THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Come February 7, Guru Gopinath Natanagramam, which houses the country’s first dance museum, will host the ‘Guru Gopinath National Dance Festival 2017’ featuring artists from Orissa, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.
The six-day-long cultural extravaganza will be inaugurated by Culture Minister A K Balan at the Guru Gopinath Natanagramam at 5.30 pm on February 7. K Muraledharan MLA and Culture Secretary Rani George will be present on the occasion.
The Schedule
February 7, 7 pm
‘Samyoga’, a fusion of Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattom. The fusion dance form will be presented by disciples of Kalamandalam Satyabhama.
February 8, 6:30 pm
‘Gotipua’ by Konark Natyamandapam, Orissa. The dance form is noted for its flexibility as various asanas in yoga are intricately blended in it.
February 9, 6.30 pm
‘Manipuri Rasaleela’, to be staged by eight artists led by Sinam Basu Singh, recipient of the ‘Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’ of the Kendra Sageet Natak Akademi. It portarys the timeless love between Lord Krishna and Radha.
February 10, 6.30 pm
‘Kuchipudi Natyamela’ by Dr Vasanth Kiran, Rachana Naryanankutty, Sonu Sathish Kumar and Ashwini Nambiar.
February 11, 6.30 pm
‘Yakshaganam’, the folk dance form of Karnataka will be staged by Sree Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandili. Though similar to Kathakali, the characters in ‘Yakshagana’ speak. The programme will be directed and choreographed by Kirmani Sivananda Hegde.
February 12, 6.30 pm
‘Kathakali’ by Swathi Kshetram Akademi, Kottayam. Kalamandalam Surendran, Kalakendram Muralikrishnan and Kannan Anikkad will enthrall the auidence with their staging of ‘Mandodari Vilapam’.