| Kathakali
This traditionally and internationally acclaimed dance
form is a perfect replica of the culture and the life
in Kerala. The bright colors, the beautiful songs and
the graceful movements of the dancers succeeds in making
the audience spellbound. |
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Chavittunatakom:
Kerala being the home of various castes, it nourishes
Chavittunatakom, a Christian art form. Its roots trace
back to the early years of Portuguese Colonization in
16 AD. |
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Oppana: Giving a freedom
of expression to the dancing feet of the Malabar Muslims
is the Oppana which has become an essentiality to wedding
entertainment and festivities. |
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Krishnanattom: A feast
to eyes of both, the ignorant farmer and a scholastic
king, Krishnanattom gives its audience a feeling of awe
and wonder through its varied and colorful facial make
up. |
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Mohiniyattom: A soothing
and heartwarming dance involving the enchanting, slow
but graceful swaying of the dancers, Mohiniyattom has
a mark of its own in Kerala. |
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Kakkarissi Natakom:
Giving life to the mythological puranas of Lord Siva and
his consort Parvati, this is a dance-drama projecting
satire. |
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Thiruvathirakali:
A graceful dance performed by the women of Kerala on the
Thiruvathira day of Chingom Month, Thiruvathirakali, is
danced to pray to Gods for everlasting marital bless. |
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Kolkkali:
A rhythmic and music to ears, experience during the festival
of Onam, Kolkkali is folk art of the agrarian classes,
mainly in Malabar. |
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Chakkyarkoothu
: Earliest known histrionic art of Kerala. It is
believed to have been introduced into Kerala by the early
Aryan immigrants and the earliest written reference to
this art is found in the Tamil epic chilappathikaram which
was composed by the Kerala prince Ilangoadikal in the
second century AD. The texts used for the exposition of
the art are epics and puranas written in Sanskrit. The
exposition is enlivened by numerous witty analogies and
illusions to topical , political and social events. |
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Koodiyattom:
There is yet another way in which the chakkyar can present
his art. Instead of solo performance by a lone chakkyar,
a no of performers get together and stage a dance drama
of sorts. Such a performance is known as koodiyattom.The
koodiyattom art was encourage much by the perumals,
who ruled over Kerala until the eight century AD. The
names of Kulasekhara Perumal, Bhaskara Ravi Varma Perumal
and Cheraman Perumal, in particular, are remembered
with reverence for the considerable patronage they gave
to the art. |
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Thullal: Another
verity of dance that survives to this day is the Thullal.
This is onemanshow done during temple festivals. It combines
dance with the talented narration of stories in verses.
There are three types of thullal dance- the ottan, parayan
and seethankan of which ottan thullal is the most popular
one, These dances owe their origin to Kunchan Nambiar,
one of the foremost poes of Kerala. |
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Duffmuttu: A group
dance of the Maplahs of Malabar. It is very similar to
Kolkali. It is a powerful group dance among the Muslims
of Malabar. |
