Mohiniyattom exponent Kanak Rele has been chosen for the first Guru Gopinath National Award for Dance.
The award carries ₹3 lakh in cash, a sculpture designed by Kanayi Kunhiraman and a citation.
Ms.Rele has been chosen for the award for her unmatched contributions over half a century, during which she played a key role in popularising it as a classical art form across the country.
The Nalanda Dance Research centre which she established in Mumbai 50 years back, is one of the foremost dance research centres in the country. The nation had earlier honoured her with the Padma Bhushan award.
She was chosen for the award by a committee headed by dancer Mallika Sarabhai, and consisting of dance critic Ashish Mohan Khokar, Culture Department Secretary Rani George, Kerala Kalamandalam Vice Chancellor T.K.Narayanan and Nadanagramam Vice Chairman K.C.Vikraman.
