Mandalam Performing Arts

Kerala Dance

Mohiniyattam is one of the seven classical dances of India. The movements in Mohiniyattam reflect the gentle swaying of the coconut palms in the breeze and the undulating rhythms of the waves that swell and sink along India's Western coastline. In Indian mythology, Mohini is the name given to Lord Vishnu when he took the form of the most enchanting goddess and danced in order to rid the universe of darkness. Historically, dance in India can be traced back several thousands of years. It is hard to determine what the exact style of dance was in the early centuries B.C., but through the study of Bharata Muni's Natya Shastra, it is obvious that dance had been well developed, with a definite structure and form more than 2,000 years ago. It was between the 8th and 12th centuries A.D. that dance took on a highly spiritual context in Kerala. Young girls were offered to temples and would dedicate their entire lives to dancing before the deity, their husband. Later in the 13th century, dance became the property of rich and powerful courtesans who held high social status. During this time the dance took on a more erotic form. Mohiniyattam today is a popular art, studied and performed by women throughout Kerala, a style that combines both spiritual and sensual elements creating a beautiful artistic form.

South Indian Martial Art

Kalari Payat is the ancient martial art of South India. The warfare practiced here was different than other parts of India. While in North India vast plains were available for moving large armies, in Southern India the mountainous terrain and forests were more suitable for small warrior bands. These warriors did not wear any armor, but fought bare-chested, using light weapons. They depended on their martial arts training which gave them strength, speed, alertness and breath-taking agility. Both boys and girls of the warrior caste were trained in the martial arts from the age of seven. Their training included strenuous body exercises, oil massages and later they learned the art of wielding weapons such as the stick, mace, dagger, spear, and sword & shield. When the British ruled India, they banned the practice of Kalari Payat, but a few Kalari Payat masters kept the art alive secretly. Soon Kalarippayattu re-emerged, but this time not for war - but as an art.

Kerala Theater

Kathakali is a stylized theater that combines music, dance and drama. Colorful face paint and huge elaborate costumes are donned by the Kathakali actor, bringing to life the gods and demons, heroic kings and princesses of the ancient Indian epics. The actors do not speak in Kathakali. Instead they use an elaborate language of hand gestures called mudras to mime the dialogue while singers standing behind the actors sing the text. This frees the actor to execute powerful movements of the body and detailed expressions of the eyes and face. Also accompanying the Kathakali performance are two drummers playing chenda and maddalam, the thunderous stick and hand drums of Kerala. Kathakali is traditionally performed in the courtyard of Kerala temples. Performances begin at dusk and last through the night until the early hours of dawn. Training in Kathakali takes about 8 years, after which students are ushered into the professional world of Kathakali theater. Even then, an artist is not considered in his prime until he reaches the age of 60. It is believed that only a senior actor will have the experience and maturity necessary to give full expression to a character. Kathakali emerged as a distinct theater style in the 17th century. Traditionally Kathakali was performed only by men, who enacted both the male and female characters. In the last 20 years, however, an all women's Kathakali troupe emerged.