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Guru Radha Mohanan & Troupe (Kathakali)
Courtesy: Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
Guru Radha Mohanan (Lead dancer)
Guru Radha Mohanan an accomplished performer of Kathakali, is a disciple of the world renowned exponent Guru Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, known for his subtle realism, and the variety of the characters he portrayed. Radha Mohanan is also a master artist in the Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam dance forms. The troupe has performed across the globe including Greece, Germany, U.S.S.R, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. He is the founder director of the Kalari Institute located in New Delhi, India, which is dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of Indian classical dance forms.
G. Gopinatha Pillai
Gopinatha Pillai began his training under his father, Umayanalloor Gopalapillai and uncle Oyoor Kochugovindha Pillai. He trained under gurus Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Kalamandalam Rajan, Mangombu Sivasankaran Pillai. For the last 45 years he has been performing Kathakali in programs organized at various temples in Kerala as well as all over India. He has performed in Spain and Italy along with Kerala Kathakali Centre. Having taught Kathakali for 34 years, he served as Principal of Kerala Kala Bhavanam, Kottayam, Kerala, and currently teaches at the Kerala Kalakshethra (Amballoor, Kerala).
He has received the Vijayarppanam Award from Kerala Kathakali Centre.
Sree Ruma S. R.
Sree Ruma is a graduate in Commerce from Delhi University and is currently pursuing an MBA from Symbiosis. She has completed a B.A. in Bharatnatyam from Prayaga Sangeet Samithi. She studies Kathakali at the International Centre for Kathakali from her father - Guru K.G. Radhamohanan, Natya Kala Ratnam Kala Vijayan and Guru Thiruvattar Jagdeesh. She teaches Bharatnatyam and Mohiniattam dance forms at Kalari Institution for Classical Dances.
Savithri Varada
Savithri is pursuing B.A from Delhi University and studying Kathakali from International Centre for Kathakali under Guru Thiruvattar Jagdeesh. She has performed Kathakali at various places in India and has performed with eminent scholars like Dr. Sonal Mansingh, Guru Kottakkal Nandakumar, Guru Narippatta. She received a scholarship from CCRT (Center for Cultural Resources & Training) for advanced training in Kathakali.
Musicians
Haridas C. P. (Maddalam drum player)
Haridas plays the Maddalam, a drum made out of wood from the jackfruit tree. A two-headed drum, the maddalam is a heavy instrument which is hung around the waist of the player. The maddalam is a vital instrument in traditional Kerala percussion ensembles like Panchavadyam, Keli and Kathakali orchestra. Haridas studied Maddalam at the Kerala Kalamandalam and has performed widely for 10 years at Kathakali performances across Indian and in Dubai. He teaches Maddalam at the Kerala Kalakshethra (Amballoor, India)
P. D. Narayanan Namboori (Vocal)
P. D. Narayanan Namboori studied Kathakali vocal for 8 years from Kottakkal P. S. V. Natya Sangam, Kerala. He has performed widely in India and across the world in countries like Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Sweden, Indonesia etc. He teaches Katakali vocal at various dance institutes in Kerala.
Ratheesh M. Nair (Chenda drum player)
Ratheesh Nair plays the Chenda, a drum from the South Indian state of Kerala. It is an indispensable accompaniment for a Kathakali dance performance. It has heads on both ends but only one side is played. Ratheesh studied Kathakali Chenda from Unnai Warrier
Smaraka Kalanilayam (Irijalakkuda, Kerala). He has performed the Chenda at performance across India and in Germany. He currently teaches Chenda at Sandarshan Kathakali Vidhalayam, Shatkala Govindha Marar Smaraka Kala Samithi and Kerala Kalakshethra.
Make up
Manoj O. S. (Make up artist)
Manoj trained for 3 years in Kathakali Chutti (the art of Kathakali make up) under Kalanilayam Saji and Kalanilayam Janardhanan. With 10 years of experience as a make up artist for Kathakali performances across India and in America, France, Italy and Paris.
Narration
Rajika Puri (Co-curator, Erasing Borders: Festival of Indian Dance; dancer, actor and choreographer)
Trained in bharatanatyam and odissi, Rajika has given solo recitals throughout the US, Latin America, Europe and India - including a command performance for the President of Mexico. Particularly known for her work with different kinds of music: flamenco, Bach, American Song, and also for a form of danced story-telling in which she accompanies her dancing with songs and chants in Sanskrit, and spoken texts in English, she now conceives, choreographs - and even devises music for - evening length works: Union/Severed (Asia Society, NY), Devi-Malika (Duke on 42nd St.), Conversations with Shiva, & Tapasya (Joyce SoHo, NY). www.rajjikapuri.com |
Leena Mohanty, a guest artist with Trinayan Dance Theater, is the director of the production Swaha- Rituals of Union presented at the 14th annual New York Fringe Festival. She is the co-founder and artistic director of Bansi Bilas, an institution devoted to training young and upcoming dancers of Guru Deba Prasad Das" School of Odissi in Bhubaneswar. Leena curated and was the artistic director for the successful Odissi Dance Festival Anjali in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia 2009, which also featured original choreography by Leena which was well received by audiences and critics alike. Awards: the prestigious Mahari award; the first Ustad Bismillah Khan Youth Award in 2006.
Shobha Korambil trained in Kuchipudi dance under the renowned Guru Padma Bhushan Vempati Chinna Satyam. She has performed extensively in across India. Shobha toured the Netherlands and Belgium with her Guru"s troupe and participated in the World Music Theatre Festival in 1996. She has also been to Reunion Islands in 2002 and completed a world tour, performing in 30 cities in United States and also performances in New Zealand, Australia and Singapore in 2004. She has performed at the United Nations in New York in 2005. She is currently pursuing a post graduation in Performing Arts, specialising in Kuchipudi and undergoing advance trainingunder Jaikishore Mosalikanti.