A 10-day festival of the eight principal Indian classical dances will be held here from May 20. The event, christened Dakshina Festival 2015, will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at Hotel Raviz.
The programme is organised by Aswani Natya Graha Cultural Society in association with the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation, the Department of Panchayats, the district administration, and 14 other sponsors.
District Collector A. Kowsigan, patron of the festival, told mediapersons that the festival would comprise a 10-day Bharatanatyam Gurukulam Camp to be led by the couple, V.P. Dhananjayan and Santha Dhananjayan. Dancer Mallika Sarabhai will be the chief guest at the valedictory function.
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The eight dances will be staged by experts — Kathak by the couple Nirupama and Rajendra from Bangalore on May 20; Kuchipudi by Sreelakshmi Govardhan on May 21; Mohiniyattam by Saranya Mohan and Vinitha Nedungadi on May 22; Bharatanatyam by Lekshmi Menon on May 23 and Rukmini Vijayakumar on May 24; Kathakali by Madavoor Vasudevan Nair, Kalamandalam Gopi, and Chavara Parukutty Amma on May 25; Manipuri by Bimbavati Devi and Sattriya by Usha Rani Baishya on May 27; and Odissi by Sonal Mansingh on May 29.
Dr. Kowsigan said that other cultural events too would be staged at the festival. These include Theyyam by A.K. Andipanicker on the first day; Thrithayambakam by Mattannur Sankarankutty and team on May 21; Yakshaganam by artistes from Karnataka Kala Darshini on May 21; Padayani on May 24; ganamela by playback singer G. Venugopal on May 25; folk songs by Mathai Sunil, a one-act play Ottayan by actor Ashish Vidyarthi, and Theeya Theyyam directed by Kavalam Narayana Panicker on May 26; pung cholom and dhol dholok cholom from Manipur on May 27; Koodiyattam, Nangyarkoothu, and a special Mohiniyattam performance by actor Parvathy Jayaram on May 28.
The valedictory function will have a dance performance by Mallika Sarabhai. Dr. Kowsigan said the Bharatanatyam camp would be inaugurated by the Dhananjayans. Those interested in the dance can attend the camp.
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