Awards:

Pallavi Krishnan

Pallavi Krishnan is a leading exponent of Mohiniyattam. She is known for her efforts to promote and preserve this style of Indian classical dance as a living tradition. Initially Pallavi trained in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam under Guru Kalamandalam Sankaranarayanan. She completed her graduation in Kathakali from Shantiniketan(Viswa Bharati University). Her passion for Mohiniyattam led her from Shantiniketan to Kerala Kalamandalam making her the only Indian dancer who is an alumnus of these two coveted national arts academies. Pallavi continued her studies under Guru Bharati Shivaji and later developed a style of her own, which is marked by creativity in her performance. Her skilful choreography has enriched her repertoire and inspired many young dancers to take up the form. In 1995, Pallavi Krishnan founded the Lasya Academy of Mohiniyattam, based in Thrissur, Kerala. Lasya is a centre for the promotion of and professional training in Mohiniyattam. Her uncompromising teaching has attracted students from all over the world.

Academic qualifications/training:

• B.Sc. in Bio Science from Burdwan University of West Bengal
• Trained in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam under Guru Kalamandalam Sankarnarayanan.
• B. Mus. in Dance (Kathakali) from Shantiniketan (Viswa Bharati University).
• Two years of intensive training in Mohiniyattam at the Kerala Kalamandalam.
• Specialised training in Mohiniyattam under Guru Bharati Shivaji.

• Sushree award of the Vichar-March, Kolkata, for most outstanding talents in Indian Classical Dance (1991).
• National scholarship from the Government of India for higher studies in Mohiniyattam (1995-1997).
• Fellowship of the Govt. of India, Department of Culture, to create new dance pieces using traditional Kerala music. (1998).
• Production Grant of the Govt. of India, Department of Culture, to choreograph Rituranga (2002)
• Production Grant of the Govt. of India, Department of Culture, to choreograph Salabhanjika (2004)
• Grant of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Govt. of India, to conduct a workshop on Mohiniyattam (2005)
• Production Grant of the Govt. of India, Department of Culture, to choreograph Vikramorvasheeyam (2006)
• Production Grant of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Govt. of India, to choreograph celebrated Kerala poet late Ulloor’s Pingala (2007).

Collaborations:

• Pallavi’s collaboration with the renowned scholar and composer, Kavalam Narayana Panikkar, has enriched the repertoire of Mohiniyattam. She has choreographed many of his compositions that employ the ragas and talas (rhythm) of Kerala’s nearly extinct Sopana music.
• Pallavi collaborated with Danse-Kalashas, a well-known dance company based in Montreal, Canada. This project was funded by the SHASTRI INDO-CANADIAN INSTITUTE (2004).

Significant performances

IN INDIA

• Santiniketan, West Bengal (2001, 2002, & 2005).
• Performance at various centres in Eastern India under the aegis of the East Zone Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata (2001, 2004, 2006)
• Rabindra Bharati University (2004, 2006)
• Soorya Festival, Thiruvananthapuram (2001,2003 & 2006)
• Nishagandhi Festival of Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of Kerala (2001 & 2005)
• Mamallapuram Festival of the Govt of Tamil Nadu (2002)
• Malabar Mahotsav (Kozhikode) of State Dept of Tourism (2004)
• Doverlane Music Conference, Kolkata (2001 & 2004)
• Performance at various locations under the aegis of the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), Chennai (2002, 2004)
• Performance at various cities in Kerala & Kolkata under the auspices of the Kerala Sangeet Natak Academy (2001, 2002, 2004 & 2006)
• National Dance Festival of the Central Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi, at Goa, Kolkata and Manipur (2004, 2005, 2006)
• India International Centre, New Delhi (2004)
• World Women’s day celebration festival of Smitalay (Smita Patel Memorial Trust), Mumbai (2005)
• Bharat Kalachar & Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai (2005)
• Natyanjali Festival at Chidambaram Shiva temple (2005)
• National Festival of Dance on the occasion of the inauguration of the year long Platinum jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Kalamandalam (2006)
• Natya Kala Conference of Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai (2006)
• Konark Festival of Govt. of Orissa (2006)
• Govt of Kerala’s Festival of Music & Dance celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the formation of Kerala state (2007)
• National Festival of Dance on the occasion of the concluding ceremonies of the Platinum jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Kalamandalam (2007)
• Deccan Festival at Hyderabad of State Dept. of Culture (2007)
• Mudra Festival of Dept of Culture, Govt. of Kerala (2007)
• Vasanta Utsav, Bhubaneswar (2008)

ABROAD

• Woodford Festival, Australia (2001)
• Performances at various locations in Canada including Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto under the auspices of the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) – 2003
• Toronto International Dance Festival, Performance & Residency – 2004
• Performances & Workshops in Europe – 2005
• UK – Nehru Centre, London and Rose Bruford College, Kent.
• Poland – Interactions Art Festival, Warsaw.
• Austria – UN Centre, Vienna.
• Switzerland – Art India, Bern.
• Dhaka, Bangladesh –
• Deputation to Bangladesh as Cultural Ambassador under the aegis of the Indian High Commission, Dhaka, and the ICCR, to popularise the art of Mohiniyattam by giving short-term intensive residencies and performances – 2008.
• Macau International Arts Festival – May 2008, Macau.
• Kerala Festival – Doha-Qatar – May 2008

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Contact Information

Lasya Akademi of Mohiniyattam
‘Charulata’, 16th St. Hari Nagar, Trichur – 680 002, Kerala, India.
Tel: +91-487-2381584
Email: pallavikrishnan@yahoo.com & lasyanritta@gmail.com
Website: www.pallavikrishnan.com

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