Mohiniyattam

Mohiniyattam literally translates to mean, Dance of the Enchantress. It is one of India's eight classical dance forms that is particularly popular in Kerala. It is rooted in the Natya Shastra or the Science of Dance by Bharata Muni a legendary scholar between 200BCE and 200 CE. The dance style is Lasya, which is delicate, yet enticingly erotic and feminine. The repertoire of Mohiniyattam includes music in the Carnatic style, singing and acting a play through the dance, where the recitation is either by a separate vocalist the dancer herself. The song is typically in Malayalam-Sanskrit hybrid called Manipravalam. Traditionally, it is performed solo by women after extensive training.