Deepa Chakravarthy
Mohiniattam Dancer

apoorini@gmail.com +91-44-4554-3564

Deepa's training in Classical dance began from the tender age of five. She has had the blessing to be trained under some of the most proficient teachers of classical dance. She began her training in Bhartnatyam, and has given many performances as a Bharata Natyam dancer in many sabhas and festivals. But growing up watching other dance forms, she was drawn very passionately to the Kaisiki Vrithi present in the dance form. With her lessons soundly laid in Bharata Natyam, she decided to explore the Mohiniattam style which highlights Lasya, the tender aesthetics and sensual essence of the feminine grace.

She considers herself blessed in her lifetime to have found a wonderful Guru in Smt Gopika Varma. She began training in the institution, "Dasyam", a center for the Mohiniattam, since 1995. In these years, she completed her initial training and underwent advanced training as well. She has also given performances in many dance festivals and sabhas. Now, she takes her lessons directly from Gopika Varma in Abhinaya, the expression of emotions which constitutes to the beauty of this dance form and highlights the salient moods of every dance number. She is an empanelled artist of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

Kalaimamani Smt. Gopika Varma, a renowned Mohiniattam exponent, dancer and teacher is married into the ancient Travancore Royal family, which has been famed down the age for its patronage of fine arts. Gopika has been under the direct purview of Kalamandalam Smt. Kalyani Kuttyamma during her learning years. She was also fortunate to learn Abhinaya, which is the quintessence of Mohiniyattam, from Sri. Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, the doyen of the Kathakali sage. She has gleaned a wealth of knowledge and professional training in the "Sopana" style of performance, from Sri. Kavalam Narayana Paniker, a veteran in Indian theatrics. Even today she under goes advanced training with Kalamandalam Smt. Suganthi.

Deepa's solo performances in Mohiniattam received appreciation from press and people alike.