Dance Forms
Mohiniattam
Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest classical dance traditions of India. Literary, architectural, and epigraphical evidence attests to its long history. Rooted in the ancient Tamil culture of South India and enriched through its interaction with Sanskrit traditions, Bharatanatyam gradually developed into a widely recognized dance form and currently practiced around the world. It is characterized by strong and precise movements, intricate footwork, bent-knee postures, rhythmic patterns, and expressive hand gestures. Through the coordinated use of movement, facial expression, gesture, music, and rhythm, dancers bring stories and emotions to life. The art form explores human experiences, emotions, nature, spirituality, and the beauty of the world around us.
Traditionally, Bharatanatyam encompasses three fundamental aspects:
Nritta – Pure technical dance, emphasizing rhythm, geometric movement, intricate footwork, and complex combinations without a specific narrative.
Nritya – Expressive dance in which facial expressions, hand gestures, and body movements communicate emotions, moods, and stories.
Natya – Dramatic representation that brings together dance, mime, music, and storytelling to portray characters and narratives.
The expressive dimension of Bharatanatyam is closely connected to three elements: Bhava (emotion), Raga (melody), and Tala (rhythm). Together they create a rich language through which dancers communicate stories and emotional experiences without relying solely on spoken words.
Bharatanatyam requires years of disciplined and rigorous training. Dancers develop physical strength, flexibility, rhythmic precision, coordination, expressive ability, and a deep understanding of the tradition before presenting their art on stage.
While contemporary Bharatanatyam continues to evolve in response to new ideas, choreographic approaches, and audiences, it remains deeply connected to its cultural roots. Today, the dance form has crossed geographical and cultural boundaries and is practiced and performed throughout India and in communities across the world.
Music and Instruments
A Bharatanatyam performance is traditionally accompanied by a vocalist and a group of musicians that include nattuvangam (cymbals used to articulate rhythmic patterns), veena (a traditional string instrument), mridangam (a barrel-shaped, double-sided percussion instrument), violin, and flute. The tambura or sruti box provides a continuous sustained drone, establishing the foundational pitch reference for the vocalist and musicians.
Together, dance and music create the distinctive rhythmic, expressive, and storytelling language of Bharatanatyam.
Bharatanatyam
Mohiniattam is one of the eight Indian classical dance forms of India that and originated from Kerala, in Southern India. The name is derived from “Mohini,” the lyrical “Dance of the Divine Enchantress” an avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu. Known for its delicate, graceful movements and deeply expressive quality, Mohiniattam reflects the beauty of Kerala.
The dance form has its philosophical and technical foundations in the Natya Shastra, the ancient Indian treatise on dance, drama, and performance. Mohiniattam was revitalized in the 19th century under the patronage of the Maharaja of Travancore and, later, through the efforts of Vallathol Narayana Menon, founder of Kerala Kalamandalam. The form as practiced today also draws inspiration from Kerala's traditional social and festive dances, including Kaikottikali and Thiruvathirakali.
Mohiniattam emphasizes the “Kaisiki Vritti”, a graceful and delicate mode of movement. Its distinctive vocabulary is characterized by gentle, undulating, and circular movements, with a continuous, flowing sway of the torso. The dancer's movements often evoke the natural landscape of Kerala—the swaying of coconut fronds, the rhythmic ebb and flow of ocean waves, the grounded yet graceful movements of temple elephants, and the gently sloping forms of Kerala's traditional temple architecture.
Expressive storytelling (abhinaya) is central to Mohiniattam. Through facial expressions, hand gestures, eye movements, and controlled body movements, the dancer conveys emotions, characters, and stories. Rather than relying on dramatic or forceful movement, Mohiniattam often communicates through softness, nuance, and an intimate connection between movement and emotion.
Music and Instruments
The musical tradition accompanying Mohiniattam is closely connected to Kerala's cultural heritage. The vocal repertoire may incorporate lyrics in Manipravalam (literary blend of Sanskrit and Malayalam language), along with Malayalam compositions. The music supports the dance's graceful and lyrical character and provides a foundation for both rhythmic movement and expressive storytelling.
The traditional ensemble may include kuzhitalam (cymbals), veena (a traditional string instrument), idakka (an hourglass-shaped drum), mridangam (a double-sided barrel-shaped drum), violin, and flute. The musical accompaniment is closely associated with the Sopana tradition of Kerala, a distinctive style of devotional music whose name refers to the steps leading to a temple sanctum.
Through its flowing movements, expressive storytelling, and connection to Kerala's landscape and musical traditions, Mohiniattam offers a unique language of grace, emotion, and cultural expression.
In the Press
"Chandreyee's Mohiniattam movements were spontaneous and supple."
The Telegraph, January 12, 2013
"Gifted with an attractive demeanour, eminently suited for Mohiniyattam, Basu Thakur gave a sparkling recital. The contrasting emotions were perfectly executed by the dancer."
The Telegraph, April 21, 2007
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