| |
|
Kanak Rele - A Total
dancer
Kanak Rele is today one of the most distinguished dancer –
scholars of India. The President of India has honoured her as
“A pioneering dance educationist and top most Mohini Attam
exponent.” For the past 35 years she has ceaselessly strived
to rejuvenate the classical dance art Mohini Attam of Kerala.
Today her name is synonymous with Mohini Attam. A highly acclaimed
exponent, she has performed singly and with her troupe all over
India as well as many parts of the world. She is a qualified lawyer
who has done research in International Law at the University of
Manchester U.K. Her Ph.D. at the faculty of Fine Arts, University
of Mumbai was on Mohini Attam.
Trained initially from a very young age in another Kerala art
Kathakali under the late guru ‘Panchali’ Karunakara
Pannikar, who is regarded as one of the greats for “stree-vesham”
in kathakali, kanak has won high acclaim for her rendition of
kathakali as well.
Today kanak is equally recognized
for her pioneering work in two fields – that of re-establishing
the exquisitely lyrical dance Mohini Attam and for introducing new and
richer dimensions to the field of academics and research in classical
dancing. |
 |
Recognising her superb grasp of "Dance Academics" many Universities
in India and abroad are seeking her guidance to start and develop Performing
Arts Faculties in general and Dance Faculties in particular. |
| |
Kanak Rele has scaled more prestigious
heights recently. In June she was
invited by the world famous Kerala
Kalamandalam to present
lecture-cum-demonstrations on the
classical dance system of abhinaya
and its applicability to Mohini
Attam. This is a very prestigious
assignment. Kerala Kalamandalam
has already prescribed Kanak’s two
books ‘Mohini Attam – The Lyrical
Dance’ and ‘Bhaavanirupana’ as
textbooks for their degree and
post-graduate courses. In her
lecture – demonstrations Kanak
highlighted and analysed her own
system of projecting various moods
by way of the body and facial
movements. She also explained the
salient features of choreography.
She was given an old padam
‘Taaraaviraham’ which she had
never heard of and request to
choreograph it by studying it only
for 30 minutes that resulted in a
brilliantly etched out abhinaya
piece with different bhaavas
depicted with rare finesse, depth
and understanding. She received a
standing ovation.
|
| |
| HONOUR FOR KANAK RELE FROM
GOVERNMENT OF MAHARASHTRA. |
| |
Government of Maharashtra honours
people for their life time
achievement and contribution to
various fields through different
cultural agencies. Kanak Rele has
been selected for this year’s award
for her contribution to the field of
classical dance. |
| |
At present she is guiding a number
of distinguished persons for Ph.D.
studies at the University of Mumbai. |
| |
Last year, as the Convenor of the
Expert Committee to prepare syllabii
for dance courses for the newly
established School of Performing and
Visual Arts of Indira Gandhi
National Open University, Kanak
Rele’s contribution was very
significant in providing
academically correct direction. |
| |
