised he could not proceed further.He then called the almighty to save him and upon reaching the shore he renounced worldly life and became a sanyasi.He settled in Kuchelapuram and instructed Brahmin boys in devotional dance drams based upon religious themes.These religious plays were presented as offerings to god in the traditon of Natya Shastra.Kuchipudi was thus nurtured by great scholars and artists and flourished as as a dramatic form of dance for hundreds of years.It was held in high esteem by the rulers of Deccan.

BHARATA NATYAM

The ancient temples were centres of religion ,science and various artistic expressions.They were built by the kings as an expression of devotion to religion and art.As we all know, Bharatanatyam one of the oldest form was nurtured in the temples and courts of South India since ancient times.The art was handed down as a living traditiion from generation to generation by the Devadasi system, under which women were dedicated to temples ,to serve the deity as dancers and musicians forming part of the elaborate rituals.The Devadasies were trained by highly talented artistic male gurus{Nattuvanars} who were the sole repository of the art until the 19th century.