Indian Classical dances by

Ms. Gopika Varma
(Mohiniyattam)

and

Ms. Resmi Girish
(Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi)

at 7:30 p.m.
on Wednesday, 23 May 2007
at Min-sheng Concert Hall
4th Floor, 163-1, Section 5, Min-sheng East Road, Taipei

Mohiniyattam is a dance form said to have originated in Kerala. It is closely related to Bharathanatyam of Tamil Nadu, which was originally called 'Dasiyattam'. Originated as the temple dance performed by Devadasis, it portrays feminine love in its myriad forms - carnal, devotional and maternal- with accent more on Lasya and Bhava. In the main items Cholkettu, Padavarnam and Padam, Mudras and facial expressions are more important than the rhythmic steps. Costumes and ornaments of Mohiniyattam have much in common with female characters of Koodiyattam and Kathakali.

Compared most other dance forms, Mohiniyattam gives more importance to gestural and facial acting. The Mudras (hand gestures) are almost always same as those employed in Kathakali. The artists try to enact the lyrics almost in its entirety, like in Kathakali.






Gopika Varma started learning Mohiniyattam at the age of 10 from Smt. Girija and Smt. Chandrika Kurup, both senior students of Smt. Kalyani Kuttyamma whose student she continued to be for 10 years. Later she specialised in the art form under the able guidance of Smt. Kalyani Kuttyamma herself and her daughter Sreedevi Rajan. She was also fortunate to learn Abhinaya which is the quintessence of Mohiniyattam from Sri. Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, the doyen of the Kathakali stage. Presently Gopika is running a Mohiniyattam school named 'Dasya' at Adayar, Chennai.
Gopika has performed extensively at various art festivals, sabhas and temples all over India and she has won laurels abroad when ICCR chose her to represent India. Love for this graceful and gentle dance of soft rhythm has enabled Gopika to transmit through movements and expressions that at times sigh with nostalgia, purity and sanctity which translate as her own personal worship of the Divine.

The ancient Travancore royal family has been famed down the age for its patronage of the fine arts. Gopika is married into the family to Prince Pooruruttathi Thirunal Marthanda Varma

Kuchipudi
The technique of Kuchipudi closely follows the tenets laid down in the ‘Natya Shastra.’ There is some mingling of the folk idiom, which makes it highly appealing to a wide spectrum of viewers. The training takes about four to seven years, and includes two sets of ‘adugulu’ or basic steps, the ‘jatis’ or combination of movements, and a detailed study of the ‘Natyashashtra’ (theoretical aspects of dance).