Mohiniyattam comes from Kerala. Its name means the dance of Mohini, the enchantress.
In an old story, the god Vishnu took the form of Mohini, a beautiful woman, to help the world.
The dance sways softly from side to side, like palm trees in the wind or waves on Kerala’s backwaters.
Dancers wear a white sari with a gold border, called a kasavu. Their hair is in a bun on one side, with jasmine flowers.
The poet Vallathol started the Kerala Kalamandalam, an arts school, in 1930. It helped Mohiniyattam to bloom again.
The movements are slow and smooth, and the face is calm. Try swaying slowly from side to side and listen to your breathing.
The big ideaSlow and smooth can be beautiful.
Talk about it: Can you sway like a palm tree? What does the wind feel like?
