With a 2,000-year history that can be traced to Kerala, India, the UNESCO-recognised art form koodiyattam is the last surviving Sanskrit theatre tradition.
One of the few dance forms that fall under this ancient dance tradition is the nangiarkoothu, a solo narrative art form performed by females, known for its netrabhinaya (expressions of the eyes).
Don’t miss your chance to catch a rare showcase of nangiarkoothu, as master exponent Kapila Venu presents two arresting choreographies over two days. Catch Koormavataram: Incarnation of the Great Turtle, the story of how the giant sea creature came to be following the famous churning of the milk ocean on Saturday; and the tale of how Rama abandoned Sita in a forest, narrated by Sita herself on Sunday.
Born to famous parents who are exponents of mohiniyattam and koodiyattam, Kapila started training in the latter at the age of seven from the legendary Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar (who had also trained her father), spending her initial years under Chakyar’s senior disciple, Usha Nangiar. She then worked several years under the renowned farmer and dancer Min Tanaka in Japan. Kapila has won numerous awards and titles, including the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar and Sanskriti awards. She is currently the director of Natanakairali Research and Performing Centre for Traditional Arts, a visiting faculty member at the National School of Drama, and at Singapore’s Intercultural Theatre Institute.
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Credit: image of Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
Age
6+
Price
Fee: 20 SGD
Telephone number
+65 6828 8377
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Address
Singapore1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
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