As part of its endeavour to organise performances by noted artistes for students and youngsters, the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) Dehradun is conducting Mohiniattam lecture demonstrations in educational institutions of Dehradun by noted exponent Dr Neena Prasad. The classical dancer has been sensitising students about the dance art forms.
According to the society office bearers, her demonstration was especially appreciated for interaction with the differently- abled students of Bajaj Institute of learning.
She was accompanied by Madhavan Namboodri on vocals, Kesavan on the Mridangam and Sreedhar on the violin. The artiste has already interacted with the students of Kendriya Vidhyalaya FRI, Kendriya Vidhyalaya OFD, Ecole Globale Girls School, the IFS probationers in Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy and Bajaj Institute of learning on January 22, 23 and 24 respectectively. She is slated to perform in Carman day and residential school, Premnagar and Kendriya Vidhyalaya Upper Camp on Monday.
It is worth mentioning that Dr Neena Prasad is noted for strong footing in academic study and the fine aesthetic sense of a performing artist. She had undergone rigorous training is four different classical styles – Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Kathakali from Kalamandalam Suganthi and Kalamadalam Kshemavathy, Guru Adyar K lakshman, Guru Vempati Chinnasatyam and Vembayam Appukkuttan Pillay, respectively.
Her performances have won much appreciation in the country’s artistic circuits and she has also been the recipient of the prestigious awards from the Kerala Sangeeth Academy and Madras Music Academy.
She is considered to be among the foremost representative of Mohiniyattam in the major and prestigious dance festivals in India and abroad. She is an empanelled artist of ICCR of the established category and a top grade artiste of Doordarshan.
Among many other professional activities she engages in, she is a faculty and guide for research scholars and a member of the board of studies in various universities.
She headed the research department at the Kerala Kalamandalam and she has also been a member of
selection committee for awarding research scholarships and fellowships at the Department of Culture, Government of India.