Delve into the rich poetics and vibrant narratives of two distinct movement traditions through a wealth of traditional choreographies.

Sutikshna Veeravalli’s Bharatanatyam presentation is of a single, long-form piece that focuses on one heroine’s process of disillusionment. This composition, “E Mayaladira”, follows her as she gathers courage to ask her significant other about his suspected infidelity. She tentatively questions him, trying to make sense of what could have possibly drawn him away from her. As she reconciles what was, what could have been, and what now is, she arrives at an acidulous clarity. Whether or not this clarity is objectively true, perhaps this fundamentally human arc of sense-making is what allows us the freedom to move on.

Sapna Govindan and Gayathri Thampatty will present selected choreographies from the Sougandhikam bani (tradition or style) of Mohiniyattam developed by the globally renowned dancer/choreographer Dr. Neena Prasad. The choreographies will illustrate both the abstract and interpretive elements of Mohiniyattam through poetic texts that delve into devotion, maternal affection, and romantic love (including a lover’s spat)- a whole gamut of human emotions!

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SUTIKSHNA VEERAVALLI:

Sutikshna Veeravalli is a Bharatanatyam dancer (disciple of Guru and mother Vanitha Veeravalli) and Carnatic Vocalist (disciple of Dr. R. Suryaprakash). She has performed in Chennai and North America, notably in Madras Music Academy’s Spirit of Youth and HCL Series. Her achievements have earned accolades like “Special Commendation Award” from Bharat Kalachar, “Promising Young Artiste” from Brahma Gana Sabha, and “Kala Ratna” from Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival. Sutikshna works full-time as a high school educator. An MIT Teacher Innovation Fellow, she works to integrate arts and education to build more accessible communities.

Bharatanatyam shares its central aspect of groundedness with many dance forms across India. Popularized in Tamil Nadu, India from as long as 2,000 years ago and originally performed solo, Bharatanatyam is an energetic confluence of storytelling through body and facial language, as well as rhythmic footwork accentuated with bells worn on the ankles. The art form interweaves knowledge from Indian riches such as: Hindu epics, yoga, temple sculptures, South Indian music and poetry, and cultural and spiritual lifestyle. Much of Bharatanatyam’s foundation traces back to hereditary dancers in temples and royal courts. It was they who nurtured the art form until it neared extinction during the 19th century, the latter half of India’s colonial era. Practitioners and the popularity of Bharatanatyam regenerated in the 20th century, gaining a more public scope that opened doors to newer communities.

SAPNA GOVINDAN

Sapna Govindan is a dedicated practitioner and performer with extensive training in Mohiniyattam, a classical dance originating from Kerala in southwestern India. She began her training in the Kalamandalam tradition of Mohiniyattam under the guidance of esteemed gurus Kalamandalam Premalatha, Kalamandalam Sarojini, and Kalamandalam Vinodini, with partial support from a scholarship awarded by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. Currently, Sapna is furthering her advanced training with Dr. Neena Prasad, a globally recognized artist, choreographer, and educator in this dance form. Her performances in the United States have taken place at various venues, including the Dance Complex, Boston Center for the Arts, NACHMO, Andover Town House, Mayo Street Arts in Portland, Maine, Symphony Space in New York, Geeva Arts Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, Kalashraya Festival in Richmond, Virginia, and TriNethra – The Third Eye Festival of Dance in Lexington, among others. She has been described as a dancer “who seemed to have been marinating in the rhythms and juices of Kerala, the birthplace of Mohiniyattam, forever.”

Sapna has taught visiting lessons and presented lecture demonstrations in Mohiniyattam at venues including Shadaj, DWC festival in Boston, Fessenden School in Newton, and East End Community School in Portland, Maine. Driven by her passion for dance, Sapna co-founded Rasik, an organization that curates and presents classical Indian dance to audiences in the Greater Boston Area. Sapna practices and performs Kathakali, a traditional theater genre from Kerala, and also receives training in Carnatic music, the classical music genre of South India.

Mohiniyattam is a classical dance genre from the South Indian state of Kerala, characterized by its graceful, swaying movements and ethereal quality. The abstract dance of Mohiniyattam is defined by Andolika, the gentle, undulating movements of the torso that mimic the swaying of palm trees and the rhythmic flow of Kerala’s backwaters. The acting technique of Mohiniyattam is deeply influenced by Kerala’s traditional theater forms, utilizing intricate hand gestures, precise and detailed eye movements, and layered facial expressions to convey emotions, explore poetic imagery, and narrate stories.

Throughout its extensive history, Mohiniyattam has encountered numerous challenges and changes. In the early 20th century, it was rescued from the brink of extinction and revived and recodified at the Kerala Kalamandalam, a distinguished institution that supports Kerala’s performing arts. Contemporary dancers and choreographers have advanced its boundaries by expanding its movement lexicon and thematic substance, consequently fostering distinctive styles within the overarching tradition.

GAYATHRI THAMPATTY

Gayathri Thampatty began her foundational training in Mohiniyattam under the guidance of Kalamandalam Sarojini and in Kathakali under Kalamandalam Krishnakumar. Currently, she is advancing her skills in Mohiniyattam under the guidance of globally acclaimed artist and educator Dr. Neena Prasad, whose mentorship is instrumental in enhancing her technique and artistic perspective. Her background training in a variety of art forms, including Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Kathakali, has contributed to the versatility she brings to her performances. She has performed on numerous stages, ranging from classical venues in India to cultural events in New England. Most recently, she performed for the Soudandhikam Center of Mohiniyattam at the Tagore Theatre in India. In the United States, Gayathri has performed at the Bay Chamber Hammer Hall as an invited artist for the Midcoast Ballet in Camden, Maine, Nachmo Boston, and for organizations such as NEMA and AKMG. She continues to train in Kathakali, a traditional theater genre from Kerala, under the guidance of Kalamandalam Balasubramnian, a nationally recognized artist and educator of this genre.

If you or a guest in your party has accessibility needs for this event, please contact Joe Juknievich at joe@dancecomplex.org or (617) 547-9363.