Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, known for its unique dance vocabulary, is holding its first ever workshop and auditions in the capital city on June 22.
“The workshop aims at giving an insight into Attakkalari’s unique approach to contemporary dance. We have a well-crafted curriculum that gives a comprehensive understanding about the kind of tools, devices and facilities a dancer needs to become successful as a performer or teacher, now that there are manifold opportunities for a dancer,” says Jayachandran Palazhy, artistic director of Attakkalari, who will be leading the sessions.
Comprehensive course
A highlight of the event is that besides attending the workshop, participants can also audition for Attakkalari’s Diploma in Movement Arts and Mixed Media. It is an “intensive, comprehensive”, training programme in contemporary dance. “We use the language of Bharatanatyam, Kalariapayattu, ballet, folk forms and yoga among others in our teaching to understand the concept of body and principles of movement embedded in them so that students have a different understanding and can develop a new language, idiom or choreography,” Jayachandran says.
The workshop is for those interested in dance and movement. Those appearing for the auditions should be above 16 years of age and should have completed their Plus Two.
“What is important is that the dancer should have the potential, general physical awareness, kinesthetic sense, musicality, sense of space, comprehension and imagination. It is important to be able to imagine the movement and the training is meant to prepare the body to occupy the space they imagined,” he adds.
After a warm-up session involving movement sequences “focusing on body alignment, gravity, breath, coordination, cardio-vascular aspects and yoga”, the participants will be introduced to how all these play a role in movement sequences. Then they learn to create multiple spaces envisaged in Attakkalari’s movement vocabulary. “We will cover technical as well as creative aspects,” Jayachandran says.
Jayachandran adds that he has a special connection with Thiruvananthapuram as Attakkalari held its first international fete in the city, at Tagore Theatre in 1999. “Film editor Bina Paul and I were the co-directors. It feels great to be back in Kerala. There is hardly any other state that has so much density of performing arts, which include Theyyam, Padayani, Ottanthullal, Krishnattam, Ramanattam, Mohiniyattam, Kanyarkali, Porattunadakam and more,” avers Jayachandran, who hails from Kerala.
The workshop and auditions are on June 22 at Cameo Light Academy, Prasanth Nagar, Ulloor, from 2 pm to 4.30 pm. Fee is Rs 300. Contact: 6235059136 (venue), 9811737441 (Attakkalari)
