Mohini Attam

The Dance of the Enchantress




Kerala has brought an exceptionally rich contribution to the  performing arts,  through the conservation of ancient genres, which have disappeared elsewhere, just as much through the creation which dips at the same time into popular sources as well as those of Hindu mythology.

Mohini is the enchantress, the feminine incarnation taken by the the god Vishnu notably to fight the terrifying power of the demons. Many stories tell of how, in this form, the charm of Mohini suceedseds in diverting the menace of the demons who succumb to seduction.  Dazzled and fascinated by the dance,  they forget the object of their covetuousness.
 
 

These  myths, in their different versions, have inspired the artists. And Mohini gives her name to this dance (Attam) of the lasya style , feminine, supple et gracious.  Mohini Attam was dansed in the courts of the sovereigns as well as in the compounds of temples and was for this reason representative  of social art, the art of the court as well as religious art.

Mohini is the Enchanteress. And her dance appears to be a charm of beauty which envelops the beholder to bring him closer to the divine. Mohini Attam privileges the circle, the curve and the spiral.  There is very little violence in the footwork, the steps are almost gliding. Very little tension: the movements of the torso are easy, natural and never break the line of the body which ondulates in a supple manner  from the waist upwards. Each gesture engenders another, subtly, without rupture.

The 24 basic mudras are those described in  the Hastalakshana Deepika, a work of primary importance of the ensemble of theatre forms of Kerala. The edakka, a percussion which charateristically accompanies Mohini Attam, is an instrument capable of giving melody and rhythm at the same time, is surrounded by the shudda maddalam, the  mridangam, the veena, the flute and cymbals.
More than in other styles of dance , the expression of sentiments "rasa" are particularly developped in Mohini
Attam. A passageof Saundarya Lahari, attributed to the celebrated philosopher and poet Shankaracarya (VIII-IX c.) decribes love, joy, sorrow, anger, nobility, fear, disgust and wonder joined to devotion which manifests itself little by little in the expression and on the face.

Sources : Brigitte Chataignier and Véronique Crombe
Photo : M.Y. Brandily

 
 
Kalamandalam Leelamma

Trained in two  styles of dance,  Baratha Natyam and Mohini Attam,  Leelamma then specialied in Mohini Attam and posseses the ideal qualities of this style which demands femininity and grace, light and rhythm. 
She was the principal disciple of the teacher Smt Kalamandalam Satyabhamma, eminent choreographer and pedagogist, who transmitted to her 
the entire repertory of the dance.

She has taught since 1973 at the school of  Kalamandalam, cradle of traditional arts. She gives recitals all over India for the last twenty years and was invited to England in 1991 and 1992 for performances and workshops.  She is a member of the Comimittee of the University of Sankara
Sanskrit, and has created her own institution «Swathichitra», devoting all her time to the research and development of Mohini Attam. Recently, she received a fellowship of the Ministry of Culture in India for her research of choreography.


Photo: Kunju Vasudevan

 
Kalamandalam Kshemavathi

Kshemavathi is recognised in India as a dancer and creative choreographer, is inventive, generous in her teaching and capable of inspiring in her disciples an authentic expression.
She was born on the 10 June 1948 at Trichur, the cultural city of  Kerala. Kshema began to dance at the Kerala Kalamandalam at the age of ten in 1958.
She studied Baratha Natyam as well with  Guru Muthuswami Pillai and Smt Chithra Visweswaran and Kuchipudi with Sri Vempatti Chinnasathyam.

In 1964, Kshemavathi founded her own school of dance in Trichur : «Kerala Kalamandiram », which welcomes many students in Mohini Attam, Baratha Natyam, et Kuchipudi. In 1975, she danced the  Mohini Attamin Germany for the International Festival of Youth and received the same year an award of the Kerala Sangeet Natak Academy. Since 1981, she has danced in the elle th festival d’Automne in Paris, at the festival of India in  Paris, and in the Maison de la Danse in Lyon. 
While preserving the heritage transmitted by her teacher Chinnammu Amma, she is constantly renovating her repertoire with new songs inspired by the works of great poets.

Since 1986, she is a member of the Committee of the Sangeet Natak Academy. She has presently consecrated herself to teaching and to composition.  She received an award of the Indian Government of Senior Fellowship for her excellence en Mohini Attam, as well as a dinstinction for her contribution to the art and her research.

Photo: M.Y. Brandily

/ ARTA / Association / Season / Inscriptions / Workshops / E-mail / Publications / Library /