19 Facts About Kalamandalam Satyabhama

Kalamandalam V Satyabhama was an Indian classical dancer, teacher and choreographer, known for her performances and scholarship in Mohiniyattam.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama was awarded the Padma Shri, in 2014, for her contributions to the art and culture, by the Government of India.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama started learning dance, at a very early age, as a part-time student of Kerala Kalamandalam, under the tutelage of Kalamandalam Achutha Warrier and Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Warrier, concurrently with her academic schooling at Government High School, Shornur.

Soon, the young girl came to the notice of the legendary Malayalam poet, Vallathol Narayana Menon, the founder of Kerala Kalamandalam Satyabhama, who nurtured the young aspirant's skills by providing her with a scholarship with which she could pay the school fees.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama joined Kalamandalam as a student of in 1950 and became a teacher in 1957.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama had a stint of training from the doyen of classical dance, Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama died on 13 September 2015, aged 77, at a hospital in Palakkad where she was undergoing treatment.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama Satybhama was the first woman Vice Principal of Kerala Kalamandalam Satyabhama and, later, became its Principal till she retired in 1992.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama sat on the selection committee to decide annual Kalamandalam fellowships Kalamandalam Satyabhama was functioning as the Dean of Kerala Kalamandalam.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama quietly retired from performances at a young age of 24 to attend to her duties a teacher and choreographer.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama is credited with purifying the dance form by weeding out external influences.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama modified the performance techniques so that the emotive aspect of the performance strictly sticks to Lasyam.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama is said to have revolutionised the Mohiniyattam curriculum at Kerala Kalamandalam which is said to have resulted in the evolution of Kalamandalam style mohiniyattam.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama tried to add more spice into the presentation of the dance form by evoking drama through exaggerated body kinetics through mudras, poses and steps, which at times, have attracted criticism.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama changed the way the dancer styles the hair, which was vaguely adapted from Raja Ravi Varma paintings.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama left a rich legacy of 35 Mohiniyattam compositions, the details of which are narrated in her book, Mohiniyattam - History, Techniques and Performance.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama was honoured with several awards and recognitions by regional and national bodies.

Kerala Kalamandalam has instituted an award, in honour of Satyabhama, which is distributed to deserving students of mohiniyattam, in the form of a scholarship annually.

Kalamandalam Satyabhama has published a treatise on Mohiniyattam in Malayalam, by name, Mohiniyattam - History, Techniques and Performance which is considered a referral book on the subject and consists of 11 chapters and 35 compositions by the writer.