Text by: Susmitha Suresh    Photos: Various Sources

Brought up in a naval background, living a strict and disciplined life, from making her own choice to choose dance overall to gaining recognition on National television, Aishwarya Radhakrishnan is an inspiration to behold for dancers and non-dancers alike. This Malayali girl’s choices were from her heart, and even when almost no one could understand them, they led her to the national stage of So You Think You Can Dance and Jhalak Dikhla Ja. “I started dancing at a young age, but it was when my dad was posted here in Kochi that I got into dance properly,” she says.

What does dance mean in your life?

Dance is my identity. I wanted to stand out, I wanted to be someone that made a difference. Dance gave me a reason to keep running towards that goal. It’s a part of me, so much so that it has become my sleeping pill.

What do you most enjoy while dancing?

The part of dancing I find most enjoyable would be the actual performance and the moment right after it. When you get on the stage, the adrenaline rushes through your body, it’s a high you can forget yourself in. And after the performance, it just drops and you’re sighing with content. Those two moments are the most enjoyable for me.

What does being a Nike Woman mean to you?

It’s a great feeling. A big brand like Nike has chosen me because they feel like I can inspire a lot of people. Apart from inspiring dancers I also want to inspire women to break out of the constraints that keep them limited.

What would be your take on dance as a medium of expression? How do you express yourself through your dance?

Dance is a part of my identity. It’s who I am as a person and something I know I’m more than good at. I express through dance whenever I feel like I’m being repressed, or when I feel like I can not talk, or when somebody is pushing me down or doesn’t have faith in me doing well, dance helps me prove to them that I can. Back when I was in school, I was really afraid of public speaking or even speaking as such. But today, because of dance, I can take the mike and talk to any amount of people. Dance is my voice through which I can communicate with the rest of the world.

What was the single most defining moment in your career?

The first solo performance I did on So You Think You Can Dance. It turned out to be one of the most defining moments in my life that left me feeling satisfied and just at peace. I was super nervous going in, but I convinced myself that I should just perform for myself and my parents. I was so zoned out that I walked out the stage on my own after the performance and had to be brought back by the show anchors. It was then that I saw that all the three judges and the audience, they were all on their feet giving me a standing ovation.

“I still have a long way to go,” she says with determination in her voice, “I feel like I have yet to reach my full potential.”

The post All That Jazz: Aishwarya Radhakrishnan On Expressing Herself Through Her Dance appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.

Text by: Fathima Abdul Kader    Photos: Various Sources

Kathakali

With a history that traces back to 1st millennium CE, Kathakali is a story play art genre with elaborate makeup and costumes. The characters in the play are signified by their distinctive attire and the varying colors signify character traits. Red, green, white, gold, multiple layers and ruffles are the common elements of the costumes and they serve the purpose of raising the actor-dancers to a level of magnificence that will effectively transport the audience to a world of wonders.

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Theyyam

The ritual dance with roots in northern Kerala has over 400 varieties and incorporates dance, mime, and music. It plays homage to the tribal culture of hero and ancestral worship. Theyyam or Kaliyattam is often given a daunting image due to the dramatically painted face and the crazed frenzy that the performers attain at the height of their performance. Tier joined skirts, metallic studs, and accents, predominantly red face makeup, as well as highly structured headdresses, are the common elements across different forms of Theyyam.

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Kummattikali

While most ritualistic art involves face painting, Kummati Kali is a colorful mask dance performed around the time of Onam. The festive performance takes place on the roads and the performers are traditionally covered in sprigs of “kummatti pullu” or wear garbs of dry leaves and grass. The wooden masks worn by the performers are of mythological significance and are often handed down through the generations. The look is often supplemented with floral garlands and even pom pom garlands.

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Puli Kali

The most renowned recreational folk art from Kerala, Pulikali is performed on the fourth day of Onam and revolve around the theme of tiger hunting. Hundreds of men who are trained in pulikali spends hours painting their body in shades of yellow, black and orange, don golden shorts, wear bells around their hips and put on fur trimmed tiger masks prior to their performance. The biggest pulikali event in the state happens in Thrissur where it originated from.

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The post Fashion Inspired From Traditional Performance Art Forms From Kerala appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.