Kerala - Thrissur   

`Do not sully traditional idiom'

K. Santosh

Methil Devika

THRISSUR: She is averse to creating new choreography, tampering with the traditional Kuchipudi idiom.

Bangalore-based dancer Methil Devika says that Kuchipudi hardly lends itself to modern choreography.

"I feel that the movements of Kuchipudi, unlike those of Bharathanatyam, do not suit interpretation of contemporary issues. But there is the possibility of deriving a new form, based on Kuchipudi, that is closer to modern dance,'' she says.

Ms. Devika was in Thrissur on Monday to present a Kuchipudi recital under the auspices of the Navaneetam Cultural Trust.

A native of Palakkad, Ms. Devika is a disciple of S. Natarajan, Vempatty Chinnasatyam, Satyapriya Ramana, Chirala Krishna and Girija Chandran. She dances Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattom.

"I've been asked why I am not focussing on one style. I love both and can't do without them,'' she says. She is a post-graduate in Kuchipudi Dance from Rabindra Bharati University. "The student experience at Shantiniketan was enriching. I got to know about art forms from different parts of the country,'' she says. She holds an MBA and is currently working in the area of arts management. She coordinates the graduate and postgraduate Bharathanatyam course of Bharatidasan University, in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

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