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PRIYA Krishnadas

Priya Krishnadas was initiated into bharatnatyam at the age of 7. Her introduction to mohiniyattam was under the tutelage of Kalamandalam Thankamani Kutty at Calcutta. Inspired by the predominantly lasya form of Kerala, she found her métier in Mohiniyattam.. Later under the guidance of Kalamandalam Saraswati and Kalamandalam Meera Nambiar, she widened her repertoire. At present she continues to practice and perfect her art under the doyen of Mohiniyattam, Padmashree Smt. Kalamandalam Kshemavathy.

Priya's interest in Mohiniyattam is not limited to performances. Her quest for theoretical knowledge of the dance form in its aesthetics, history and place in the socio- cultural milieu of Kerala led her to interact with various scholars in the field. Two years of intensive training in Kathakali under Prof. A. Janardhanan (ex-Principal, Kalakshetra), kinesthetic of mohiniyattam under Smt. Jayashree Mundkur and on- going interaction with Piyal Bhattacharya on the study of Natyashastra, to mention a few, have contributed to her in-depth knowledge of mohiniyattam.

Priya brings an innate artistry to mohiniyattam, being very much at home in the rendition of the gentle flowing movements of the dance excelling in expressive gestures and abhinaya.

A graduate in Economics, Priya Krishnadas was awarded a scholarship through MCF, Chennai . She has completed a course in Arts Management and was commissioned by Dakshinachitra, Chennai to research and document folk art forms of South India for. She has authored a book on the Folk Performing Arts: Tamilnadu and also made an ethnographic documentary on the life of Narikoravas or the gypsies.

As Associate Director of Saradhi Academy of Art and Culture she has organized various lec-dems , workshops and cultural programs by eminent artistes.

Ms. Priya Krishnadas
priakd@gmail.com