NOOPURA PROFILE

“Noopura” came into being on April 14, 1970; the prime motive behind its genesis was the patently noble desire to resuscitate and rejunevenate Mohiniyattom .In the days of its infancy.Dedicated efforts were pursued at state and Central Govt. Levels to encourage this revival process. Consequently, Dept. of culture and Sangita Academy included Mohiniyattam also among the officially recognized dances of India. Reassurance was given about the award of fellowships & scholarships for this dance form. In 1975 the students of “Noopura” started being awarded Govt. of India Scholarships from the Department of Culture.

In 1975 the powers that be in the Department of Education were enlightened about the deplorable state of Mohiniyattam in its mother state; as a result it was accepted as an item in the School Youth Festival Program. This has been the practice since 1976.It was on a no-profit no-loss basis tht his institution presented Mohiniyattom dance programmes in India as well as abroad. This policy continues even today.

Annual grant from the Department of Education was requested for and obtained by Noopura solely for the purpose of breathy life into Mohiniyattom at all levels, and for popularizing it. The Universities of Kerala State have included Mohiniyattom in its list of dance items for Youth Festivals.

“Noopura” has been a proud ‘alma mater’ for hundreds of students in Mohiniyattom, some of them later made it their profession to impart training to children.

For the first time in 1985 “Noopura” staged Mohiniyattom performance in the USA, West Germany, Gulf Countries. Universal acclaim followed; but its essential success consisted in the fact that the world nations came to know of this centuries- old dance from Kerala. In 4987 another Odyssey was done with a similar purpose. Many laurels were won by “Noopura” on this trip too. Intensive short term training in Mohiniyattom was also imparted by the Director to students abroad. “Noopura is now engaged in lessening the horror of unemployment in this state by making it possible for outgoing students to earn a living as Mohiniyattom instructors.